A school story with recognisable characters and situations, in which the geeks outsmart the bullies and good triumphs. Ages 10+. Shortlisted for CBCA Book of the Year Award 2007.

Reviews

Gr 8 Up-It's the start of Year Nine at St. Daniel's Boys School for 14-year-old narrator Ishmael Leseur. Suddenly made aware of his "wussy-crap" name (which he blames on his parents and, in turn, Herman Melville), wry, witty Ishmael expects to keep his head down, as he did the year before, around bully Barry Bagsley, who has become more aggressive. But the new year brings surprises-Miss Tarango, an inspiring young English teacher willing to stand up to Barry; an odd new student, James Scobie, who claims that an operation erased his ability to feel fear; a debate team, started by James, which makes friends out of an unlikely group of students; and a potential romance with a debater from a rival girls' school. Ishmael's voice is strong, funny, and compelling, and Australian writer Bauer brings some fantastic characters to life through snappy dialogue and vivid descriptions. The plot meanders, though, striking out in too many undeveloped directions; first Miss Tarango drops out of focus, then James Scobie and the protagonist's family, and the result is a read that, while unified by Ishmael's strong narrative voice and moments of laugh-out-loud humor, feels oddly pieced together and unsatisfying. Although readers may enjoy identifying with a bullied underdog who "gets the girl" at the end, the book doesn't quite live up to its early potential.-Riva Pollard, formerly at The Winsor School Library, Boston Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.