How to survive being good
Like a flashback memory, he’s there in my mind: skimming up the stairs at school, his sloppy old T-shirt big as a sail, red tie-dyed dragon T-shirt, who wears stuff like that? No one. Jinsen.
The kids at Edward Rucher High School call Jinsen “Buddha Boy” and condemn him as a freak. With his shaved head and perpetual smile, Jinsen certainly doesn’t help matters when he starts begging for lunch money in the cafeteria. So when Justin is paired with Jinsen for a class project, he plans to get done with it as soon as possible, and climb right back into his safe social niche. Then Justin discovers Jinsen’s incredible artistic talent and becomes curious about his beliefs. But being friends with Buddha Boy isn’t simple, and Justin is forced into a cruel contest with the jocks who just can’t seem to leave Jinsen, or his artwork, alone.
Kathe Koja introduces an unforgettable young man who will remind readers of the true meaning of friendship and demonstrate how to draw strength from the little gods inside each of them.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author:
Kathe Koja is the author of Straydog, which Booklist called “a searing, beautiful book for young readers.” She lives in the Detroit area.
From AudioFile:
High school sophomore Justin walks the narrow line that allows him to have some friends while avoiding conflict with the popular bullies who inhabit every school. When he's assigned to a project with the new boy with a shaved head and outsized clothing, Justin worries that he'll be unable to maintain his invisibility. What follows is a burgeoning friendship as Justin learns what drives Jinsen, dubbed "Buddha Boy" by the bullies. They share a love of art, and through their work together Justin begins to understand the value of honoring oneself enough to rise above the fray. Koja's disjointed sentences lend themselves to a full-cast recording, with the various voices helping to illuminate the path Justin takes to self-awareness. Spencer Murphy does a fine job conveying Justin's fear of the unfamiliar, and Koja's author note at the end will spark discussion of the writing process, as well as the problem of dealing with bullies. S.G. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherFarrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
- Publication date2003
- ISBN 10 0374309981
- ISBN 13 9780374309985
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
- Number of pages128
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Rating