Sparks

by Graham McNamee

Last year Todd was the smartest kid in Special Needs; this year, he was promoted to the regular fifth-grade class, where they call him “Retardo” and “Braindead.” He’s really trying to keep up, but he’s in danger of being sent back to Needs. Then a history project about the pygmy Ota Benga inspires Todd to use his secret strength–imagination.

Being promoted also meant Todd had to leave his pals behind in Special Needs, even his best friend, Eva. Why can’t Eva understand that they can’t be friends anymore? Why can’t he stop missing her? What’s the right answer to that?


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult

128 pages, Paperback

First published August 13, 2002

About the author

Graham McNamee. Male. Caucasian. 5'10". Brown hair. Brown eyes. Do not approach. Extremely shy.

Author of: HATE YOU, NOTHING WRONG WITH A THREE-LEGGED DOG, SPARKS, and ACCELERATION. HATE YOU was an ALA Best Book for young Adults and an ALA Quick Pick, won the Austrian Children's Book Award, and was nominated for the Governor General's Award. SPARKS won the PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship.

Born and raised in Toronto, McNamee has been sighted in Vancouver. Present whereabouts unknown.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Todd moves from special needs to a regular classroom in 5th grade, and finds the transition challenging on academic and social levels. He has his parent's support, and realizes how good a friend Eva is. It seemed authentic... had a lot of warmth towards family, sensitivity to being different.

[Hannah]

I read part of this and it's funny!!!!!