Husky

June 8, 2015
According to Davis’s “mean” friend Ellen, all middle-school students receive
a single adjective that will follow them through high school. Davis—who lives
in a Brooklyn brownstone with his hardworking mother, loud Irish grandmother, and the constant blare of the TV that belonged to his late grandfather—spends all summer fearing his adjective will be “husky.” First-time novelist Sayre, a screenwriter and performer, grants readers an intimate window into Davis’s candid thoughts. When listening to his beloved operas: “It’s just me and the music, and we’re alone. And safe.” Threatened when “pretty” best friend Sophie becomes friends with “cool” Allegra, Davis makes harsh self-assessments: “Gross and smelly and fat and dirty and all by myself.” The discovery that he has not been invited to Sophie’s girls-only makeover party devastates Davis: “I need to be made over, because this, whatever this thing is that’s me, isn’t working.” Upsetting revelations (like his mother’s love life) and surprising acts of kindness awaken Davis to the abundant unconditional love in his life, preparing him to accept a completely unexpected adjective. It’s a moving journey of self-discovery and a gratifying coming-of-age story. Ages 10–up.

May 15, 2015
Operating under the premise that by high school, a kid is defined by one word only, 12-year-old Davis O'Brien attempts to find his own adjective before anyone else can give him one. Davis' two best friends already have their descriptors. Ellen is the mean one. Sophie is the pretty one. Davis' worst nightmare is that he will be known not as the nice kid or the smart kid or even the weird kid but as the husky kid. But he soon realizes that there are meaner things than euphemisms for fat when Sophie's new friends call him a fag. And while Davis obsesses about his hygiene, his music, his family, and his place in the world, his sexual orientation is barely on the horizon. Brooklyn with its diverse population is an evocative backdrop for Davis' soul-searching. Readers who press through the slow start will be rewarded by genuinely funny observations, heart-wrenching social anguish, and the pull of wanting to belong. This is not at its heart a book about sexuality but about humanity. And while ultimately Davis is given his word, by then he realizes that he is defined by so much more. Humorous and heartfelt.(Fiction. 10-14)

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August 1, 2015

Gr 4-8-In the lead-up to his first days of middle school, Davis struggles with concerns about what his adjective will be-will he be nothing more than the "husky" or "fat" kid? Davis discovers that his relationships are changing as quickly as his moods, as he feels excluded from everything-from his best friend's makeover party to his mother's new relationship with a fellow baker. When his best friends, Sophie and Ellen, begin hanging out with more popular kids, Davis finds himself the target of a name-calling incident that results in support from unexpected places-but also a new label. Davis eventually finds that his friends and family will love and support him through the tumultuous changes that are just beginning as the novel concludes. Sayre's debut novel addresses adolescence with tenderness and humor, but its slow pacing may challenge reluctant readers. Middle graders will be able to identify with the drama between Davis and his friends as their friendships grow and change, as well as the tension that arises when Davis tries to assert some independence from his grandmother. Educators and caregivers may find this book useful for discussing bullying and the problems with even well-intentioned labels, although those issues appear only briefly. VERDICT An additional purchase; hand this title to readers who don't mind a leisurely pace and an introspective exploration.-Amanda Foulk, Sacramento Public Library

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2015
Grades 5-8 In Davis' school, everyone gets an adjective. Ellen is mean, and Sophie is pretty, but Davis gets husky. Nicer than fat, but still a blow to his self-esteem. In the summer before high school, everything is changinggirls aren't just friends anymore, and other guys are nothing like him. The only time everything is perfect is when he is listening to opera on his headphones. Nothing can touch him, nothing can bother him, and nothing else matters but Maria Callas or Luciano Pavarotti. He may still be the husky kid, the fat kid, but as long as there are arias and sopranos and librettos, he can be happy. But in a world that judges him, can he just be happy? Written entirely from Davis' perspective, the run-on sentences and odd capitalization make him all the more relatable and real. Though the story runs a little slow from time to time, patient readers who appreciate a distinctive narrative will be pleased.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)