Bruiser

Neal Shusterman

$15.99

Publication Date: October 4th, 2011

Publisher:

Quill Tree Books

ISBN:

9780061134104

Pages:

352

All isn't well before Tennyson and his twin sister, Bronte, meet Bruiser, the kid the school voted 'most likely to get the death penalty.' But then things change. Their troubles disappear, or at least they believe they have, until they discover that Bruiser has an ability no one should know about. A haunting story that blurs the lines between fault and innocence.

Dave Richardson, The Blue Marble, Fort Thomas, KY

Summer 2010 Kids' Next List

Description

The New York Times bestselling author of Challenger Deep, Neal Shusterman, delivers a suspenseful, eloquent, and thrilling novel that you won't be able to stop thinking about after you've put it down.

Tennyson is not surprised, really, when his family begins to fall apart, or when his twin sister, Brontë, starts dating the misunderstood bully, Brewster (or The Bruiser, as the entire high school calls him). Tennyson is determined to get to the bottom of The Bruiser's reputation, even if it means gearing up for a fight. Brontë, on the other hand, thinks there's something special underneath that tough exterior. And she's right…but neither she nor Tennyson is prepared for the truth of what lies below the surface.

Told through Tennyson, Brontë, and Bruiser's points of view, this dark, twisting novel explores friendship, family, and the sacrifices we make for the people we love.

A Texas Lone Star Reading List selection
A Book Page Top Ten Book of the Year
A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year
A Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice

About the Author

Neal Shusterman is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of more than fifty books, including Challenger Deep, which won the National Book Award; Scythe, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book; Dry, which he cowrote with his son, Jarrod Shusterman; Unwind, which won more than thirty domestic and international awards; Bruiser, which was on a dozen state lists; The Schwa Was Here, winner of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award; and Game Changer, which debuted as an indie top-five best seller. He is the winner of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for the body of his work. You can visit him online at storyman.com.

Praise for Bruiser

“The compelling issues and engaging premise make this a rewarding read.” — ALA Booklist

“This is a wrenching but ultimately redemptive look at how pain defines us and how love, whether familial, romantic or friendly, demands sacrifice and brings gifts of its own. Once again, Shusterman spins a fantastic tale that sheds light on everyday life.” — Kirkus Reviews

“This eloquent and thoughtful story will most certainly leave its mark.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Even as the narrative wrestles with philosophical and moral issues, it delves deep into the viewpoints of Tennyson, Bronte, Bruiser, and his younger brother, each segment told in a different, distinctive style, making for a memorable story.” — Publishers Weekly

“Shusterman’s writing is wonderful and a joy to read. The subject matter makes this a great book discussion choice.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“Shusterman’s novel reveals its secrets and their implications slowly, allowing readers to connect the dots before the characters do and encouraging them to weigh the price of Bruiser’s ‘gift’ against the freedom from pain that Tennyson and Bronte enjoy.” — School Library Journal