Beauty and the Bully

October 1, 2008
Gr 7-9-Duncan Boone is hopelessly in love with Carly Garfield, his high school's resident perfect girl and do-gooder, who has no idea he exists. He talks about her constantly with his two best friends and fellow musicians. Though their band has yet to book a gig, possibly due to its identity crisis and subsequent stylistic and name changes, they have fun hanging out. When Duncan slips during practice and gets walloped with a speaker, leaving his face a black-and-blue mess, things unexpectedly begin to look up with Carly. She misunderstands his bruises and decides that he is her next underdog in need of protection. But to keep her attention, Duncan needs to find a bully to help him play the part of victim. While it's refreshing to see a girl in the white-knight role, this novel falls flat. The dialogue tries too hard to be hip and funny, constantly dropping references to music and pop culture that feel out of place and forced. The characters are never fully fleshed out. Duncan is unlikable and it is difficult to care if he attains his goals. Although filled with potentially humorous moments, the book's weaknesses drag it down."Jessie Spalding, Tempe Public Library, AZ"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2009
Carly cares deeply about endangered creatures that need her help, whereas Duncan cares deeply about getting Carly to notice him. To that end, Duncan hires a bully to beat him up in order to gain Carly's sympathy. It's a preposterous storyline--but it works, thanks to witty dialogue and wacky characters (notably Duncan's bandmates in the gig-less Fat Barbie).

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)