DEFECT

A teen with congenital physical abnormality must chose between being “normal” or “special.” When David was 12, his mother sent him to Minnesota to live with distant relatives where he would be “safe.” Since then, David has shifted from one foster home to another. At 15, he’s finally living with a kind couple who seem to genuinely care about him and not mind that he is “different.” Although he’s quiet, polite and intelligent, David’s short face, bug eyes, stooped back, strange body odor and hearing aids have led to peer bullying at the local high school and a transfer to Oak Leaf Alternative School. But David has another physical “defect” he’s hiding from everyone including Cheetah, a young woman with severe epilepsy and a refreshing attitude. Attracted to Cheetah, David fears she’ll reject him as a freak if she knows about his “defect.” When he’s eventually given a chance to surgically correct his physical condition, Cheetah shows him what’s really important. Told with sensitivity and insight, this exploration of a young man’s journey to self-acceptance seems particularly compelling in a world of extreme makeovers. (Fiction. 13-16)