BLUE WALL

A high school underachiever discovers the power of believing in himself as he re-examines everything—and everyone—he thought he knew in Thompson’s YA novel.

Bennett Frost is a 10th grader at Edison High School and hates every minute of it. Forever overshadowed by his smart and multitalented older brother, Lyle, Bennett is desperate for his parents’ approval but refuses to talk with them directly, instead choosing to cause trouble for others…and himself. From stealing a classmate’s paper to hiding Lyle’s car keys while he’s home for a visit from his first year of college at Munson State, Bennett seemingly thrives on chaos. That all changes when Lyle gets in a car accident after he drives drunk and the family discovers that he has been skipping college classes to party. Realizing that Lyle is not actually perfect, Bennett finally talks with his parents and reflects on all the opportunities they have provided him. This inspires him to ditch his slacker friends and make a renewed effort at both school and his part-time job at the YMCA pool—a job that leads Bennett to a possible new career goal as a physical therapist. Bennett’s inferiority complex initially prevents him from helping himself, creating a richly layered look at a teenager who is “stuck”: “[Lyle]’s the good one, even when he messes up. But when it comes to me, I’m the bad one. I can see it in [my parents’] faces.” While the complicated issues are tied up a bit simplistically (after Lyle’s accident, he calls Bennett: “I need to talk to you about something serious…And I wanted you to be the first to know. I joined AA”), the clear parallels between actions and their consequences will likely help early and middle-grade readers make the intended connections. Despite some wooden dialogue, Bennett’s struggle and subsequent redemption come through loud and clear. With compassion and simplicity, Thompson effectively tackles a myriad of important themes like communication, empathy, and believing in oneself.

A simple and inspirational tale that reminds young readers not to give up on themselves.