My Brilliant Idea: (And How It Caused My Downfall)

Gr 8 Up—Jack "the Jackdaw" Dawson is a 15-year-old "idea man." He has developed a reputation around school as a schemer. While sitting in science class, Jackdaw believes he has come up with "the Big One," an idea that will lead him to fame and fortune. Narrated by Jackdaw, this tale takes readers on an often humorous journey, as he attempts to align everything he needs to make his idea come to fruition. Young adults will find his tone authentic but may have trouble understanding the slang used in his regional dialect. While the title leads readers to believe the book will focus on the idea and how it causes Jackdaw's downfall, it instead focuses primarily on the events leading up to making the idea a reality. There are several characters presented; however, there is very little character development or backstory, which may leave some readers feeling disconnected from Jackdaw's struggles. A secondary plot in which the protagonist deals with the opposite expectations that his mother and father have for him after graduation provides some relatable drama, but a lack of resolution will leave some feeling jaded.