A Year in the Life of a Complete and Total Genius

Arthur A. Bean is a genius.  He is going to become a famous novelist and make millions of dollars.  That's why this short story contest is so perfect for him.  Plus, he's been paired with his crush, Kennedy, for the contest.  He will write an amazing story, win $200, get published, and make Kennedy fall in love with him.

Arthur is quick to express his distaste for the stupidity of his fellow classmates including his arch nemesis, Robbie Zach.  That guy is just a big, dumb bully, and now Arthur has to meet with him every week for tutoring.

Arthur has a tough exterior, but the entries he writes in his reading journal, RJ, reveal his real struggles with his mother's death the previous year and his father's continued depression.

Told through emails, notes, writing assignments, and journal entries, Stacy Matson's new book is a humorous and touching peek into the life of a seventh grader who loves knitting and sarcasm.

I really enjoyed this book, but I wish there had been a better sense of closure at the end.