Egghead: A Novel
Grade 7–10—Ninth-grader Will Reid, obsessed with ants and the science fair, wears a turtleneck dickie under his shirts. His only friend is Katie, a girl he has known since elementary school. Awkward and strange, he is the school bully's primary target. Shane has two lackeys—Brad, who is equally as sinister, and Devan, who goes along with the crowd even though he knows deep inside that it is wrong. The book is filled with stories of tormenting Will, from smashing his prized ant farm, to locking him out of the locker room naked. Told from the perspectives of Will, Devan, and Katie, the book delves into the psychology of the characters from a realistic standpoint. Devan battles with both his crush on Katie and his need to disengage himself from Shane's aggressiveness, and Katie wants to protect Will but also to maintain her relationships with her other classmates. When one particular prank goes haywire, Will ends up in a coma. However, the book ends on a positive note, and the short chapters and high-paced drama are sure to engage even the most reluctant readers. Unfortunately, the story tends to generalize the reasoning behind Shane's behavior (he is abused by his father). There are also subplots, such as the deaths of most of the characters' parents, which draw away from the focus of the story. Still, teens will empathize with the characters and see the personality types inherent within themselves or in their schools.—Marie C. Hansen, New York Public LibraryCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.