Weird Kid by Greg Van Eekhout

Weird Kid blends humor with the “aliens among us” theme to make an entertaining read for middle graders, (especially boys).

Weird Kid by Greg van Eekhout, Harper, 2021, 199 pages.

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12

Recommended for: ages 8-12

Middle grade is tough enough for normal kids, but imagine going into this awkward transitional phase as a shape-shifting alien. Jake Wind looks like a normal kid. When he landed on earth as a blob of goo 12 years ago, and happened to be touched and loved by the couple who became his parents, he’s felt like a normal kid. But lately he’s been having trouble with involuntary shape-shifting, like feathers and extra digits sprouting where they shouldn’t. What if he sprouts tentacles during gym class? And could the problem have something to do with the sinkholes developing around town? The ones that a mysterious gooey substance has been oozing from?

Fortunately, Jake finds an ally in Agnes Oakes, a normal but seriously geeky girl. Also his cousin Dale, a guitar aficionado who’s weird in his own way. But can they foil the blob before it envelopes, or “imblobviates,” the whole town?

It’s a science-fictiony premise, but one needn’t be a sci-fi fan to enjoy the ride. Jake’s first-person voice is both sympathetic and funny, with several laugh-out-loud lines. His parents are a bit flakey but loving and supportive, and love will save the day. Weird Kid is humor with heart, and the short length makes it a good choice for reluctant readers, especially boys.

Consideration:

• One misuse of God’s name, in lower case.

Overall Rating: 3.75

• Worldview/moral value: 3.50
• Artistic/literary value: 4

Read more about our ratings here.

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Review: Younger readers will enjoy the adventures of Hilo: The Boy Who Fell From Space.
• Review: Older tweens and young teens might enjoy this series about aliens/humans: The Overthrow Series by Kenneth Oppel
• Resource: See our list of “13 Books for 13-Year-Old Boys.”

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