The Accidental Genius of Weasel High

Gr 5 Up—Meet Larkin Pace. He hates his name. He doesn't get along with his sister. His friend Freddie is really weird. He has a crush on his friend Brooke. Schoolyard bully Dalton Cooke is his nemesis. When he grows up, he wants to be a filmmaker. By his own definition, Larkin's unique ability to memorize every line in every movie he's ever seen makes him an "accidental genius." The book is divided into several mini-chapters, as though Larkin were keeping a journal for a class. Spaced throughout these entries are amusing and sometimes poignant comic strips that illustrate the boy's often-painful adolescence. Of note is Larkin's unreciprocated crush on Brooke and his burgeoning friendship with an elderly neighbor for whom he does chores, charming retired actress Miss Sadie. Larkin serves as a relatable "everykid," and many readers will enjoy spending some time with him. Marketed as "a book for the Wimpy Kid who has grown up," it will nevertheless appeal both to tweens and young adults.—Ryan Donovan, New York Public Library