The Schwa Was Here

Antsy Bonano #1

by Neal Shusterman

They say if you stare at him long enough, you can see what’s written on the wall behind him. They say a lot of things about the Schwa, but one thing’s for sure: no one ever noticed him. Except me. My name is Antsy Bonano—and I can tell you what’s true and what’s not, ’cause I was there. I was the one who realized the Schwa was “functionally invisible” and used him to make some big bucks. But I was also the one who caused him more grief than a friend should. So if you all just shut up and listen, I’ll spill everything. Unless, of course, "the Schwa Effect" wipes him out of my brain before I'm done....

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Humor, Middle Grade, Contemporary, Teen

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Award-winning author Neal Shusterman grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he began writing at an early age. After spending his junior and senior years of high school at the American School of Mexico City, Neal went on to UC Irvine, where he made his mark on the UCI swim team, and wrote a successful humor column. Within a year of graduating, he had his first book deal, and was hired to write a movie script.

In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal's talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently playing in Boston. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful "How to Host a Mystery" game for teens, as well as seven "How to Host a Murder" games.

As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for the "Goosebumps" and “Animorphs” TV series, and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect”. Currently Neal is adapting his novel Everlost as a feature film for Universal Studios.

Wherever Neal goes, he quickly earns a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. Much of his fiction is traceable back to stories he tells to large audiences of children and teenagers -- such as his novel The Eyes of Kid Midas. As a speaker, Neal is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give Neal a unique approach to writing. Neal's novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor.

Of Everlost, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman has reimagined what happens after death and questions power and the meaning of charity. While all this is going on, he has also managed to write a rip-roaring adventure…”

Of What Daddy Did, Voice of Youth Advocates wrote; "This is a compelling, spell-binding story... A stunning novel, impossible to put down once begun.

Of The Schwa Was Here, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman's characters–reminiscent of those crafted by E. L. Konigsburg and Jerry Spinelli–are infused with the kind of controlled, precocious improbability that magically vivifies the finest children's classics.

Of Scorpion Shards, Publisher's Weekly wrote: "Shusterman takes an outlandish comic-book concept, and, through the sheer audacity and breadth of his imagination makes it stunningly believable. A spellbinder."

And of The Eyes of Kid Midas, The Midwest Book Review wrote "This wins our vote as one of the best young-adult titles of the year" and was called "Inspired and hypnotically readable" by School Library Journal.

Neal Shusterman lives in Southern California with his children Brendan, Jarrod, Joelle, and Erin, who are a constant source of inspiration!

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a story I tell in trainings about a high school where teachers were given a list of students and asked to put a gold star next to students they knew. At the end of the day, the result was a classic bell curve: a small group of over-achievers known by all, a larger group of average kids known by some, and a small group known by just about no teacher: that's Calvin Schwa. The Schwa is a human magic trick: he seems to vanish into thin air, that is until Antsy (Anthony, the book's M.C.) and his friends make a point to notice him. The story of the Schwa's seeming invisibility is a mystery that Shusterman slows unwraps, but there's plenty of action, humor, and character development along the way. There's a timeless quality to the book: the smart-alek prank-playing nickname-heavy friendship seems more like Brooklyn kids in the 1950's (or maybe the early adolescence of the young men in the movie classic Diner) in part because there have always been teens so far on the outside they can't be seen. As the losses in the Schwa's life become visible, his story becomes less comic and more tragic.

[Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Video Review:

https://youtu.be/4mJN9T7imP4

[Jami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now Shusterman's Unwind was edgy and mind-boggling (and terrifying in its premise), but I can't say the writing itself was my favorite. In this book, however, I fell in love with the narrative voice. Shusterman showed great skill in creating a character whose first-person narration painted such a clear image of a smart-alecky, young teenage Italian kid, and I totally bought it.

Not every author has the ability to give his character an accent, slang, and some bad grammar in a believable way. It just doesn't always feel natural. Anthony (or Antsy, to his friends) was completely likable and funny, and you had sympathy for his character even when he was being an idiot. And his voice didn't feel forced or annoying.

The idea behind the story is interesting. Antsy meets a kid at school named Calvin Schwa who somehow manages to be completely unnoticeable to those around him. People just don't see him, or if they do, he becomes immediately forgettable. Even his own family members forget about him. Antsy is intrigued by this phenomenon and begins testing what he calls, "The Schwa Effect."

