Twisted

Since reading Speak a couple of years ago, I am trying to read all of Laurie Halse Anderson's books. She is a very good young adult author and a great addition to the library. Twisted is the story of Tyler, the kid who nobody notices, except to be picked on, until he decides to commit an act of vandalism at his high school.

The story opens toward the end of the summer as Tyler is finishing his community service with the school janitors. The summer of hard work has built up his body, and he now has a physique which gets him noticed. The vandalism has also earned him a new respect with the other kids at school. When school starts, he finds that he especially likes the attention of Bethany, who just happens to be the daughter of Tyler's dad's boss.

Twisted explores not only Tyler's feelings about school and Bethany, but also the complicated and dysfunctional family that Tyler belongs to. After a fateful night with Bethany, Tyler sinks to new despair both at school and at home. I think that kids will like this book and many will be able to relate to Tyler's feelings of inadequacy and yearning to fit in.