All the Things That Could Go Wrong

July 23, 2018
Many books offer compassionate renderings of bullied victims; far fewer cast bullies in a sympathetic light. Foster (The Bubble Boy) does both with frankness and wit in this story told in alternating points of view by British middle schoolers Alex and Dan. Alex has severe OCD and a long list of fears, including germs, people dying, and classmate Dan, whose gang of troublemakers torment him at school. Dan lives his life in anger while worrying about his older brother, who is locked up in a detention center. When Dan’s and Alex’s parents meet at the movies and decide their sons should spend time together, both boys are distraught. Forced together against their will to work on the raft Dan is building, they come to understand each other’s vulnerabilities. In this insightful novel, Foster shows a clear understanding of adolescent dynamics, inside the classroom and out. As the characters come to grips with each other’s behavior, readers will find themselves rooting for both protagonists. Ages 8–12.