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Description edit see section history

Gr 8 Up–Tennyson, 16, is upset When his twin sister, Brontë, befriends their shy and withdrawn classmate Brewster “Bruiser” Rawlins, he is concerned that her relationship with this boy from the wrong side of the tracks will prove somehow dangerous. After he spies Bruiser changing in the locker... read more

Summary edit see section history

Tennyson is concerned for his twin sister Brontee and her relationship the shy and withdrawn Brewster "Bruiser" Rawlins. When he spies "Bruiser" changing in the locker room he gets even more concerned when he sees the scars and welts covering his back. Even with all of his concern Brontee... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Tennyson is concerned for his twin sister Brontee and her relationship the shy and withdrawn Brewster "Bruiser" Rawlins. When he spies "Bruiser" changing in the locker room he gets even more concerned when he sees the scars and welts covering his back. Even with all of his concern Brontee continues to bring "Bruiser" closer to her family. But then the twins begin to notice "Bruisers" unusual talent for absorbing not only the physical pain and wounds from those he cares about, but also absorbing their anger, hurt, and grief.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Tennyson Sternberger: Add a description of this character.
  • Brontë Sternberger: Tennyson's twin sister. She's named after the famous writer, her parents are big on that. Brontë is a smart girl who also seems to have status among her peers. She has a soft spot for the underdog and an honest desire to help others. She is a strong girl with self-confidence and a genuine caring nature. She has feelings for Brewster.
  • Brewster Rawlins
  • Andrea: This starts with an outlier with a very warm heart that nobody sees, finally gets noticed by a girl. Her twin brother tries to ruin the relationship until he finds out the personal story of his. Then that changes everything.
  • Uncle Hoyt: Uncle Hoyt is best described as a real redneck with a horrible temper and drinking problem. He is unwell and has struggled through a hard life, abandoning his own family and ending up with two boys to care for when their parents die.
  • Ozzy O’dell: Ozzy is a bully who seems to feel best about himself when he's putting others down.
  • Katrina: Tennyson's girlfriend. She is a bit self centered and certainly the kind of girl that a guy like Tennyson is expected to be with.
  • Cody Rawlins
  • Andrea: Brewster and Cody's neighbors.
  • Mr. Sternberger: Tennyson && Bronte's father.
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “. . . joy can only be defined by the speed at which you're moving away from pain.”
    Brontë Sternberger
  • Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
  • People live with blinders too; but ours are invisible, and much more sophisticated. Most of the time we don’t even know they’re there. Maybe we need them, though, because if we took in everything all at once, we’d lose our minds. Or worse, our souls. We’d see, we’d hear, we’d feel so deeply that we might never resurface.
    Highlighted by 48 Kindle customers
  • So we make decisions and base our lives on those decisions, never realizing we’re only seeing one-tenth of the whole. Then we cling to our narrow conclusions like our lives depend on it.
    Highlighted by 46 Kindle customers
  • If your heart tells you something but your mind tells you something else, which do you believe?
    Highlighted by 42 Kindle customers
  • And all because we longed for healing and happiness—as if happiness is a state of being. But it’s not. Happiness is a vector. It’s movement. Like my own momentum across the pool, joy can only be defined by the speed at which you’re moving away from pain.
    Highlighted by 32 Kindle customers
  • Can you imagine how terrifying it must be to suddenly realize that everything you believe about the nature of the universe is wrong? Most people don’t realize how terrifying that is until their world is the one being threatened.
    Highlighted by 30 Kindle customers
  • Cody and his pain is my obligation, and standing between my uncle and his pain is my rent, but the pain I coax from Brontë is my joy.
    Highlighted by 30 Kindle customers
  • black holes generate an amazing amount of light. The problem is, their gravity is so great, the light can’t escape—it just gets pulled in along with everything else.
    Highlighted by 29 Kindle customers
  • You think you want to know the secrets of the universe. You think you want to see the way things all fit together. You believe in your heart of hearts that enlightenment will save the world and set you free. Maybe it will. But the path to enlightenment is rarely a pleasant one.
    Highlighted by 27 Kindle customers
  • The thing is, once a bomb begins to fall the deed is done. All you can do is watch helplessly, waiting for the blinding flash.
    Highlighted by 27 Kindle customers
  • It’s amazing the things you can hold on to when you’re determined to keep them, and the immunity you can develop if you truly want to.
    Highlighted by 20 Kindle customers
Show all 11 quotes from this book

First Sentence edit see section history

If he touches her, I swear I'm going to rip out his guts with my bare hands and send them to his next of kin for lunch.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This book is in Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Nominees 2013. (authoritative list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Neal Shusterman (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: HarperTeen
Country: Add the country of publication.
Publication Date: 2010
ISBN: Add the ISBN.
Page Count: 336

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

really good book. romantic in some parts.

Books Cited by This Book edit see section history

   
  • The Merchant of Venice

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