OVERSPRAY

A troubled high school student struggles after the death of his father in Thompson’s YA novel.

Nick and his best friend, Grady, steal chips and juice from Mike’s Market. At school, Nick finds out he got a D on a test and detention for tardiness. He hates school and can’t stand happy kids. Nick, who was a good student in middle school, fondly remembers a former teacher; he also recalls the night his dad died in an accident. After Nick and Grady steal some spray paint from Price Mart, they are preparing to tag a garage door when Grady falls. Good Samaritans call the paramedics while Nick hides. The next day at school, the principal announces that Grady has died from a head injury. Nick’s mom figures out her son has been drinking alcohol and lying; Nick confesses to his mom about the tagging, stealing, and the night Grady died. With his mom’s support, Nick commits to making restitution for what he stole. The novel is meant to be easy to read to help students improve their reading skills, including those who are just learning English or have learning disabilities. To achieve this goal, Thompson uses short, simple sentences: “The sky is gray. The sidewalk is gray. Everything is gray.” Advanced readers may find the language too staccato, but readers who are working on improving their fluency may appreciate the short sentences for easy comprehension. (The text is set in OpenDyslexic Mono font, which is designed to increase readability for those with dyslexia.) Due to the difficult subject matter, the book is not a lot of fun, but readers overcoming difficulties with death, bad grades, alcohol, lying, or stealing will likely find it inspiring and hopeful.

A downbeat but ultimately hopeful story that shows a way out and up; suited for struggling readers.