Happy Kid!

July 1, 2006
Gr 5-8 -To Kyle, Bert P. Trotts Middle School is -the gateway to hell. - - All he wants is to get through seventh grade unnoticed. Since he -s infamous for an incident with a screwdriver on the bus in sixth grade that was blown way out of proportion by the administration, and he has been placed in accelerated classes, he has lost all of his friends. On the night before school starts, his mother gives him a book to help him counteract his negativity, claiming that "Happy Kid: A Young Person -s Guide to Satisfying Relationships and a Happy and Meaning-filled Life" just screamed his name when she saw it. But the book seems to have a plan of its own, falling open to the parts that are pertinent to the zany situations that Kyle finds himself in, although sometimes offering advice that makes his life more complicated. Gauthier perfectly describes a typically self-absorbed teenage boy who sees himself as an underdog. Her one-liners, rapid-fire humor, and sharp ear for dialogue make this a quick, funny read. This portrait of middle school will ring all too true to students who run that gauntlet daily." -Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2006
Gr. 6-9. Kyle begins seventh grade with the vain hope that everyone will have forgotten the screwdriver incident in sixth grade that landed him with the undeserved reputation of psychopath-in-the-making. Though initially underwhelmed by his concerned mother's gift of a book entitled " Happy Kid!" he finds himself intrigued by the volume's strange properties and enigmatic advice. Often misinterpreting its messages, he stumbles into situations that confound his expectations and challenge his assumptions. The essential darkness of Kyle's initial situation is lightened by the humor that bubbles up from time to time throughout this intelligently written novel. During the first part of the book in particular, Kyle's narrow focus on his problems and the unremitting dimness of his prospects for happiness may discourage some readers. Still, the engulfing groundswell of raw unhappiness will seem painfully familiar to many readers, and the gradual resolution of Kyle's dejection as he matures offers hope. From the author of " Saving the Planet and Stuff " (2003), this is a rewarding novel of adolescent angst and growth. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2006
Following advice in a self-help book, insecure loner Kyle returns to school atypically saying hello to everyone--teachers, girls, even the class bully--beginning a pattern that sets him further apart. He starts to believe the book is sending him messages and feels impelled to follow its wisdom. Gauthier offers comic riffs on common middle school issues; readers will feel empathy for smart, self-deprecating Kyle.

(Copyright 2006 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)