Book Review: Twerp

Twerp by Mark Goldblatt
Ages: 12-15 years old

Description according to Goodreads:
Julian Twerski isn't a bully. He's just made a big mistake. So when he returns to school after a week long suspension, his English teacher offers him a deal: if he keeps a journal and writes about the terrible incident that got him and his friends suspended, he can get out of writing a report on Shakespeare. Julian jumps at the chance. And so begins his account of life in sixth grade--blowing up homemade fireworks, writing a love letter for his best friend (with disastrous results), and worrying whether he's still the fastest kid in school. Lurking in the background, though, is the one story he can't bring himself to tell, the one story his teacher most wants to hear.

My Review:
This book quickly pulled me in, with its numerous short stories and antics of the main character, Julian, and his friends.  There is a lot of material for tweens to connect to such as friendships, crushes, first dates, and sports.  However, the author does a great job of tackling a very serious subject matter, bullying, and how a "prank" or "joke" can escalate and turn out to be less funny and more hurtful than intended.  The author hints at this ugly incident throughout the book, but allows the reader to get to know the characters and their world before revealing what happened in its entirety--a smart moves that lends itself to a well-wrapped up ending.



*ARC provided by NetGalley.