Seventh grade is turning out to be as much of a disaster as Will Levine thought it would be. The kids call him turtle boy because of a deformity in his chin and jaw. That's nothing new, but things are getting worse, and the doctor says he will need braces and surgery to correct the problem. He hates hospitals because his father died unexpectedly after a routine surgery when Will was little.
Also, he kind of is a turtle boy since he's obsessed with herps. He spent his summer sneaking into the wooded area behind the school collecting turtles which he now keeps in aquariums in his bedroom. Then his former science teacher finds out and tells him he has to return all the turtles to the wild.
Plus, his act of service for his bar mitzvah is going to visit a sick kid in the hospital. And, oh yeah, Will hates hospitals! At first, he's only doing the bare minimum and sneaking out as soon as possible, but it's not long before he actually starts to like hanging out with RJ. That's when RJ shares his bucket list with Will: ride a roller coaster, go to a dance, go to his favorite band's concert, swim in the ocean, etc. It's a great list, but RJ is never getting out of the hospital. He begs Will to help him out by completing the list for him.
Will has always been the quiet kid, never wanting to draw attention to himself. He hates his chin and the way it makes eating difficult. Plus, he has acne. Completing even one of these tasks will take him way out of his comfort zone, but it might be worth the risk for a friend.
This new novel by M. Evan Wokenstein is a story of friendship and developing self-confidence. RJ manages to become a real character rather than just an "inspirational sick kid," and the two boys develop a real and believable friendship. Will's struggles with social and medical anxiety also feel realistic. Information about turtles is well integrated into the plot. Ultimately, readers will cheer for Will while they mourn for RJ and the end of a brief but beautiful friendship.
No comments:
Post a Comment