Garner, Graham. Inventing Elliot.

Penguin Putnam, Dial. 192p. c2004. 0-8037-2964-2. $16.99. J

Elliot is starting at a new school, Holminster High, and he is determined not to be bullied as he was at his old school. Home life is miserable enough, with his father an invalid in a deep depression after a terrible assault and his mother working much too hard. Eliott takes great care with his school clothes and his appearance, to be sure to fit in, and he cultivates a new persona, aloof and disengaged. He is terrified of standing out in any way, because he thinks that will make him a target, but his outwardly cool style brings him a dangerous new kind of attention: the gang that secretly controls the school, the Guardians, wants him to join them. Now Elliott finds himself forced to become one of the bullies, rather than the bullied, and to target others for abuse or be subject to abuse himself. Meanwhile, an attractive girl named Louise brings out a whole other side of Elliot's character. How many new Elliots can he maintain? And can he summon up the courage to tell the school authorities about the Guardians?

With its references to 1984, this British novel draws a chilling portrait of the abuse of power. The climate of fear created by the Guardians is all too believable. This is a riveting and insightful novel that rakes readers inside the world of bullies and their victims. Paula Rohrlick, KLIATT