cover image Will

Will

Maria Boyd, Knopf, $16.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-375-86209-0

When 17-year-old Will drops his pants to moon the bus of girls from the sister school to his all-boys academy, he is exiled to the land of geeks, aka, the band for the school musical, a punishment suggested by his English teacher. The school leadership has grown weary of Will's hijinks, and this is his last chance to prove himself. But in the year since his father died, Will has ceased to care about most things, dwelling in a silent grief that is slowly revealed to readers. But through the strong supporting cast—Zach, the seventh-year student who idolizes Will; Elizabeth, Will's crush; Chris, Will's best friend; and Mark, the lead in the musical, who comes out to Will—Will is brought slowly back to the land of the living. Readers should find it easy to sympathize with Will's vibrant, deadpan narration and his frequent use of slang, while recognizing that his jocular exterior hides a deeper vulnerability. Debut novelist Boyd effectively handles Will's final outpouring of repressed emotions: the personal growth achieved by her realistic, likeable protagonist is abundantly clear. Ages 12–up. (July)