{"product_id":"twerp-9780375971457","title":"Twerp","description":"\u003ci\u003eIt's not like I meant for him to get hurt. . .\u003c\/i\u003e . \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eJulian Twerski isn't a bully. He's just made a big mistake. So when he returns to school after a weeklong suspension, his English teacher offers him a deal: if he keeps a journal and writes about the terrible incident that got him and his friends suspended, he can get out of writing a report on Shakespeare. Julian jumps at the chance. And so begins his account of life in sixth grade--blowing up homemade fireworks, writing a love letter for his best friend (with disastrous results), and worrying whether he's still the fastest kid in school. Lurking in the background, though, is the one story he can't bring himself to tell, the one story his teacher most wants to hear. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eInspired by Mark Goldblatt's own childhood growing up in 1960s Queens, \u003ci\u003eTwerp \u003c\/i\u003eshines with humor and heart. This remarkably powerful story will have readers laughing and crying right along with these flawed but unforgettable characters. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eTwerp\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cb\u003eA Bankstreet Best Book of the Year\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eA Junior Library Guild Selection\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eA Summer Top Ten Kids' Indie Next List Pick \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA Sunshine State Award Finalist \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Reminiscent of \u003ci\u003eThe Perks of Being a Wallflower\u003c\/i\u003e. . . . You don't have to be a twerp to read this book.\" --\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Post\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"A vivid, absorbing story about one boy's misadventure, heartache, and hope for himself.\" --\u003cb\u003eRebecca Stead\u003c\/b\u003e, Newbery Award-winning author of \u003ci\u003eWhen You Reach Me\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Mark Goldblatt is an amazingly wonderful writer.\" --\u003cb\u003eChris Grabenstein\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eEscape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"[Fans of] Jeff Kinney's \u003ci\u003eDiary of a Wimpy Kid\u003c\/i\u003e who have matured beyond the scope and gravity of that series will find a kindred spirit in Julian.\" --\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Reminiscent of movies like \u003ci\u003eThe Sandlot\u003c\/i\u003e. . . . Well-written and funny.\" --\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Advocate\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Alternately poignant and comical. . . . A thought-provoking exploration of bullying, personal integrity and self-acceptance.\" --\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"A timely book.\" --\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Journal of Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Elegant in its simplicity and accessibility.\" --\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"An empathetic and authentic glimpse into the mind of a sixth-grade boy.\" --\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Florida Times-Union\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Funny, poignant, and an effective commentary on bullying and its consequences.\" --\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Horn Book Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMARK GOLDBLATT is a lot like Julian Twerski, only not as interesting. He's a widely published columnist, a novelist, and a professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology. \u003ci\u003eTwerp\u003c\/i\u003e is his first book for younger readers. He lives in New York City. Visit him online at markgoldblattkids.com.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Yearling Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51359272730898,"sku":"9780375971457","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_9c840a17-997a-40e8-9e06-c3017f545820.jpg?v=1749586907","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/twerp-9780375971457","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}