Twerp
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4.5 • 75 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
It's not like I meant for Danley to get hurt. . . .
Julian Twerski isn't a bully. He's just made a big mistake. So when he returns to school after a weeklong suspension, his English teacher offers him a deal: if he keeps a journal and writes about the 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.
Inspired by Mark Goldblatt's own childhood growing up in 1960s Queens, Twerp shines with powerful writing that will have readers laughing and crying right along with these flawed but unforgettable characters.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Adult author Goldblatt (Africa Speaks) makes his children's book debut with a coming-of-age novel set in 1969, a mix of awkward adolescent stumbling, pockets of sweetness, and oft-used tropes. Sixth-grader Julian Twerski has returned from a school suspension and accepted a deal to write a journal for his English class about what he did. As Julian avoids talking about the actual act of bullying that got him in trouble, he recounts the events of the semester in journal entries. These adventures follow the formula for the genre, ranging from uncomfortable first kisses and dates to extracurricular shenanigans (often accompanied by injuries of varied severity); an early sequence about the death of a bird is among the novel's best and most moving segments. The crucial moment of bullying, although appalling, doesn't quite live up to its buildup, and the familiar "bully forced to keep a journal" concept is somewhat clich d. Occasional cultural reference aside, the historical setting doesn't contribute a great deal to the story, but Julian's anecdotes are entertaining and Goldblatt's characters well-written. Ages 9 12.
Customer Reviews
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Great book
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I read this book in one day and I must say it's really good
👍👍double*thumbs*up👌👌
This was an amazing book. I couldn't put it down.😛