One of the Boys

In this first novel, Johnson paints a chillingly familiar portrait of a ``nice'' kid who does not-so-nice things in order to fit in with a group. When smart-talking, devil-may-care Marty shows up at Emerson High, narrator Eric becomes part of the crowd of hangers-on who will do anything to gain his sneering acceptance. In short order, ``the Boys,'' led by Marty, perform a variety of pranks. Even though Eric willingly participates in one of these escapades, he begins to have nagging doubts about Marty and his schemes. But he puts them aside whenever his leader beckons, because he so desperately wants to belong. Finally, in carrying out what Marty has billed as the best stunt of all, Eric sees that his ``friend'' has set him up and used him for his own ends. Unlike other books of this type, Johnson's novel barely probes the villain as a character--he doesn't even get his comeuppance in the end. Instead, Johnson deftly stresses Eric's development from mindless stooge to independent, ethical individual--a metamorphosis that will be of interest to many adolescents. Ages 12-up. (Apr.)