An anti-bullying story I can feel comfortable handing to middle-schoolers, because it's not a heavy-handed Bullying Is Wrong book--it's light and funny, though still substantial. Honestly, my only reservation about this book is that it's a little juvenile and dumb--but it's about a kid who is a little juvenile and dumb, so mission accomplished. ( )

This is by the same author as American Born Chinese and while not nearly as powerful as that book, Gordon Yamamato is still a worthy read. It tells the story of Gordon Yamamato and chronicles his bullying of a student he and a friend crown as "king of the geeks". This king of the geeks, a boy named Miles, turns out to be a quietly enraged kid who has a neglectful father and a penchant for building bombs with revenge in his heart. From there on in, there's an interesting tale of friendship, redemption, and forgiveness. In the meantime, there's a boatload of weird stuff -- everything from nose-dwelling aliens to evil animal crackers to mind switching to mystical doughnuts.

As you can tell, it's an odd story, but an oddly charming one nonetheless. Its treatment of bullying works well and I think young people will relate to some of the alienation, anger, and frustration of youth. In the end, the bully redeems himself and the king of the nerds tries to make peace with his own inner demons. There's a coda at the end of some sort of baker who makes the Mother of All Cupcakes. I think there's a purpose to this tale, but darned if I get it.

Given how much I've grown to like odd and seemingly incomprehensible plot lines, I can't help but like Gordon Yamamoto and the King of All Geeks. It reminds me of They Might Be Giants songs -- offbeat, upbeat, but strangely dark and profound. ( )