Wired Man and Other Freaks of Nature

June 20, 2016
At the heart of Kaufman’s poignant novel is a complicated friendship between soccer players Ben, who is partially deaf, and Tyler, who is guarding a destructive secret. Ben has worn hearing aids for years, which make him feel like a freak. Tyler, one of the only nonwhite kids at school, has always understood Ben but seems to be pulling away. Through this increasingly strained relationship, Kaufman (The Other Way Around) confronts head-on boys’ fears that close friendships might make them “seem gay,” even as Ben and Tyler realize how much they need each other. As Ben’s worries about Tyler grow, he is determined to support his friend, though Tyler’s secret is bigger than Ben imagined. While Ben and Tyler’s relationship is central, Kaufman sensitively recounts Ben’s struggle to feel “normal” and his romantic explorations with girls; a blue-haired girl named Ilona, who has no problem with the label “freak,” proves key in helping Ben understand himself and reconnect with Tyler. It’s a keenly observed, emotionally deep examination of wounded, insecure teens trying to find their way. Ages 14–up. Agent: Lauren MacLeod, Strothman Agency.

July 1, 2016

Gr 10 Up-Ben and Tyler have been best friends since the fourth grade, but now, in their senior year, they are drifting apart. Ben has made it his mission in life to fit in, but he still feels like an outsider. Despite having plenty of friends, earning good grades, and playing goalie on the varsity soccer team, Ben worries that others think he is a "freak" because he wears hearing aids. When Ben meets Ilona, a girl who doesn't care what people think of her, he starts to question his own outlook on belonging. Meanwhile, Tyler has always been the golden boy: he is the soccer team star, has a steady flow of girlfriends, and is always the life of the party. Lately, though, Tyler has been withdrawn and his grades are dropping. Throughout the year, Ben and Tyler deal with a myriad of issues, including family problems, relationships, abuse, race, disabilities, drinking, drugs, sexuality, and romance. The boys' friendship is strong and carries them through difficulties. Kaufman brings a fresh voice to the contemporary realistic fiction genre. VERDICT This will appeal to those who enjoy Carrie Mesrobian's books.-Tara Kehoe, New Jersey State Library Talking Book and Braille Center, Trenton

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
White high school senior Ben Wireman wants to think about other things besides his hearing aids--like partying, soccer, and putting off his college applications. His Filipino best friend, Tyler Nuson, has always helped him blend in, but Tyler's increasingly volatile behavior and seemingly homophobic attitude foreshadow a troubling secret, driving Ben away. Tyler's lashing out at what he fears mirrors Ben's aversion to other deaf students, but Ben's hang-ups are more easily (and predictably) cured by the neglected, blue-haired, part-Japanese, casually rebellious Ilona Pierce. A la Ron Koertge's Stoner & Spaz (2001), Ilona snaps Ben out of his self-consciousness with sex, drugs, and her free-spirited outlook. Tyler's fears, rooted in the complexities of sexuality and abuse, are less neatly resolved. Kaufman believably portrays uncertainties surrounding sex and sexuality, discussing perceptions of abuse and positioning Tyler and Ben's relationship against assumptions that close male friendships are sexual. However, some lines are left too blurred. Ilona happens to frequent a primarily gay club; it's unclear whether that indicates her orientation or--more troublingly--her edginess, given her stock "worldly tough girl" vibes. While Tyler's reason for questioning his sexuality is understandable, it's also inaccurate, and the characters don't recognize that quite firmly enough for such a seldom-explored issue. A well-intentioned testament to letting freak flags fly, marred by ambiguity in the wrong places. (Fiction. 14-18)

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Starred review from September 1, 2016
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* Ben Wireman's last name is a constant reminder that his hearing aids always make him stand out in a crowd, and for all the wrong reasons. Nevertheless, he's been able to carve out a niche, thanks to his starting spot as goalie for the school soccer team and his friendship with Tyler, the school heartthrob. This tenuous position begins to fall apart when Tyler begins alienating everyone, endangering both his friendship with Ben and the team's trip to the state championship. Enter Ilona Pierce, a foul-mouthed misfit who helps Ben understand that all of us are freaks of nature, and that Tyler's actions may be hiding a deeper pain. Kaufman breathes heart and grit into a story of friendship, empathy, and acceptance. Her command of teen dialogue is masterful, and she is able to deftly juggle such topics as sexual abuse and economic disparity without being preachy or didactic. Kaufman does the hard work of portraying nuanced, complex characters who defy simple categories. Ben is at once an outsider and a stud athlete. Tyler looks and talks like a popular kid, but wears that mask to hide his inner turmoil. Ilona is a rebel who still cares for her mother, despite their differences. Packed with depth, joy, and hope, Kaufman's book is ultimately a story of how to be a frienda topic that is always prescient for young adults.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)