The review below was written by Emily Hussey, a student at Loyola College Prep.
Colin Fischer by Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz
Colin Fischer, written by Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz, was intriguing to say the least. It is written in the third person perspective of Colin, who is a high school freshman with a gift. He has the deduction skills of a modern-day Sherlock Holmes. However, with this gift comes the perils of having Asperger’s syndrome -- Colin acts socially awkward and, at first, is rejected by his peers. Things affect Colin differently in ways people do not understand - for example, he hates the color blue. Also, he speaks exactly what is on his mind. Even if at times Colin can be blunt or borderline rude, at least he is honest, which is an admirable quality in this day and age.
Shortly after Colin starts high school, a school bully, Wayne Connelly, is wrongly accused of bringing a gun to school. Colin makes it his mission in life to prove him innocent. This is strictly out of desire for justice - Colin's deduction skills cannot allow injustice to occur. This quest for justice awakens the "normal teenager" in Colin and helps him better adjust to high school.
Excerpts from Colin's notebook mark the beginning of every chapter. These excerpts turned out to be very educational to me. I find myself quoting the "Parking Lot Theory" on a regular basis. This is the theory that states that humans will drive around looking for a better parking spot instead of parking and then spending less time walking to the destination. This criticizes human nature as Colin often does in the book.
Although snippets of this book did seem a bit cliché to me (freshman receiving a "swirly" from the toilet, anyone?), I enjoyed this book and would give it a 3.5/5. It was quite humorous, educational, and, in addition, it provided a subtle yet prevalent criticism of human nature.
Would you like to be a teen reviewer? Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more details.
