The Last Boy at St. Edith's by Lee Gjertsen Malone

Secondary characters are varied if not very fully developed early in the book. Wyatt is a strong, multidimensional character, and the tension is palpable as he strives to keep his secret. This story weaves family issues with the role that sports plays for teens, especially in the transitional period leading to high school. The more he becomes involved in the league, the more he changes, until his relationship with Evan is affected. In order to play, Wyatt will have to engage in the kind of deception that he hates. Then his older brother lets him in on a secret football league with no adult supervision, where the hitting is fierce and only the toughest are welcome, including his school’s biggest bully. Wyatt, though, is small for his age, and they think the sport too dangerous, so his dad enrolls him in golf camp. His parents are supportive of sports: His older brother, Aaron, plays football. The fact that she seems smitten with a high school quarterback reinforces the idea that playing football is the answer. Wyatt Parker has decided he is tired of being bullied, and he also wants his best buddy, girl-next-door Evan, to see him as more than a friend. Sweet, funny, exciting-a spectacular debut.Ī conscientious, undersized middle schooler decides he wants sports success even if it means lying about the secret league he joins. This is a funny, emotional book that will quickly become a favorite to many a reader, regardless of age. Most impressively, the author doesn't shortchange any of these explorations, nor does she turn the book into a sermon. This is a completely thought-out world, and the author uses it to explore class issues, family dynamics, gender roles, and preteen friendship. Every one of these characters is given just enough shading and hints at an inner life to be entirely believable. The escalation in pranks is equaled by the dramatic complications: Malone uses the high-concept premise as a backdrop for her well-sketched characters. And so, in desperation, Jeremy conspires with his best friend, Claudia, to pull a series of pranks that he hopes will get him expelled. Jeremy's family can't afford a different fancy school, and his mom refuses to transfer him to the subpar public school. Edith's to get Jeremy free tuition to the prestigious school. All he has are sisters and a mom, a mom who works hard at St. Everywhere he turns there are girls, and his family doesn't help either. Edith's Academy, and he can't take it anymore.

Jeremy Miner has become the last boy at St. After an attempt to go coed fails, one seventh-grader remains the lone boy at an all-girls school.

The Last Boy at St. Edith's by Lee Gjertsen Malone