Genre: Modern Realistic Fiction (guy humor, action, true to life)
Subjects: friendship, family relationships, family problems, self-perception
Audience: ages 12-15
Anthony Bonano (nicknamed Antsy) is an eighth grade boy who lives in Brooklyn with his parents and siblings. He befriends Calvin Schwa, a fellow student that seems to be invisible. Together they experiment to see how invisible he really is and accept crazy dares to make money. As a result of a dare gone awry, they must do community service for an elderly and wealthy man who has shut himself off from the world. Part of their job is to walk his 14 dogs and the other is to be friends with his blind granddaughter. All the Schwa really wants is be visible to everyone around him and to find out what happened to his mother who disappeared. Antsy sets out to help his new friend with humorous plots and eventually succeeds. The Schwa disappears and Antsy sets out to find out what happened to him and ultimately discovers that he has moved away to live with his mother.
Neal Shusterman has created humorous characters with whom tweens and young teens will be able to relate. The story is told in first person as Antsy Botano complete with Italian heritage, accent, and slang that makes the character come to life. He tackles the issue of wanting to belong and be included in social activities that young adults will understand. The story is told is a humorous tone that makes it a quick read that will draw readers into the story. This is the first book in the Antsy Bonano series.
Awards:
ALA Notable Children's Books, 2005
Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards 1967-2015 (Winner 2005)
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2005
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