The main character in Weird Kid is an alien, therefore expect a comedy of errors to happen. There is an interesting story arch that shows that that things are a not to subtle representation of puberty and the changing we go through in middle school. It is very unbelievable (though there are two interesting pieces of realism that was surprising). It is also funny. An adult can forgive the bumps that occur as kids 10 and up will get a kick out of everything happening. And a fun fact that there is an obvious female Batman and male Superman reference, without saying, “Hey, this is Batman and Superman!”
Greg Van Eekhout is a weird adult to have thought up of a Superman-origin story-who-is-not-so-superhero-twelve-year-old kid. Jake Foster was found twelve-years ago. Well, a light and a pile of goop was found. And when Jake’s to be (human) father touches the goop, a baby is born. For the next 12 years, Jake and his parents must keep him a secret from them. You know, people who would dissect him, put him in a cage, experiment on him, kill him, or worse. But one summer things take a strange turn, as does Jake. He cannot keep his human form from “gooping up.” But despite his parents worries, Jake goes to school. And finds a new friend, a sinkhole, and a mystery that if the answer is found could explain what Jake is and how to keep himself from falling apart. Literally.
The story was not my “OMG favorite,” but I was enjoying myself and giggling here and there. As a reader of middle reader and young adult novels, things were predictable, but for the targeted audience it will have many surprises.
