Title: STUPID
Series: SIDESTREETS NOVELS
Author: KIM FIRMSTON
Type of Book: PAPERBACK
Genre: YOUNG ADULT CONTEMPORARY FICTION
Length: 208 PAGES
Publisher: LORIMER & COMPANY LTD.
Release Date: 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4594-0611-7
Price: $9.95 CDN
Rating: 5 OUT OF 5 STARS π π π π π
Martin wishes that everyone would quit calling him stupid.
Just because he isn’t on the honour roll like his younger sister doesn’t mean he’s stupid.
No matter how hard he tries, Martin just can’t seem to improve his grades at school.
Martin’s father constantly belittles him; calling him lazy and stupid. As it would with any teenager, this devastates and frustrates Martin.
Out one night videotaping he captures surprising video of someone jumping from roof to roof at an abandoned brewery. When security spots the person on the roof, the two teenagers team up to help each other escape.
From that night on, Martin and Stick becomevgood friends. Asking Stick what he had been up to that night introduces Martin to the world of parkour (free running).
Seeing correlations between Stick’s jumps, flips and tricks and the way words move around the page when he tries to read, Martin decides to make a movie that will prove he isn’t so stupid after all.
I love the fact that this book addresses issues that other authors are afraid to take on – like the fact that parental verbal abuse can be as bad (and sometimes worse than) physical abuse.
That topic alone would be enough to tackle in a single book, but not for Kim Firmston. Her writing is absolutely fearless (kind of like Stick when he is doing parkour.)
Additional topics talked about in very realistic ways include: learning disorders, dyslexia, ADHD, the foster system, the sale of ritalin in high schools, depression and the frustration of giving something your absolute best effort and still coming up short.
If a reader cannot find a way to relate to either Martin or Stick then they must have been brought up in complete isolation from others.
This is the second book I have read by KIM FIRMSTON and I am now officially a fan. I love the realism in her books and I love that she is not afraid to bring up hard topics. Her books are perfect for Young Adult Reading Groups and in fact, I think that it sbould be required reading for parents of teenagers.
I rate this book as 5 out of 5 stars πππππ
* I received a free paperback copy of this book from the author but this in no way influenced my rating or my review. All opinions are 100% my own and 100% honest.
I am looking forward to reading Kim Firmston’s next book called BOILED CAT which is to be read while also experiencing it’s website at the same time. It sounds like a lot of fun. (Don’t worry, its not a horror. BOILED CAT is the name of a rock band.
ADD “STUPID” TO YOUR GOODREADS ACCOUNT BY CLICKING THE LOGO BELOW:
WHO is this so called KIM FIRMSTON?
Kim says she is a real life mutant β though one without any cool powers. When she is not writing or cursing obvious villain mistakes, she warps young minds in her Reality is Optional Creative Kidsβ Programming, at WordsWorth Writing Camp and through the ACS Dramantics Theatre Camp, among other places.
Her short story, Life Before War, was short listed in the 2008 CBC Literary Award and published in FreeFall Magazine. Returning Home, was published in the Alexandra Reader Anthology. Her childrenβs plays (many of which were co-written with children) have been produced across North America, the Calgary Fringe Festival, and as far away as the UK and Egypt. She has published six YA books which can be seen here, has been the Writer in Residence for Open Book Toronto, toured Labrador as part of TD Book Week, and was even interviewed on CJSW.
Kim is dedicated to sharing writing with children of all ages including those not able to write yet and promoting youth who wish to make it their career.
Other websites where you can find Kim:
http://www.boiledcat.com/ |
amazon.com/author/kimfirmston |
Amie's Book Reviews 
This book looks like it speaks to the problems that so many kids deal with these days. Looks like a compelling read. My young teen is reading The Boy and the Dolphin which he seems to really enjoy, it’s by Dick Schmidt dickschmidtbooks.com. It’s worth a look if your kids like the kinds of books that tell a great story.
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I will have to check it out. Thanks for the suggestion.
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