Character Profile

Summary

A middle-school boy, son of a germaphobe and a reenactor, discovers a family curse that causes the previous Martin to die when a new Martin is born...which gives him about 9 months to live before his cousin born!

Stats

Genre: Tween (10-13) contemporary humor with a supernatural twist. 

Series length: Standalone book

Violence: Low, comedic action violence

Magic/Supernatural: Light, restricted to the family curse. 

Romance: Light--he has a crush on a girl at school. 

Christian/spiritual element: Light, implied, but great themes of gratitude, the power of words, and on living life fully.

Recommendation: Geared more for boys than girls, though some girls might enjoy it as well. Great for reluctant readers.

You might like this book if you liked... 
the humor of Percy Jackson or the Diaries of a Wimpy Kid.

To Purchase

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Opening page: 

"A great new story needs a great first line." 
          Martin Boyle licked the tip of his pen. "Oh, dumb!" He reached for the antibacterial spray resting on his desk, lifted it mouthward, and squeezed the trigger. His face contorted. The stuff tasted terrible. The taste alone could kill--That was it!
​          Martin grabbed his notepad. 

Jerk, California
by Jonathan Friesen

This Schneider Family Book Award winner changed the face of Tourette's Syndrome for modern teens. Wrought with tension, romance, and hope, Jerk, California tells the story of Sam, who sets out on a cross-country quest to learn the truth about his family and his inherited Tourette's Syndrome, along the way finding both love and acceptance.

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