The Trouble with Perfect by Mary E. Ryan

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-Kyle Maxwell, the shortest boy in the eighth grade, has a difficult time living in the shadow of his athletic older brother. His father, a high-powered salesman with an alcohol problem, puts immense pressure on his sons to succeed, and calls Kyle a screwup when he fails to make the basketball team. When Kyle decides to try out for the Knowledge Bowl team, the mounting tension leads him to cheat on the test, and that in turn results in a crisis of conscience. He bungles every opportunity to impress a cute classmate, once suffering the embarrassment of forgetting to close his fly. As if these problems were not enough, he must deal with the obnoxious son of his father's boss and avoid the torments of a bully. In a fast-paced plot, with many interesting predicaments, Ryan explores such issues as overcoming obstacles, achieving one's dreams, and surviving in a world that is not always honest. However, the vast number of subplots are peopled by shallow and predictable characters whose dialogue is sappy and clichd, especially the adults. The credibility of the novel suffers from sports talk that doesn't ring true, and one wonders why the school's basketball season starts in September. Equally puzzling is why Kyle, the purported school expert in literatature, is never once seen reading.-Tim Rausch, Crescent View Middle School, Sandy, UT

BookList

For the third year in a row, Kyle Maxwell, a smart, funny, (but short) 13-year-old, fails to make the basketball team. Trying to please his demanding father, Kyle and his best friend, Rowena, study hard in hopes of competing in their school's Knowledge Bowl. But there are complications, such as Kyle's dad's increased drinking, a bully to contend with, a pretty girl to impress, and a friend who encourages Kyle to cheat to get on the Knowledge Bowl team. Kyle's overzealous desire to please, his self-consciousness, and his gradual discovery of who he is make him a multilayered, likable protagonist. Everything comes to a head one day when Kyle's father has a car accident and Kyle finds the perfect opportunity to cheat on his test. Facing the consequences of their actions, both father and son resolve to support each other. Although the adult characters are a little wooden, the teens are intelligent, even witty, and Kyle's social angst rings true. Ryan's understanding of and respect for her readers is commendable and should widen her audience.

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