The book has some great themes about what it means to matter in the world, really seeing and being seen, and friendship. I very much look forward to reading the sequel, Antsy Does Time.

[Shoa Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! I can't believe I lucked out again! Last year it was Holes and this year started out with this superfun read. The reason I picked this one was that I knew this was about the closest I'd ever get to reading about a character with the same name as mine :P
Moving on to matters of lesser consequence (or not), it is an inexplicable joy to finish a book on the first day of the year! It's also heartwarming to see everybody else on GR going crazy as well. Whoop!
Now, about the book, this is the story of an invisible-ish kid who's tired of always going unnoticed. That probably doesn't sound all that interesting. But this book is actually a wonderful tale of friendship, love interests, family and just about everything. It is filled with quirky characters and stays so much throughout! It is one of those wonderful Middlegrade books that doesn't read like a children's book at all, and it's moving to my "favorites" shelf right away! <3

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Schwa is definitely the most used and most forgottən vowel in the English language. Not too many sentənces can be created without using ə schwa.

The schwa is a boy named Calvin Schwa whose last name was shortənəd from Schwartz when his grandfather came over frəm Eastern Europe. The Schwa is nearly invisible, he is one əf those people that you jəst don't notice ever.He could be standing right next to you and you wouldn't even notice him. He strəggles with "the Schwa effect" and the disappearance of his məther when he was a child. The Schwa's one friend Anthəny suffers frəm middle child syndrəme and təgether the two əf them learn how tə make an impact on the world.

I ləved this novel becəse it reminded me əf all the times that I have felt invisible and it makes you feel better to know that there are əther people in the world who feel ənnoticed. I think that it is səmething that all teens can relate to at səme point in their teen years.

[Alex Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Schwa was Here was my first book by Neal Shusterman that I read. The librarian at my school recommended it to me, and although I don't usually read recommended books because my list is so long anyways, I was so entertained by the title of chapter one ("Manny Bullpucky Gets His Sorry Butt Hurled Off the Marine Park Bridge") that I stopped what I was doing to investigate further.


The title to chapter one is as dull as this book gets. The narration by Antsy has a lot of character and the whole concept of Calvin Schaw is fascinating. But the big thing that sold me on this book is that it's not about a kid who people seem to miss; it's about the details of a relationship between two friends as they live an unlikely life. It's about how they exist, what they do, and why they do it. It's about how they grow and learn and live. From the initial fun of showing off and living it up to the stresses and hardships of crushing on the same girl to feeling invisible. The story is real and rich and ultimately very satisfying.

[Neil Franz · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 24th book from Neal Shusterman. Ha!

RTC

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember hearing so much about this when it first came out, and then I didn't get a chance to read it, and suddenly it seemed like there was just so MUCH Shusterman out there, most of it straight up sci fi, that I sort of forgot that this one existed, and was written by him. It just faded from my notice, like the Schwa himself.

But I'm so glad that my sister just reminded me it existed, and even gave me her library copy to read. A really different book, quirky without being affected, and with a lot going on. It's not just about the Schwa Effect- Calvin Schwa just keeps fading from the eye, from the mind, from the memory- but there's also a strange hermit with far too many Afghan hounds, a blind girl who "sees" more clearly than either Antsy or the Schwa, bad jobs, bad cooking, arguments, middle child syndrome, depression, mysterious disappearances, and an indestructible plastic mannequin named Manny Bullpucky.

I wasn't fully satisfied with how some of this ended. There was so much packed in that I still have a lot to think about and I'm not sure this all ended as well as Antsy thought it did. But it does give you a lot to think about, in a good way.

[Donalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not usually read the same books to my class year after year, but this one has been an annual favorite with my sixth graders for the past four years, and yes, I will be reading it to them again.

A rare book that appeals to both boys and girls.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My sis and I read this and its
AMAZING!!!
Never again will I know a book so cool... unless I read it again hehehehehehe. FabulOUS book FO SHO, recommended to anyone with the ability to read. Love Jessie and Meghan the cooliest and most thorough book reviewers ever!!!

