A Year in the Life of a Complete and Total Genius

Gr 5 Up—Readers meet Arthur Bean as he is entering seventh grade somewhat belatedly due to his mother's death. Despite the sadness of his home life, Arthur is quick to assure his teacher that he is a gifted writer and will one day be a famous author. In fact, Arthur is so convinced of his eventual greatness that he comes across as a know-it-all in English class, completely convinced he will win the story competition at the end of the year with minimal effort. That's probably a good thing, because with the distractions added to Arthur's life in the form of a writing partnership with Kennedy, the popular girl, and tutoring Robbie, the boy who calls him names, the preteen has a lot on his plate. So much so, that his amazing writing turns into amazing writer's block and his emotions, which he tries hard to hide, come out in unexpected ways. Written entirely in notes, emails, stories, and journal entries, this novel successfully captures the trials and tribulations of junior high school. As readers follow Arthur through the year, they will see him change in ways that aren't always likable but are usually relatable and that lead to real growth. There are a few stereotypes—the bully has trouble writing, the popular girl is self-absorbed—but readers will be willing to overlook them.