The New York Times bestselling author of Challenger Deep, Neal Shusterman, delivers a suspenseful, eloquent, and thrilling novel that you won't be able to stop thinking about after you've put it down.
Tennyson is not surprised, really, when his family begins to fall apart, or when his twin sister, Brontë, starts dating the misunderstood bully, Brewster (or The Bruiser, as the entire high school calls him). Tennyson is determined to get to the bottom of The Bruiser's reputation, even if it means gearing up for a fight. Brontë, on the other hand, thinks there's something special underneath that tough exterior. And she's right...but neither she nor Tennyson is prepared for the truth of what lies below the surface.
Told through Tennyson, Brontë, and Bruiser's points of view, this dark, twisting novel explores friendship, family, and the sacrifices we make for the people we love.
A Texas Lone Star Reading List selection
A Book Page Top Ten Book of the YearA Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year
A Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice
What happens when caring for someone means taking on their every wound, both physical and emotional?
- A Dark Supernatural Power: Brewster doesn't just feel others' pain--he takes it into his own body. Every cut, bruise, and heartbreak his friends and family suffer becomes his own.
- A High-Stakes Paranormal Romance: Brontë is drawn to the misunderstood boy nobody else will go near, but loving him comes with a price she can't possibly imagine.
- Protective Twin Brother: Tennyson sees only a threat to his sister, Brontë. He's determined to unmask the Bruiser, even if it means starting a fight he's not ready for.
- Dysfunctional Family Secrets: Between the twins' crumbling family and Brewster's life with his abusive uncle, this gripping story explores the dark and complex nature of loyalty and sacrifice.
- A Story About Empathy: A thought-provoking exploration of what it truly means to carry someone else's burdens, perfect for fans of emotional and suspenseful YA fiction.
About the Author :
Neal Shusterman is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of more than fifty books, including Challenger Deep, which won the National Book Award; Scythe, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book; Dry, which he cowrote with his son, Jarrod Shusterman; Unwind, which won more than thirty domestic and international awards; Bruiser, which was on a dozen state lists; The Schwa Was Here, winner of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award; and Game Changer, which debuted as an indie top-five best seller. He is the winner of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for the body of his work. You can visit him online at storyman.com.
Review :
"The compelling issues and engaging premise make this a rewarding read." - ALA Booklist
"Even as the narrative wrestles with philosophical and moral issues, it delves deep into the viewpoints of Tennyson, Bronte, Bruiser, and his younger brother, each segment told in a different, distinctive style, making for a memorable story." - Publishers Weekly
"Shusterman's writing is wonderful and a joy to read. The subject matter makes this a great book discussion choice." - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
"This is a wrenching but ultimately redemptive look at how pain defines us and how love, whether familial, romantic or friendly, demands sacrifice and brings gifts of its own. Once again, Shusterman spins a fantastic tale that sheds light on everyday life." - Kirkus Reviews
"This eloquent and thoughtful story will most certainly leave its mark." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Shusterman's novel reveals its secrets and their implications slowly, allowing readers to connect the dots before the characters do and encouraging them to weigh the price of Bruiser's 'gift' against the freedom from pain that Tennyson and Bronte enjoy." - School Library Journal
