Anderson, Laurie Halse. Twisted.

ANDERSON, Laurie Halse. Twisted. Penguin, Viking. 256p. c2007. 0-670-06101-8. $16.99. S*

A Laurie Halse Anderson novel comes with certain standard features: lively prose, witty descriptions, short chapters, tense action, complex characters, and interesting themes that could be discussed at length should a teacher decide to assign it. This novel fits right into the body of her work, yet offers a new ingredient: a male protagonist, a kind of Cinderella story in reverse. Tyler Miller, now a senior, has been bullied since sixth grade; he's the original 97-pound weakling. As an alternative to blowing up the high school, he vandalizes the flagpole and is sentenced to community service that forces him to work hard all summer. That summer produces physical growth and impressive muscles. He can now protect himself from the bullies and now perhaps capture the attention of Bethany Milbury, high school social queen, daughter of his father's boss, and sister to one of Tyler's chief tormentors. But for this potential Prince Charming, nothing goes as expected. Too many forces, including his former social standing and a dysfunctional family, work against him until he goes beyond flirting with suicide and violence to the borders of "no other choice."

Tyler truly suffers and the reader suffers with him, and yet, ultimately, Tyler prevails, ironically, through an act of violence, but more importantly, arrives at self-assertion and self-definition, much like the protagonist in Speak. The novel announces that it is "not for children," and it is not, but it will provide an excellent source of both entertainment and serious conversation.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

*--The asterisk highlights exceptional books.

Myrna Marler, Assoc. Prof. of English, BYU, Laie, HI