Twerp

By Mark Goldblatt | Publisher: Random House Children's Books

About the book

It's not like I meant for him to get hurt. . . .

Julian Twerski isn't a bully. He's just made a big mistake. So when he returns to school after a weeklong suspension, his English teacher offers him a deal: if he keeps a journal and writes about the terrible incident that got him and his friends suspended, he can get out of writing a report on Shakespeare. Julian jumps at the chance. And so begins his account of life in sixth grade--blowing up homemade fireworks, writing a love letter for his best friend (with disastrous results), and worrying whether he's still the fastest kid in school. Lurking in the background, though, is the one story he can't bring himself to tell, the one story his teacher most wants to hear.

Inspired by Mark Goldblatt's own childhood growing up in 1960s Queens, Twerp shines with humor and heart. This remarkably powerful story will have readers laughing and crying right along with these flawed but unforgettable characters.

Praise for Twerp:
 
A Bankstreet Best Book of the Year
 
A Junior Library Guild Selection
 
A Summer Top Ten Kids’ Indie Next List Pick

A Sunshine State Award Finalist

 
“Reminiscent of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. . . . You don’t have to be a twerp to read this book.” —New York Post
 
“A vivid, absorbing story about one boy’s misadventure, heartache, and hope for himself.” —Rebecca Stead, Newbery Award-winning author of When You Reach Me
 
“Mark Goldblatt is an amazingly wonderful writer.” —Chris Grabenstein, New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library
 
“[Fans of] Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid who have matured beyond the scope and gravity of that series will find a kindred spirit in Julian.” —School Library Journal
 
“Reminiscent of movies like The Sandlot. . . . Well-written and funny.” —The Advocate
 
“Alternately poignant and comical. . . . A thought-provoking exploration of bullying, personal integrity and self-acceptance.” —Kirkus Reviews
 
“A timely book.” —New York Journal of Books
 
“Elegant in its simplicity and accessibility.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
 
“An empathetic and authentic glimpse into the mind of a sixth-grade boy.” —The Florida Times-Union
 
“Funny, poignant, and an effective commentary on bullying and its consequences.” —The Horn Book Magazine

Editions of Twerp

Hardcover
ISBN 9780375971426
Paperback
ISBN 9780375971457
AltFormat
ISBN 9780375971433
EBook
ISBN 9780375971440
AudioStreaming
ISBN 9780804121590
AudioStreaming
ISBN 9780804121576
AudioDisc
ISBN 9780804121583
AudioDisc
ISBN 9780804121569

Read an Excerpt

It's not like I meant for him to get hurt. . . .

Julian Twerski isn't a bully. He's just made a big mistake. So when he returns to school after a weeklong suspension, his English teacher offers him a deal: if he keeps a journal and writes about the terrible incident that got him and his friends suspended, he can get out of writing a report on Shakespeare. Julian jumps at the chance. And so begins his account of life in sixth grade--blowing up homemade fireworks, writing a love letter for his best friend (with disastrous results), and worrying whether he's still the fastest kid in school. Lurking in the background, though, is the one story he can't bring himself to tell, the one story his teacher most wants to hear.

Inspired by Mark Goldblatt's own childhood growing up in 1960s Queens, Twerp shines with humor and heart. This remarkably powerful story will have readers laughing and crying right along with these flawed but unforgettable characters.

Praise for Twerp:
 
A Bankstreet Best Book of the Year
 
A Junior Library Guild Selection
 
A Summer Top Ten Kids’ Indie Next List Pick

A Sunshine State Award Finalist

 
“Reminiscent of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. . . . You don’t have to be a twerp to read this book.” —New York Post
 
“A vivid, absorbing story about one boy’s misadventure, heartache, and hope for himself.” —Rebecca Stead, Newbery Award-winning author of When You Reach Me
 
“Mark Goldblatt is an amazingly wonderful writer.” —Chris Grabenstein, New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library
 
“[Fans of] Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid who have matured beyond the scope and gravity of that series will find a kindred spirit in Julian.” —School Library Journal
 
“Reminiscent of movies like The Sandlot. . . . Well-written and funny.” —The Advocate
 
“Alternately poignant and comical. . . . A thought-provoking exploration of bullying, personal integrity and self-acceptance.” —Kirkus Reviews
 
“A timely book.” —New York Journal of Books
 
“Elegant in its simplicity and accessibility.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
 
“An empathetic and authentic glimpse into the mind of a sixth-grade boy.” —The Florida Times-Union
 
“Funny, poignant, and an effective commentary on bullying and its consequences.” —The Horn Book Magazine

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Twerp about?

It's not like I meant for him to get hurt. . . .

Julian Twerski isn't a bully. He's just made a big mistake. So when he returns to school after a weeklong suspension, his English teacher offers him a deal: if he keeps a journal and writes about the terrible incident that got him and his friends suspended, he can get out of writing a report on Shakespeare. Julian jumps at the chance. And so begins his account of life in sixth grade--blowing up homemade fireworks, writing a love letter for his best friend (with disastrous results), and worrying whether he's still the fastest kid in school. Lurking in the background, though, is the one story he can't bring himself to tell, the one story his teacher most wants to hear.

Inspired by Mark Goldblatt's own childhood growing up in 1960s Queens, Twerp shines with humor and heart. This remarkably powerful story will have readers laughing and crying right along with these flawed but unforgettable characters.

Praise for Twerp:
 
A Bankstreet Best Book of the Year
 
A Junior Library Guild Selection
 
A Summer Top Ten Kids’ Indie Next List Pick

A Sunshine State Award Finalist

 
“Reminiscent of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. . . . You don’t have to be a twerp to read this book.” —New York Post
 
“A vivid, absorbing story about one boy’s misadventure, heartache, and hope for himself.” —Rebecca Stead, Newbery Award-winning author of When You Reach Me
 
“Mark Goldblatt is an amazingly wonderful writer.” —Chris Grabenstein, New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library
 
“[Fans of] Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid who have matured beyond the scope and gravity of that series will find a kindred spirit in Julian.” —School Library Journal
 
“Reminiscent of movies like The Sandlot. . . . Well-written and funny.” —The Advocate
 
“Alternately poignant and comical. . . . A thought-provoking exploration of bullying, personal integrity and self-acceptance.” —Kirkus Reviews
 
“A timely book.” —New York Journal of Books
 
“Elegant in its simplicity and accessibility.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
 
“An empathetic and authentic glimpse into the mind of a sixth-grade boy.” —The Florida Times-Union
 
“Funny, poignant, and an effective commentary on bullying and its consequences.” —The Horn Book Magazine

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Twerp?

Children’s, Teenage and Educational > Children’s / Teenage fiction and true stories > Children’s / Teenage fiction: Relationship stories > Children’s / Teenage fiction: Friendship stories

Where can I read a sample of Twerp?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780375971426

Is Twerp part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?

Yes it is a part of series Twerp Series

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Twerp?

Mark Goldblatt

Who is the Publisher of the book Twerp?

Random House Children's Books

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Twerp is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780375971426) and paperback(ISBN 9780375971457) and altformat(ISBN 9780375971433) and ebook(ISBN 9780375971440) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780804121590) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780804121576) and audiodisc(ISBN 9780804121583) and audiodisc(ISBN 9780804121569)

Where can I buy Twerp online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Twerp from below

Where can I buy Twerp?