[E.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
Charming story that introduces some topics that are interesting to consider. I was not as engaged with the characters as with some stories but that may well be different for other readers, and the plot did keep me curious without resorting to annoying pulling-you-through-the-book strategies. In all a fine read that gets bonus points for embracing the schwa.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Schwa was here is a fiction book set in Brooklyn, New York, about a boy named Antsy Bonano, who makes friends with a boy named Calvin Schwa. "The Schwa" as they call him, has an ability to be semi-invisible, or he can passed unnoticed in crowds, he's is sometimes unable to be seen at all, and he seems to slip people's mind when they try to think of him. Throughout the book both Calvin and Antsy struggle with their invisibility: Antsy feels invisible because he is a middle child and the peacemaker, while Calvin is tired of being ignored and lashes out through billboards and vandalism. Both feel better after meeting Lexie, the blind granddaughter of the town hermit, who teaches The Schwa and Antsy to feel rather than see.

I thought this bbok was good because the characters were dynamic and I could relate to their plights, the setting was clear and imaginable, and the theme- invisibility and getting noticed, was clear, evident, and left me thinking. I thought this book's weaknesses may have been that the vocabulary was limited, there were too many characters, and the plot may have been too simple.

This book reminded me of books written by Jerry Spinelli because of the imaginative characters and middle-school plot.

I would recommend this book to children ages 11-13

Words: About 300

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entirely original concept, as far as I can tell. Anthony "Antsy" Bonano narrates the story of how he met and became friends with Calvin Schwa (called "The Schwa" by everyone). The Schwa is "observationally challenged": no one notices him. Ever. Even if he dresses in costume and wears a bright orange sombrero in the boys' bathroom at school, no one notices. And while that may have some advantages, the disadvantages decidedly outweight them. Calvin needs to be noticed. (And don't we all?) Before long, Antsy comes to understand The Schwa a little because he feels like he's invisible in his own home.

Sub-plots are interwoven nicely around a few basic characters: Antsy's friends Ira and Howie and their changing relationships; cranky Ol' Man Crawley and his 14 Afghan Hounds named after the Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Biblical virtues; Crawley's blind granddaughter Lexis; and Antsy's family, consisting of a younger sister, an older brother, and his parents, who both love to cook and argue over who controls the family kitchen.

Author Shusterman read the audiobook, and did a fine job. It certainly kept me entertained, and I'll admit I'm wondering where he got the idea for the character of Calvin "The Schwa". I don't think I've ever met anyone like him. Or maybe I have, and I just didn't notice. :/

[Jenn Mattson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to think when I started reading, the story was just so different, but was quickly hooked by this quirky story and its engaging characters: Shusterman accurately represents what it's like to be middle-school age and the dynamics with family and friends. There's also an element of mystery - maybe even science-fiction - that was different and fun. It reminded me of some of my favorite middle-grade stories like When You Reach Me, as well as the voice of Daniel Pinkwater's stories.

[Lonita Shirk Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid middle grade story that made me laugh and kept me reading to see what happened.

[C.P. Cabaniss · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with any Shusterman book, this was extremely thought provoking. It didn't grip me in the same way his other books have, but I really enjoyed listening to it and felt that it, like all of his stories, had wisdom to impart.

Calvin's feeling of invisibility is likely relatable to almost any reader. All of us feel invisible at some point, whether it's at home, school, among our friends, sometimes we feel overlooked and forgotten. Just take that feeling and multiply by one thousand and you have Calvin.

The story was lighthearted and fun a lot of the time, but there were some serious undertones to the story. I'm always impressed by how well Shusterman can weave all of these things together so masterfully. Here there were hints of mental illness, physical disabilities, mixed up family dynamics, really anything you can think of and it can be found somewhere in here.

Fascinating concept, fun characters, and an enjoyable story. It only makes me more excited to delve into Shusterman's books I have yet to read.

