recently previewed enjoyed.
Each chapter of this book is written by a different student. The “authors” list includes the standard new girl, the drama queen, the “fat” kid, a brainy boy, a class prankster, two class bullies, and the lone social outcast. This character set-up could be a recipe for stereotyped-disaster, but Author Rob Buyea tells the complicated stories that lie behind these classic labels and sends the message that you just might not realize how hard others really have it.
Mid book, the story becomes a true page-turner after a tragic accident changes the lives of students and teacher. I actually had to flip to the back to read the conclusion, as I couldn’t bear to keep reading if the novel’s end was as sad as the middle. Good news though: Buyea likes a happy ending just as much as I do.
My nine year also enjoyed this book. He giggled through the first 100 pages, then became incredibly quiet before telling me: "Jeffery is really sad, Mom." I then watched him flip to the back page to investigate the final outcome of the story. Apparently this apple doesn't fall far from the tree.