School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-9-Marley Sandelski is invisible. At Rancho Rosetta Middle School, he's chased by bullies, threatened into sharing his homework, and ignored by everyone else. An admitted geek, he loves Star Trek, AV Club, and the Rialto, an old movie theater that serves as both his home and his parents' business. His empathetic nature shines through, and he's not without allies, including his closest buds Ramen and Max. And of course, there's always the Trekkie action figure of the day in his pocket to help him out of jams (he frequently asks himself, "WWSD-What Would Spock Do?"). Though he's resigned to hiding behind the shadows of those standing on the sidelines, his ability to outrun bullies catches the track coach's eye. During the school's annual Tiggy Tiger Turkey Trot race, Marley finds himself running for his life, away from the Gorn (a trio of tormentors nicknamed after the "evil, slow-moving beasts" in a Star Trek episode), and accidentally winning the trophy. Suddenly sky-rocketed into the spotlight, Marley's the star of the school. As his external universe alters, he must re-evaluate himself and set a new course for his place in the cosmos. Yee's previous protagonists, Millicent, Stanford, and Emily, all make cameo appearances. Once again, the author addresses a serious issue with a light touch. An entertaining read and a solid example of bibliotherapy.-Richelle Roth, Boone County Public Library, KY (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Yee (Bobby the Brave [Sometimes]) offers another empathetic portrayal of an outsider with unique attributes in this story about seventh-grader Marley Sandelski, an admitted geek, who loves Star Trek, old movies, and his Technical Sciences class. Having been spit on, punched, and stuffed in his locker, he spends a lot of time running from trouble; when Coach Martin notices his speed, Marley receives an enticing offer to join the track team. Becoming a runner would earn him popularity points in a school where "jocks rule," but Marley isn't sure he has the killer instinct to compete ("Being on the track team is all about winning, which means that someone would have to lose"). Featuring appearances from some of Yee's previous heroes and heroines-Millicent Min, Stanford Wong, and Emily Ebers-this slice-of-life novel focuses on themes that will likely hit home with readers. If Marley's athletic ability appears too large for life (given the fact he has earned the reputation of being a klutz in P.E. and is usually picked last for teams), his internal conflicts and emotions ring true. Ages 10-13. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
