El buscapleitos

October 2, 2000
YA-This translation of the 1993 novel (Penguin Books) leaves much to be desired, though the story itself is timeless. A timid boy is bullied beyond endurance by two nasty girls, misunderstood by his teachers, and undervalued by his mother. After enduring schoolyard torture and being falsely accused by his tormentors, Simon suffers a final, life-threatening attack. Although he ends up in the hospital and the girls' guilt is discovered by the school authorities, the suspicion that he was also a culprit is never really lifted. This vaguely unsatisfying conclusion is sadly realistic and most adolescent readers will sympathize with the injustice of it all. The well-written story suffers in this translation but is not overwhelmed by it. The principal problem is that the translator stayed much too close to the English original and translated some expressions too literally (e.g., "Simon sabia que estaba en problemas" for "Simon knew he was in trouble"). The b&w illustrations do an excellent job of portraying the emotions of the main character. In one drawing, Simon's torso is rendered as a bull's-eye, and floating daggers surround his head. What afflicted teen couldn't relate? Although it is unfortunate that the translation is weak, novels by Jan Needle are so popular among teenagers that it is worth providing Hispanic patrons with versions that they can read as well. M.O.B.