Koja, Kathe. Buddha Boy, a novel.

KOJA, Kathe. Buddha Boy, a novel. Penguin, Speak. 117p. c2003. 0-14-240209-5. $5.99. JS*

To quote from the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, January 2003: High school, as we all know, can be a place of torture for those students who don't "fit in." The narrator here, Justin, does fit in pretty well, and even though he hates seeing other students terrorized and bullied, he has never interfered. He sees enough to know that the main instigator of most of the outrages in the school is an especially popular and successful student named McManus, who has the power to get other students to do his dirty work and avoids punishment himself. Into this situation comes a new student, a boy with a shaved head and odd clothes. The others quickly dub him "Buddha Boy," and at first Justin shares the disdain of the other students, even though he doesn't participate in the bullying. Justin's father is an artist and Justin likes art himself, so Buddha Boy, a.k.a. Jinsen, impresses Justin when he sees his drawing ability, which is incredible. A school project brings the two together, and as Justin finds out more about Jinsen's beliefs, his home life, and his background, Justin becomes Jinsen's friend and defender. Jinsen reveals that he once was a bully himself, like McManus, and that by studying martial arts and Buddhism, he has learned to curb his anger and become nonviolent. However, when McManus, in a fit of envy, vandalizes Jinsen's art project, even Jinsen is forced to the edge of his capability to control his rage. Justin learns a great deal from his involvement in this drama and from his friendship with Jinsen. His relationship with his father grows, as does his respect for the kindness of his mother. This is a brief story, but one that is filled with action and strong feelings. For that reason, it will capture YAs and give them a story to ponder. (An ALA Best Book for YAs.) Claire Rosser, KLIATT