TheBoomerangEffect Format: Paperback

A hilariously subversive YA debut that explores the meaning of friendship and loyalty, and also why you should avoid being trapped in a small space with an angry chicken. Perfect for fans of Andrew Smith’s Winger and Frank Portman’s King Dork.

It all started with a harmless prank. But now high school junior Lawrence Barry is one step away from reform school unless he participates in a mentorship program. His mentee? Spencer Knudsen, a Norwegian exchange student with Spock-like intelligence but the social skills of the periodic table.

Then disaster strikes. Homecoming Week. When someone dressed as the school Viking mascot starts destroying the fairytale-inspired floats, all suspicion falls on Lawrence. Add to the mix a demon Goth girl, a Renaissance LARPing group, an overzealous yearbook editor, and three vindictive chickens, and Lawrence soon realizes that his situation may be a little out of control. But Spencer seems to have some answers. In fact, Spencer may be the one friend Lawrence never knew he needed.

He’s supposed to be the mentor. So why is the weird new kid the only one who can clear his name?

• An Unlikely Friendship: Lawrence is the cynical slacker; Spencer is the brilliant, literal-minded new kid. Together, they might just survive the week… if they don’t get each other expelled first.
• High School Prank Gone Wrong: From a disastrous school assembly to a full-blown mascot mystery, Lawrence’s talent for trouble is on full display.
• Quirky Cast of Characters: Featuring a demon Goth girl, a crew of dedicated LARPers, and three chickens with a serious grudge.
• Hilarious Coming-of-Age: A laugh-out-loud story about figuring out who your real friends are and—more importantly—how to handle an angry chicken in a confined space.

Gordon Jack always wanted to be a writer. In third grade, he put that on his “What I Want to Be When I Grow Up” list, just behind astronaut and professional dog walker. While working toward this goal, he had jobs as an advertising copywriter, English teacher, librarian, and semiprofessional dog walker. The Boomerang Effect is his first novel. He lives in San Francisco with his family. Visit him online at www.gordon-jack.com or on Twitter @gordojack.