A.k.a. Genius

June 17, 2013
Seventh-grader Gabe Carpenter aces an IQ test that identifies him as a genius, and when news gets out, his “survival strategy,” which is “not getting noticed,” suffers a “complete system breakdown.” His sister teases him; his friend Maya, who’s supposed to be the smart one in their class, won’t speak to him; and the principal wants Gabe to win the Academic Olympics against a rival school. Furthermore, genius doesn’t seem to matter to Gabe’s father, who’s more interested in sports than academics. Gabe’s doesn’t really appreciate his gift until he winds up in an enrichment class with his best friends Maya and Lincoln. There are others in the class, too: poet Rachel, popular Cameron, and basketball star Ty. In her debut novel, Haynes offers a sort of middle-grade Breakfast Club, in which each classmate brings something unique and essential to the team. The author portrays the students and their problems with humor and empathy in this chipper and believable story about self-acceptance. Ages 8–12.