Ratings

Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content

Guide to Rating System

LANGUAGE

VIOLENCE

SEXUAL CONTENT

ADULT THEMES

Ratings Explanation

Language: Moderately frequent use of common swearwords and profanity. Smattering of sexual slang words.

Violence: Teen boy has visions of himself beating his father, also throwing another teenager across the room. A teen is beat up by three other teens. It is not severe or graphic. A boy is attacked by three other teens in the locker room, hands tied, and “pantsed.” Another boy is picked up and repeatedly bashed into the lockers.

Sexual content: Teen boy makes many and varied comments about “jeans tightening near the zipper” and such, and how girls look in bikinis. He talks about girls not wearing many clothes in school and how the guys are all affected by it. He is in a bedroom with a girl who makes it clear she wants to sleep with him. She makes out with another guy. A condom is seen in a teen’s wallet. Nude photos of a drunk teen show up on the internet the day after a party.

Adult themes: Emotional abuse of family by father. Adults drink some and get drunk occasionally. Teens get drunk at a party. A teen talks about suicide quite a bit and goes so far as to put a gun in his mouth before changing his mind. A teen is arrested for graffiti at the high school and is later accused of taking and posting illegal photos.

Synopsis

As punishment for a graffiti prank last spring, Tyler Miller spends all summer doing manual labor, building muscles, and happens upon a major growth spurt at the same time. His new size changes him from “Nerd Boy” into “Tyler the Amazing Hulk.” It doesn’t hurt to have committed a really cool crime. Senior year is starting out great. It gets better when his dream girl, Bethany, starts noticing him. Too bad about the double complications—Bethany’s twin brother has been Tyler’s tormentor since middle school, and Tyler’s father works for Bethany’s father. But Tyler’s biggest problem is actually his father’s abusive control. He is constantly blowing up and coercing everyone to do things his way. He forces Tyler to sign up for Calculus and 4 AP classes at the same time, even though he is not that inclined to academics. Things come to a head when Bethany gets drunk at a party and passes out. The next day nude photos of her show up on the internet. Tyler is accused by some kids and starts receiving abuse at school while the police investigate. All the pressure builds to a boiling point, after considering suicide but deciding otherwise, Tyler starts fighting back against all the problems in his life.

There is a notice in this book before the title page: “This book is not for children.” There are some serious themes that I think are too mature for the younger teen. Because of Tyler’s thoughts and actions about suicide, some vulnerable teens shouldn’t read it. For older teens and adults, Laurie Halse Anderson is an award-winning author who really puts you inside the head of her characters so you feel like you can’t put it down. She has written on topics from young people’s lives that ought to be discussed. There are some positive notes at the end of the book showing improvement in family relationships. Tyler shows some maturity in certain decisions, especially not to sleep with a girl he really likes, because at the moment she is drunk. He also offers forgiveness after being abused. I haven’t read a lot of books from a teen boy’s perspective, but the physical stature that changes Tyler’s life is underscored as I watch my young son growing like a weed, and proud to be “the biggest.” When I was full size at age 12, I was embarrassed to be “the biggest.” Boys and girls; two different worlds.