The Life and Times of Benny Alvarez

May 5, 2014
Seventh-grader Benny Alvarez is known for a few things: a negative attitude that his mother keeps trying to change; the Word Warriors, a group he started with his two best friends to use and decipher obscure and unfamiliar words; and a rivalry with his smart and bossy classmate Claudine. But lately whenever Benny looks at Claudine, he can’t help but notice how her eyes sparkle. Just as confusing as these contradictory emotions is the way Benny’s grandfather’s health has deteriorated after his stroke, not to mention the poetry unit in his English class, which turns into a battle of poems between Benny and Claudine. This slice-of-life novel portrays Benny and his entertaining family and friends with just the right balance of angst and humor; Benny’s narration is a spot-on mix of the sharp wisdom and utter befuddlement that can result when hormones come into play. Johnson (The Amazing Adventures of John Smith, Jr. AKA Houdini) gives a strong sense of the fears and joys that come with being a 13-year-old-boy working to make sense of the way his life, friends, and family are changing. Ages 8–12.

May 15, 2014
Benny navigates the treacherous waters of seventh grade with wit and sarcasm. Dubbed "Mr. Negativity" by his little brother, he follows in his dad's footsteps in always expecting the worst, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have any fun. He and his two best friends test new vocabulary from the thesaurus each day at school, where a girls-vs.-boys divide arises. Benny is chosen as the boys' champion in a poetry competition against the girls, led by his nemesis: know-it-all Claudine. Meanwhile, Benny's dad has been out of work and just can't find a job, his mom is unrelentingly positive, and his grandpa is slowly losing his mind. This second middle-grade novel from the author of The Amazing Adventures of John Smith, Jr., AKA Houdini (2012) offers richly developed side characters and a true-to-life voice in Benny's smart-mouthed but still-naive perspective. His Irish family's antics (the "Alvarez" is some long-lost relative) carry the story engagingly for readers with only the lightest of plots.This friendship story will appeal to word nerds and those that tolerate them, and it may even produce some tears under cover of humor. (Fiction. 11-14)

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May 1, 2014

Gr 6-8-In seventh grade, Benny is a contrarian, someone who consistently sees "the glass half empty." His younger brother Crash is as quirky and hyperactive as they come, while Benny's dad, a retired teacher, is known to be a bit unusual. Grandpa Alvarez has suffered several strokes and his health continues to decline. Benny, along with best friends, Jocko and Beanie, is deeply interested in words-their definitions and synonyms. When their teacher announces a new poetry unit, the girls in the class claim verse and rhyming, while the boys sit on the prose side. Benny's crush, the redhead Claudine, is a lover of poetry, which Benny hopes to use to his advantage. Family relationships and dynamics are entertaining at times-particularly Crash's ability to get his way-while Benny's negative outlook and the serious health problems suffered by Grandpa cast a gloomy seriousness to parts of the story. What remains is a solid foray into middle school with a kid whose first-person narrative reveals a potential leader and a surprisingly sensitive point of view.-Carol A. Edwards, Denver Public Library, CO

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2014
Grades 4-6 Benny Alvarez can't help being contrary. He thinks asking questions and expressing his opinions are important to his learning process, and he comes from a long line of arguers: his grandfather, his father, and even his wild little brother, Crash. His ability to debate someone to death even makes him an occasional classroom hero, like when he became the first boy to stand up to know-it-all Claudine in fifth grade. Now in seventh, Benny counts Claudine as his archenemy, though he has confusingly started blushing around her. Their rivalry reaches a new level during a boys-against-girls poetry competition, where Benny doesn't feel his usual confidence. With his friends pointing out his tendency toward emotional tone deafness, he is able to see a different side to Claudine, especially when he discovers her beloved dog is sick. Johnson relates Benny's age-appropriate struggles with humor and understanding. Benny is an appealing narrator: smart, spirited, and caring, but often bewildered by strong emotions. Gentle realism perfect for middle schoolers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)