So, this time around, I read a book that my students picked for me. I created a survey for them to fill out and it ended up being a tie--Zen vs. Eragon. I went with Zen because the author, Jordan Sonnenblick, is coming to our school this spring and I hadn't read Zen yet. I'm sure at some point I'll get to Eragon, but for now, it will have to wait.
San Lee has attended more schools and had more identities than he can keep track of anymore. The latest move has him and his mom moving to Pennsylvania from Texas--in the middle of winter. On his first day of 8th grade in PA, San tries to decide what his identity will be this time around: goth, skater, prep, jock, emo, a Bible-thumper? Almost by accident, San becomes known as Buddha Boy or Zen master. The deception starts to take on a life of its own and San finds himself in over his head--and eating a nasty vegetable wrap instead of juicy hamburger. San is also Chinese--most assume his family emigrated from China and that is where he gets all of his knowlege about Zen Buddhism--but he is, in fact, adopted, and never tells anyone this. So when his mom shows up and she is most definitely NOT Asian, the walls come a'tumbling down.
I liked this book, but it was not my favorite of Sonnenblick's.....some of his other books include Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie; After Ever After; and Notes from the Midnight Driver (where I got my inspiration for the title of this blog).
Happy Reading!
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