Reformed

Twelve-year-old Ian has a set of rules designed to avoid being bullied, including “be quiet and fit in.” Ian’s friend Devon looks out for him, too, though Devon can be a bully himself. When Ian is an unwitting accessory to an allergic boy’s exposure to peanut butter, Ian, Devon, and two other friends are sent to a summer school for bullies. There, Ian vents his frustrations to the spirit of Thomas Edison (“You were my age once.... How did you transform from a twelve-year-old dropout to a self-taught inventor guy?”), nurses an inner voice he thinks of as “the Freak” that longs to speak up, and confides in friends Ash and Alva. Weinberger’s debut is filled with stunts and pranks that many readers will recognize, and when Devon goes too far, Ian is finally compelled to confront him. Ian’s fears of being bullied and guilt at not standing up for himself and others are strongly felt, although his wry observations and joking relationship with Ash add layers of levity to this coming-of-age journey. Ages 8–12. [em](Mar.) [/em]