Buddha Boy

High school sophomore Justin walks the narrow line that allows him to have some friends while avoiding conflict with the popular bullies who inhabit every school. When he's assigned to a project with the new boy with a shaved head and outsized clothing, Justin worries that he'll be unable to maintain his invisibility. What follows is a burgeoning friendship as Justin learns what drives Jinsen, dubbed "Buddha Boy" by the bullies. They share a love of art, and through their work together Justin begins to understand the value of honoring oneself enough to rise above the fray. Koja's disjointed sentences lend themselves to a full-cast recording, with the various voices helping to illuminate the path Justin takes to self-awareness. Spencer Murphy does a fine job conveying Justin's fear of the unfamiliar, and Koja's author note at the end will spark discussion of the writing process, as well as the problem of dealing with bullies. S.G. 2005 Audie Award Finalist (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

Starred review from January 6, 2003
Koja (Straydog) accomplishes quite a feat with this novel narrated by high school sophomore Justin: she explores the tenets of Buddhism via an unlikely friendship between two classmates. Justin does not understand the odd behavior of transfer student Michael Martin, why he has a shaved head and begs for his lunch ("Like a monk, you know?" says Michael). But after a teacher pairs Justin with Michael—who goes by "Jinsen," his spiritual name—for a project, he begins to gain some insight into Jinsen's actions. The author cleverly structures the novel as a flashback, even as events unfold chronologically, so that readers can benefit from Justin's newfound knowledge of Jinsen's spiritual practice. For instance, the second chapter begins with a brief explanation of "karma" ("Karma means that what you do today, and why you do it, makes you who you are forever: as if you were clay, and every thought and action left a mark in that clay... but there are no excuses,... no I-didn't-really-mean-it-so-can-I-have-some-more-clay"), allowing Justin to circle back to this idea throughout the narrative. Koja convincingly paints Justin as "somewhere in the middle" of the high school social strata, so that when he takes a risk for Jinsen, who is taunted (called "Buddha Boy") and physically threatened by his classmates, readers see how far Justin has progressed in his own self-realization. A compelling introduction to Buddhism and a credible portrait of how true friendship brings out the best in people. Ages 12-up.

June 14, 2004
The social landmine that is high school serves as backdrop for this thought-provoking story about the challenges involved in standing up for one's beliefs. Perfectly content to move through high school as one of the average kids—not affiliated with any particular clique—Justin is thrown for a loop when his master plan is upset by a class assignment. For an economics project, Justin is paired with Michael Martin, aka "Buddha Boy," a quiet Buddhist whose bald appearance and open observance of the tenets of his faith make him a freak in the halls of his suburban school. As Justin and Jinsen (Michael's spiritual name) become unlikely friends, Justin—and listeners—are introduced to the ideas that Jinsen holds dear. This being modern-day high school, bullies gather to antagonize Jinsen. As a result, Justin's beliefs and his commitment to his new friendship are seriously tested. A young cast led by Spencer Murphy keeps listeners in the moment with its realistic portrayals of teenagers. Murphy conveys a strong connection to the text and his gradual eye-opening is contagious. Ages 12-up.