The Shiniest Rock of All

Robert Reynolds hates his name because he cannot pronounce it correctly. Robert does not want his peers to know how much his speech defect bothers him; his parents, however, recognize their son's embarrassment and encourage him to see a speech therapist. As Robert confronts his difficulty, he begins to feel better about himself and to appreciate other people's problems as well as his own. This understanding enables the lad to begin a new friendship and rekindle an old one. Though this protagonist's discovery is significant, flat characters and insipid narrative mar his story. Still, readers may enjoy Robert's antics and Patterson's brand of humor. Ages 8-up. (Sept.)