This audio was also narrated by Neal Shusterman himself, which is really cool. I liked his voice and the subtle changes he made for the various characters. And it was great to have an author reading his own book.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting basis for a story. Eighth-grader "Antsy" Bonano recounts how his accidental relationship with three quirky characters winds up being mutually beneficial. The catalyst in this social collision is Calvin Schwa, a classmate who has an almost supernatural knack for going completely unnoticed. When Antsy decides to become an "agent" for the "nearly invisible" Schwa by entertaining wagers on what he can get away with by being able to fly almost entirely beneath the social radar, the boys enjoy temporary success until they accept a dare requiring "The Schwa" to enter the home of a legendary local eccentric and retrieve a dog bowl belonging to any one of his 14 Afghans. Crawley, a powerful restaurateur who also happens to be severely agoraphobic, nabs the unlikely young intruders, and the crusty shut-in orders them to return daily to walk his dogs in exchange for their impunity. Once Antsy has gained Crawley's trust, he is asked to perform another task: to act as a companion for the man's blind granddaughter, Lexie. Antsy is then flanked by two peers–one who cannot see and one who cannot be seen–and, together, they overcome their collective liabilities through friendship, improving their own lives and the lives of those around them. Self-perception/Friendship.

[Cassi Haggard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Schwa Was Here is the type of book I sometime miss. It's the type that gets lost in the shuffle of paranormal, dystopians, urban fantasy, etc etc. It's not quite a contemporary. It's a book that's hard to describe--contemporary with a little bit of...is it whimsy, wonder or magic?

The Schwa, aka Calvin Schwa, is functionally invisible or observationally challenged. They say if you stare at him long enough you'll see the wall behind him. He's not the type of kid who's face you forget. He's the type of kid you don't remember at all.

Antsy Bonano, a middle child with his own brand of invisibility, befriends The Schwa. At first it's just an experiment to see how "The Schwa Effect" works. They have him do experiments--like having him stand in a bathroom wearing an orange sombrero and singing at the tops of his lungs to see how many people notice him (surprisingly few). Eventually this morphs into people daring the Schwa to do ridiculous and daring things--for profit of course.

The book is funny and quirky with a lot of heart. It follows Antsy and the Schwa on their misadventures and they discover what it means to be seen and uncover the mystery of "The Schwa Effect."

[Brigid ✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty awesome, and i expect no less from neal shusterman!! i must say, shusterman is a really talented author; i love how his tone varies completely from book to book. who would think that the same person would write something as utterly disturbing and depressing as Unwind, and yet be capable of writing a book as funny as The Schwa Was Here? Strange... but that's what i luv about neal shusterman!! now to go to the library and check out like every single book he's ever written... i'm becoming a huge fan! lol. ;D
The only reason i give this book four stars instead of five is that first of all, i have to compare it to Unwind. and secondly... i liked the ending, but it never really explained why the Schwa is "invisible-ish". i was expecting some kind of explanation, but apparently there isn't one. oh well. at least the ending was happier than i expected it to be.

[kamryn ౨ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was gooddd

[Sulhan Habibi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neal Shusterman berhasil menukis sebuah kisah yang menggugah lagi. Keren. Suka.

[Ivan Magnus · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Touch is a freaky thing when you're not used to it. It makes you feel all kinds of things."

And Mr. Shusterman had done it again! This is a fun, light read (finished it in a day and had a hard time putting it down) but it also very deep if that's makes sense.

[Lisa RV · Rating 3 out of 5]

Impressive characterization, wisecrack humor, and themes of invisibility, loneliness, and truly seeing others. A good read!

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quirky, offbeat story.

Antsy is a great narrator, the family dynamics are well done, and it's full of gems like, "jea-lousy," which is jealous and lousy, and "It's called loitering, which is like littering with human beings as the trash." Plus, the title is a linguistics thing, so obviously points for that. Highly enjoyed this.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review #3 - December 2022
I listened to the audio this time around and found myself giggling out loud at many moments. I really do love this book. I was rereading to see if it would work for a school book group. I would love to use it, but I'm not sure it's right for this group of students.

Antsy is such a funny, fantastic, character. He also seems extremely real. I like that about all the characters - none of them are perfect.

This book makes me smile, laugh, and feel hopeful about life. There is such great joy found in the pages.


Review #2 - July 25, 2016

Life is like a bad haircut.

When I read this several years ago I must have not been in the right mood, because I loved this book all over again. Ansty is one of my all time favorite characters. He's completely lovable and you find yourself rooting for him clear through. I love experiencing life with him.

Antsy makes friends with the Schwa. A kid who doesn't seem to be noticed, no matter what he does. The Schwa gets dared to use his "powers" to sneak into grouchy, Old Man Crawley's flat. When he gets caught, Antsy and the Schwa are forced to work for Crawley.

