Michael BUCKLEY, 2009, NERDS, Amulet Books

By Isaac Chicaiza, 2º ESO A

The NERDS are a group of misfits in school. They (unknown to their fellow pupils) belong to a secret organization inside the school to save the world, the N.E.R.D.S, who, thanks to a scientific investigation, have “superpowers” adapted to their abilities, for example: Braceface has enormous teeth, so thanks to this he makes his braces into anything he likes, like a giant robot or a gun.

This book is about their newest recruit, Braceface Jackson Jones, a popular kid and also a bully, full of friends and full of himself, what else could he want? Unfortunately for him, he needs braces, and braces are what ruin his life forever, suddenly he becomes a misfit, a social outcast, he becomes what he hates the most, a nerd… a perfect recruit for the N.E.R.D.S, but the question is…can he do it? 

             It is a story which teaches you a lot about life and how quickly someone can be rejected by their friends and even family, just because of the way they look; a book which shows society as it really is, in a version understandable to everyone, a version which shows all the pressure of day to day life and the evilness inside everyone. But the book also shows the opportunity that is given to the outcast to join them.

The part I liked best is when Jackson shows the team he can be a good teammate, as he saves the N.E.R.D.S from the evil doctor Jigsaw. This is a part in the book which shows friendship and partnership from everyone regardless of what they’ve done in the past. I would recommend this book to everyone between the ages of 9-16, because it can bring tears to your eyes.