The Skinny
(aka Back of the Book Summary in a Sentence)
Theo and three other teenagers are expelled from high school for crimes they did not commit, and Theo is determined to figure out who framed them.
Nutritional Value
(aka What’s Good)
Now I know what happens during an expulsion hearing. Also, I did not know expulsion hearings even existed until I read this. Thank you, James Patterson, for teaching me something new about the world.
Freezer Burn
(aka What’s Bad)
This book paints adults as the unsympathetic and unforgiving enemy. I’m pretty sure that’s how a lot of teenagers view grownups, but the adults in the expulsion hearing were extremely two-dimensional. They didn’t even care one bit that Theo’s dad died less than a year ago or that they were holding the expulsion hearing on Theo’s birthday.
Lingering Aftertaste
(aka My Prediction)
One of the kids who claim to have been framed is probably the culprit. My money’s on Parker, the guy in the revealing photo. Even though he appears to be the victim, he’s probably the villain. These kinds of books enjoy twists like that.
Taste Test Verdict
(aka Would I Read More?)
I’ve read so many books with this sort of plot in the last few months. Is this the in thing now? Kind of like how a decade ago it was all about vampires, and then after that was the dystopia fad. Now I guess the new craze is Breakfast Club whodunits? I’m going to have to pass on this one. Maybe if it were the first book I picked up in this new trend, I’d keep reading. But I’ve already read a handful of novels about a group of teens being wrongfully punished for crimes they didn’t commit. My upper limit has been reached.
Memorable Morsel
(aka Quotable Quote)
See, adults as the heartless enemy.
I look first at Palmieri and then at the glowering members of the school board. They don’t know me at all, but it’s obvious they’ve already judged me. It all becomes clear: there’s no one on my side and no way of getting out of this mess.
What’s the worst trouble you’ve ever been in at school? Sound off in the comments below!
Get Expelled
Gwen thinks that it’s as close to magic as humans can get when a blank Word document is filled with groups of letters, and those groups of letters turn into lines, and those lines turn into a whole new world.
When Gwen isn’t reading or writing, she’s drinking boba milk tea and singing along to Steven Universe. You should sing along with her.