The problem is, once you've made yourself felt, there's no going back to being unnoticed, as much as you might want to.

What I love about this story is the heart inside it. There are so many feels, on so many levels. The humor is what makes it entertaining, but the emotion is what keeps me coming back. Antsy learns a lot about people and why we do the things we do and he faces new challenges with surprising kindness. I love every second of it.


Review #1 - November 27, 2011

I've read this book several times. This past time I didn't enjoy it as much, which probably means I'm growing out of it. Ansty, the main character, is extremely likable and funny. Up to mischief quite a bit, he's got a good heart and in the end always does the right thing. This book is about something that we can all relate to - being noticed/being forgotten. All of us want someone to really SEE us and like us for who we are. There are a lot of side stories going on and Neal Shusterman ties it all together neatly. Good writing. Good book to recommend to boys and girls alike.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com

Anthony "Antsy" Bonano can't really figure out what's wrong with The Schwa. His classmate, Calvin Schwa, has always just been...around.

A nondescript face on a nondescript kid, The Schwa always seems to just blend into the background, and could be standing right in front of you for half an hour before you even notice he's there - and that's only if he speaks up and says something. Antsy finds it difficult to even think about The Schwa without his mind wandering onto some other subject, no doubt due to "The Schwa Effect."

Antsy may not have been the first the pass The Schwa by, but he is the first one to start putting his friend's power of blending in to good use. After a set of experiments to determine the strength of "The Schwa Effect," Antsy and The Schwa form a collaboration that starts earning them money for dares and services (such as spying on the faculty lounge) that utilize The Schwa's untapped potential.

When a bold dare to enter the apartment of a reclusive neighbor goes horribly wrong, Antsy and The Schwa find themselves at the mercy of Old Man Crawley, who puts them to work to make up for their intrusion. The boys' friendship is put to the test when Antsy is given a...much more desirable task, which sets The Schwa on a mission to prove his very existence to the world in the grandest, most unforgettable manner possible.

I absolutely fell in love with this book, and that is not something I'd say lightly. Superior characterization, mainly the shifting position of narrator Antsy as both protagonist and antagonist to the title character, had me rooting for nearly every personality featured in this story. My heart went out to the unfortunate Schwa, yet I think I laughed harder than ever at the witty storytelling and humor utilized by the author.

A perfect book for the older, reluctant reader, and one both boys and girls can enjoy to the fullest.

[Duffy Pratt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read the Skinjacker series, and the beginning of the Skinjacker series. In those, Shusterman is very strong on content and plotting, and he draws very clever consequences from his initial strong premises. They are, first and foremost, stories that involve big ideas, and they take place on a very big stage. By contrast, the narrative voice in those books is fine, but not particularly special. So I would have guessed that that was what Shusterman does. And his domain name of "storyman.com" bolstered my idea of his strengths.

So imagine my pleasant surprise here. Schwa is a book that stands largely on the funny and charming voice of its narrator, Antsy. There is a hook idea here: that the Schwa is a kid so unobtrusive that he has basically become unnoticeable to four out of five people. But the book depends much more on throwing a bunch of oddball characters, and having them mix together. And on the plus side, its not just the kids who are fun and interesting. Maybe the best character in the book is the restaurant owning hermit, who is the stuff of neighborhood legend, and keeps 14 Afghan hounds in his apartment, each of them named after a vice or virtue. There are also wonderful, and clever details, like the Schwa keeping a paper clip collection: a paper clip from the Titanic, one from Michael Jordan's first contract, etc... (The unnoticeable kid collects the unnoticeable details.)

Unfortunately, with all the charm, and the wonderful mix of characters, the story veered at the end in a way that I didn't think was particularly satisfying. It wasn't bad, but I was enjoying myself so much, and I've liked Shusterman's plots elsewhere so much, that I was expecting more. But even so, I found this a thoroughly entertaining and sweet book.

[Lauren Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to share with anyone that has ever felt unnoticed and different. It would pair nicely with Trudy Ludwig's The Invisible Boy. I also liked the main character's strong voice and dynamic changes/realizations of how to treat others throughout the course of the novel.

[Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

so fun to reread this childhood favorite now that I live in Brooklyn

[Halli Brinkerhoff · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to read this for my english class and I deeply despised it