I’ve read many books that were created around a killer idea that fell flat because the author was unable to create a meaningful story to give wings to the idea. The killer idea becomes a liability like an anchor stuck in debris on the harbor floor. In the Schwa Was Here, Neal Shusterman was able to infuse a much larger story with the Schwa—a story that takes flight.

Of course I was intrigued by the Schwa when I met him. Who could resist a boy you’ve never seen before even though he has sat right next to you in science class all year. Even more interesting is that even after he has pointed himself out to you, you don’t remember him an hour later. This by itself might keep me reading—for a while anyway.

This interesting idea becomes much more as the friendship between Anthony Bonano (Antsy to his friends) and Calvin Schwa develops into middle school business deals, a love triangle with a blind girl, and questions about inner identity.

Shusterman skillfully fills the narrative with Brooklyn charm through the first person voice of Antsy. His witty observations and commentaries bring humor and delight to what are actually serious themes. When Lexi, a blind girl Antsy is paid to spend time with, touches his face to see what he looks like, Antsy wonders “if she was reading any messages in the braille of my zits.”

Shusterman’s humor masks pretty well questions about divorce, betrayal, and Nihilism. Even though each of these themes exists in the book, you laugh your way through it. For thoughtful readers, it’s only after you’ve finished the book and you’re done laughing that you detect the aftertaste of these questions. I don’t know Shusterman, but I think he might be a hopeful human being. I haven’t ready any other book by him, but The Schwa Was Here gives me hope that I can find goodness and meaning in my life through the development of my relationship with others.

Coming back to The Schwa, who is Calvin by the end, the question is where does one go when one just disappears? Is it possible for a tree to make noise when it falls in an uninhabited forest? Antsy, and I, have some definite ideas inspired by the ending of this book.

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These books by Tory Anderson are now available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback format: