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The Schwa was Here

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The Printz Honor award-winning author of Scythe presents a quirky young adult novel, one teen boy holds the secret power of invisibility—and the other sees him.

“Antsy tells his story in a bubbly Beastie Boys-meets-Bugs Bunny Brooklynese that keeps the pages flipping.”—School Library Journal, starred review

“This is the kind of offbeat story I love best.”—Gordon Korman, author of Son of the Mob

“Tantalizing . . . a little off-balance, a little smudged and smirky.”—Time Out New York Kids

They say if you stare at him long enough, you can see what’s written on the wall behind him. They say a lot of things about the Schwa, but one thing’s for sure: no one ever noticed him.

Except me.

My name is Antsy Bonano—and I can tell you what’s true and what’s not, ‘cause I was there. I was the one who realized the Schwa was “functionally invisible” and used it to make some big bugs. But I was also the one who caused him more grief than a friend should. So if you all just shut up and listen, I’ll spill everything. Unless, of course, “the Schwa Effect” wipes him out of my brain before I’m done . . .
  • WINNER
    ALA Best Books for Young Adults
  • WINNER
    ALA Notable Book
  • WINNER
    Horn Book Award
  • WINNER
    New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age
Neal Shusterman is an award-winning author and screenwriter.  He lives in Southern California with his four children. View titles by Neal Shusterman

About

The Printz Honor award-winning author of Scythe presents a quirky young adult novel, one teen boy holds the secret power of invisibility—and the other sees him.

“Antsy tells his story in a bubbly Beastie Boys-meets-Bugs Bunny Brooklynese that keeps the pages flipping.”—School Library Journal, starred review

“This is the kind of offbeat story I love best.”—Gordon Korman, author of Son of the Mob

“Tantalizing . . . a little off-balance, a little smudged and smirky.”—Time Out New York Kids

They say if you stare at him long enough, you can see what’s written on the wall behind him. They say a lot of things about the Schwa, but one thing’s for sure: no one ever noticed him.

Except me.

My name is Antsy Bonano—and I can tell you what’s true and what’s not, ‘cause I was there. I was the one who realized the Schwa was “functionally invisible” and used it to make some big bugs. But I was also the one who caused him more grief than a friend should. So if you all just shut up and listen, I’ll spill everything. Unless, of course, “the Schwa Effect” wipes him out of my brain before I’m done . . .

Awards

  • WINNER
    ALA Best Books for Young Adults
  • WINNER
    ALA Notable Book
  • WINNER
    Horn Book Award
  • WINNER
    New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age

Author

Neal Shusterman is an award-winning author and screenwriter.  He lives in Southern California with his four children. View titles by Neal Shusterman
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