Bruiser

Bruiser
By Neal Shusterman
HarperTeen, 2010. 328 pgs. Young Adult Fiction

As the student voted “Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty”, Brewster (aka Bruiser) seems an unlikely candidate for Bronte to date. Tennyson, her twin brother, warns Bronte to stay away from Brewster, but Bronte sees a project in him and they begin dating. Brewster lives with his uncle and younger brother Cody and it appears to be a miserable home life. He is reluctant to get close to anyone, but Bronte wears him down and he begins to care about her and soon Tennyson as well. As their relationships with Brewster strengthen, both Bronte and Tennyson realize there is something very unusual about Brewster.

I love how Shusterman can write anything from a humorous tale of a teen in Brooklyn to a disturbing look at the future to this haunting novel about how people hurt each other and how they handle that pain. While different in tone from his previous novels, Shusterman has another winner on his hands with this novel filled with rich characterizations and an intriguing look at relationships.

MN