What We’re Reading

Boy Toy | Barry Lyga

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I have to say this is one of the best books I’ve read this year–and also one of the hardest. All I can say is, you’ll probably hit a point where you’re not sure you can read this story, but if you hang in with it, it will all be worth it.

Boy Toy tells the tale of Josh Mendel, South Brook High attendee, ball player, and news item. At least, if you asked him, he’d tell you he’s all people talk about. Him, and the past he’d rather forget. It all started on his 13th birthday, with an incident in a closet gone wrong–if you asked him. In actuality, it started long before that, when Josh was still 12, but being smack in the middle of it, he just didn’t notice. In fact, looking back, even after so long, he still has a hard time figuring out where it all went wrong.

In seventh grade, Josh was ahead of his time. Smart in a way most couldn’t understand, which left him with an equal non-understanding, since it all came so naturally to him, and mature for his age, Josh was in a league of his own. A fact which his History teacher, Mrs. Sherman, didn’t fail to notice. And by the way? She’s 24, and gorgeous.

After a mishap involving missing his bus during an emergency closing, Josh finds himself stranded at school. Mrs. Sherman, not yet gone herself, offers to call his mother for the school and sort it out, since she lives close by and can spare the time. But Mrs. Mendel is also stranded. The roads by here have been closed and will be for hours. And so it is Josh makes his first trip to Mrs. Sherman’s apartment, which turns out to be a kid’s dream: video games galore, thanks to her husband’s occupation as a game tester.

Not long after his afternoon in heaven, Mrs. Sherman seeks permission from Josh’s parents to use him in a grad school project. Her timing, as it turns out, is perfect. Mr. Mendel has been hounding his wife about going back to work, concerned that Josh is too young to spend time home alone. With Josh spending afternoons with his teacher, Mrs. Mendel can now work without the guilt, and his father can allay his fears.

As time progresses, Josh goes from spending afternoons at school doing tests, to sitting on Mrs. Sherman’s couch doing tests. His visits get longer, and longer, which lets his mother work later without worry. Soon he’s eating most of his dinners with Mrs. Sherman and George, who enjoys coming home and watching Josh beat whatever game happens to be in the Xbox at the time. Eventually, all Josh is doing is playing games and hanging out. And Mrs. Sherman is morphing from teacher to friend. Some days it’s too much to try and remember not to call her Eve at school. But when Eve tries to cut off their afternoon’s together, after having kissed, Josh is distraught and begs her to let him stay.

He has fun at her place. He can play games, unlike at home. He gets treated like an adult. He doesn’t want to lose that. And so she relents. And things progress. Right up until the night in the closet with his best friend Rachel, where her kiss sets his mind to automatic pilot, leaving her scared and confused and Josh feeling a freak.

The relationship with Eve comes out, and Rachel’s parents immediately drop the charges. But for Josh, the damage is done. He no longer knows how to face Rachel, which breaks up the four musketeers and leaves him with only one friend: Zik. His parents and the police hound him endlessly, but he doesn’t want to betray Eve too. He promised he wouldn’t.

But in the end, they wear him down, and he fills legal pads with his story. Because he remembers it all. Only on the stand in court, even faced with his books, he doesn’t want to talk. Seeing his distress, Eve changes her plea to guilty and confesses all. Her confession ends up on the internet. And even though it states no names, Josh is sure everyone knows it was him, and is just as sure everyone’s read it. Which is why, if you asked Josh, everyone is talking about him.

This ordeal turns Josh’s High School career into an effort to blend into the shadows. Aside from classes and baseball, where his sole role is that of Designated Hitter, Josh steers clear. He also avoids Rachel at all costs. Until Eve is released and in his confusion he visits The Narc during Rachel’s shift and walks right into her.

Over the next few weeks, Josh regains his friend, albeit with some discomfort. He gets roped into Prom. He finally spills about just what happened, after losing a bet. And he starts to gain some true understanding, including the most important one of all. For five years, he’s been living a misconception. And only that realization can truly set him free.

Note: Boy Toy is scheduled for release in September.

Spilling Clarence | Anne Ursu

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The residents of Clarence, Minnesota lead your normal sort of American life. Work, play, school, shop. The only thing amiss in Clarence, really, is the smell. The Psychopharmaceutical factory does nothing for the ambience. When the Emergency Alert siren sounds and residents are informed there’s been a fire at said factory, and that a chemical may have been released into the air, it does nothing for the nerves either.

After keeping everyone indoors and sending around some yellow-suited fellows, the Factory declares everything OK, though they do tell people it would be best to stay indoors for a couple of days. In the back of their minds, everyone knows something must be happening. You don’t send out people in yellow suits for nothing. But no one knows just what did/could happen. And so Clarence goes on with its life. Until it can’t.

Suddenly, kids are crying, adults are falling to pieces. Everywhere, people are remembering. Even the scientists and psychology students who feel they should know better feel themselves falling victim to this unknown. Deletrium. Used with drugs to help them act. On its own, no one really knows what its capable of.

We follow along with certain townspeople, as they remember their lives, and struggle not to become completely overwhelmed.

One of the more fascinating books I’ve read in awhile. Ursu is definitely one to watch.

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Grand & Humble | Brent Hartinger

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Harlan is the boy with the perfect life, and lately it’s become unbearable. Manny is the Geek with few friends and bad dreams, and lately he’s been getting very little sleep.

Harlan’s cover is starting to fail. His girlfriend is getting to him. He doesn’t talk to his best friend. And after an incident with a Ouija board at a party, the whole school clues in to his unease.

Manny’s cover is also starting to fail. He can’t see straight. He zones out on his best friend, which is worse than usual as she’s Deaf, and can’t talk to him if he’s not paying attention.

Harlan wants to be able to make up his own mind, to follow his own will, to stand up to his mother and not fear the consequences. Manny wants to know why he keeps dreaming of large things smashing into him, and why his dad freaked out when he finally told him about one of the dreams.

At the center of their stories lies the intersection of Grand & Humble, where more than just streets coincide.

Great book. Be prepared for your brain to tie itself in a knot.

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