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Deadpan
292 pages, Paperback
Published November 18, 2025
3 people want to read
About the author
Harold Eppley
10 books2 followersHarold Eppley has been writing stories for as long as he can remember. In third grade he sold hand-printed copies of his "books" to classmates for a quarter each until his mother made him stop. A graduate of Saint Olaf College and Wartburg Theological Seminary, he is the author of 7 spiritual nonfiction books, co-written with his wife, Rochelle Melander. His first novel, Ash Wednesday, which takes a satirical look at contemporary American religion, represents a radical departure from his earlier work and contains unique insights gleaned from (too) many years as a church insider.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 12, 2026
Deadpan follows twelve-year-old Jackson: a stand-up comedian-on-the-rise, who conquers relentless bullies and captivates lunchroom audiences. Jackson is a multi-faceted, witty protagonist with a ton of heart. Though this is Mr. Harold Eppley’s first book for middle-grade readers, he’s mastered the art of processing adult themes through the eyes of a preteen.
Deadpan covers subjects like bullying, race, family dynamics, falling in love, distancing from friends, and COVID-19. Jackson is living with Moebius Syndrome, and often uses his wit to fend off the bullies who patronize him because of his differences. Jackson has “the gift of Deadpan” and his ability to stand up to his bullies through comedic bits is admirable and a unique take on the trials of adolescence.
The life Jackson knows is flipped upside down when his best friend Ethan moves away, and soon after, the pandemic hits. School’s cancelled for the summer, and church becomes virtual. Jackson finds solace in the mask mandate because his face is hidden. Then, Jackson transfers to Riverview Academy, where the students adjust to COVID regulations. But in this, Jackson thrives in his new identity as “the funny guy.” He develops a crush, finds friendship in a previous classmate, and gains confidence. Though the bullies return, Jackson remains steadfast.
Deadpan is heart-wrenching at times. It’s important to note that some dialogue between Jackson and his bullies may be upsetting to read. However, Jackson’s perseverance despite the strife he frequently endures is honorable. What stood out to me about Deadpan was how Mr. Eppley has written such an empathetic protagonist. My favorite scene in the book was when Jackson was talking to Mr. Scott, his mother’s new fiancé, about being a Black man. Mr. Scott explains his hurt after encountering a woman who expressed prejudice toward him. Mr. Scott encourages Jackson to acknowledge the races of his friends. In that moment, Jackson realizes that he and Mr. Scott are very similar: they both experience discrimination because of their appearance. Jackson’s immediate reaction is to say, “I See You, Mr. Scott.” What a response!
The relationship between Jackson and his father was something that hit home to me. Jackson’s father, once distant and more of a stinging memory for Jackson, becomes a staple of maturity for Jackson when his dad gets COVID. Jackson’s efforts to reconcile and grow past his childhood pain brought tears to my eyes. I felt Jackson trying, as he put his best foot forward, to make right with his dad. There’s a happy ending for Jackson and his father. But Mr. Eppley’s development of the dynamic between Jackson and his father, when days were the most grim for both of them, was a riveting plot point.
A strong, notable aspect of Deadpan is Mr. Eppley’s choice in formatting. The book is written in stanzas that kept me engaged in Jackson’s story. I was hooked from beginning to end. The short stanzas accelerated or slowed the storyline in a way that was unpredictable and exciting. There were also puzzles that only had a few letters revealed, similar to the ones on “Wheel of Fortune.” I had never seen this in a book before, and thought it was creative.
Deadpan is a book of compassion, triumph, and healing. It is also a catalyst for bringing awareness to Moebius Syndrome. To close his book, Mr. Eppley credits the Moebius Syndrome Foundation for equipping him with knowledge about the condition. It is clear that Mr. Eppley spent a lot of time researching, listening, and clarifying to precisely represent Jackson–and because of that, I have great respect for Mr. Eppley and his work.
Deadpan covers subjects like bullying, race, family dynamics, falling in love, distancing from friends, and COVID-19. Jackson is living with Moebius Syndrome, and often uses his wit to fend off the bullies who patronize him because of his differences. Jackson has “the gift of Deadpan” and his ability to stand up to his bullies through comedic bits is admirable and a unique take on the trials of adolescence.
The life Jackson knows is flipped upside down when his best friend Ethan moves away, and soon after, the pandemic hits. School’s cancelled for the summer, and church becomes virtual. Jackson finds solace in the mask mandate because his face is hidden. Then, Jackson transfers to Riverview Academy, where the students adjust to COVID regulations. But in this, Jackson thrives in his new identity as “the funny guy.” He develops a crush, finds friendship in a previous classmate, and gains confidence. Though the bullies return, Jackson remains steadfast.
Deadpan is heart-wrenching at times. It’s important to note that some dialogue between Jackson and his bullies may be upsetting to read. However, Jackson’s perseverance despite the strife he frequently endures is honorable. What stood out to me about Deadpan was how Mr. Eppley has written such an empathetic protagonist. My favorite scene in the book was when Jackson was talking to Mr. Scott, his mother’s new fiancé, about being a Black man. Mr. Scott explains his hurt after encountering a woman who expressed prejudice toward him. Mr. Scott encourages Jackson to acknowledge the races of his friends. In that moment, Jackson realizes that he and Mr. Scott are very similar: they both experience discrimination because of their appearance. Jackson’s immediate reaction is to say, “I See You, Mr. Scott.” What a response!
The relationship between Jackson and his father was something that hit home to me. Jackson’s father, once distant and more of a stinging memory for Jackson, becomes a staple of maturity for Jackson when his dad gets COVID. Jackson’s efforts to reconcile and grow past his childhood pain brought tears to my eyes. I felt Jackson trying, as he put his best foot forward, to make right with his dad. There’s a happy ending for Jackson and his father. But Mr. Eppley’s development of the dynamic between Jackson and his father, when days were the most grim for both of them, was a riveting plot point.
A strong, notable aspect of Deadpan is Mr. Eppley’s choice in formatting. The book is written in stanzas that kept me engaged in Jackson’s story. I was hooked from beginning to end. The short stanzas accelerated or slowed the storyline in a way that was unpredictable and exciting. There were also puzzles that only had a few letters revealed, similar to the ones on “Wheel of Fortune.” I had never seen this in a book before, and thought it was creative.
Deadpan is a book of compassion, triumph, and healing. It is also a catalyst for bringing awareness to Moebius Syndrome. To close his book, Mr. Eppley credits the Moebius Syndrome Foundation for equipping him with knowledge about the condition. It is clear that Mr. Eppley spent a lot of time researching, listening, and clarifying to precisely represent Jackson–and because of that, I have great respect for Mr. Eppley and his work.
December 7, 2025
4.5 stars
December 20, 2025
Cleverly written and imbued with just the right combination of sweetness, sass, and seriousness. Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews