Friday 7 April 2017

Genius Under Construction - Marilee Haynes

Genius Under Construction
Marilee Haynes
Pauline Books and Media
ISBN 9780819831262

eISBN 9781306807319
ASIN B00JJ5PIIQ




Genius Under Construction was the third book I have read by Marileee Haynes and because I loved the other two, a.k.a. Genius and Pictures of Me, so much I had very high expectations for this book. I really like this book, it is a great read, but because it is so focused on one of the three friends from the first book, it just did not hit as high for me. It is a great book about and for kids. It really captures inner struggles, discerning your path, and the transition from middle school. And it does a wonderful job of some of the frustrations of trying to learn when you have a learning disability. It is in the genre of realistic fiction. It is a story about kids that you could know, the brain, the one who wants to be an athlete, the smart girl, and the one struggling in school. 

This story focuses more on Gabe, and what he is doing. We see changes in Maya, clothes, make up, and changed behavior. We also have Linc trying to convince his parents to allow his to engage in sports. Gabe has a lot on his plate, peer tutor to a boy who is getting 0 on his spelling tests. Trying to become the team statistician for the school’s basketball team, figuring out what is up with Maya, and biggest of all, his application to Carolina Science and Math High School. That is a lot of plates to keep spinning for a young man, weather he is a genius or not. 

Gabe loves numbers and while doing his in person interview for his application to the Carolina Science and Math High School, he intends to share his basketball stats and how he has helped his team. But because he is flummoxed by Maya, and seeing her kiss Linc he messes up and ends up handing over the workbook with his basketball numbers, but by mistake he also passed over a notebook tracking his farts, for Gabe struggles with being odoriferous and is trying to use his brain to solve that problem also. But he did not intend to share it with two professors from the school he is hoping to attend.

But to find out how Gabe deals with his mistake, his best friends kissing, and helping someone else learn how to do better on spelling tests you will need to read the book.

This is another great read from Pauline Books and Media and written by Marilee Haynes. It deals with friendship, using our gifts, serving others, friendship and changes at the body and mind starts to develop and change during puberty. I highly recommend it and if you have not read a.k.a. Genius read it first. I really hope we get to see more of the gangs adventures as then enter High School!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2017 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Marilee Haynes:
a.k.a. Genius
Genius Under Construction
Pictures of Me


Author profile and interview with Marilee Haynes.






No comments: