October 6, 2014
Eight years have passed since King Dork appeared, but no time has elapsed as this sequel begins. Tom Henderson resumes his narration where the previous book ended, with his recovery from assault by tuba, a battery that inadvertently resulted in the exposure of a child pornography ring at Hillmont High. The ensuing scandal forces the school to close; in dividing its students between the town’s other schools, Tom is split from bandmate and alphabetical-order buddy, Sam Hellerman. This gives Tom a chance to reinvent himself, but he’s the same sarcastic, girl-obsessed, wannabe rock guitarist he was during the first semester of his sophomore year. He does make some friends, including his first real girlfriend, Pammelah, and play in the pep band, which requires him to wear a “Badger Power” T-shirt, white pants, and an orange beret to school on game days. This book doesn’t have the mysteries that kept the pages turning in the original, but Tom’s irreverent voice and sharply observed, deeply funny insights about public education and the teen social order carry the story. Ages 14–up. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.
August 15, 2014
A stylized, meandering sequel to King Dork (2006). Tom Henderson's new adventure begins where King Dork ended: in 1999, after a brutal tuba attack preceding the Christmas vacation of Tom's sophomore year. Despite his brief sexual successes before this volume's opening, he's still alone but for his only friend, Sam. Their dork solidarity against the "normal" tormenting thugs of Hillmont High is doomed, however. The fall semester's scandals have led to Hillmont's closure, and the two boys are off to separate high schools. Now Sam's listening to getting-the-girl motivational tapes, giving Tom advice steeped in toxic misogyny. Tom's disturbed by Clearview High's seemingly sincere school spirit; it reminds him of the perky normalcy of Happy Days or Grease. Tom gets his first girlfriend and discovers that getting along with others is not all it's cracked up to be. He's a CD-hating, vinyl-worshipping proto-hipster who, along with Sam, refers to his favorite albums by catalog number-"I actually might like EKS 74071 better than EKS 74051"-guaranteeing that neither their classmates nor the novel's readers will be able to participate in the conversation. Meticulously described historical elements-Tom's sister's obsession with the family landline, the boys' hatred of modern CD music formats, Sam's dorky, holstered, clunky cellphone-are conspicuous in this otherwise modern-seeming story. This plotless, grandiloquent slice of life will appeal to readers working their way up to Ayn Rand and Tom Robbins. (Historical fiction. 14-16)
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September 1, 2014
Gr 10 Up-High school sophomore, aspiring rock star, and self-proclaimed outsider Tom Henderson is back in the sidesplitting follow-up to Portman's acclaimed King Dork (Random, 2006). The book opens with Tom being sent to a new school in the wake of the shutdown of his old school-this time without the benefit of his bandmate and partner in crime Sam Hellerman. New horizons provide more humorous opportunities for Tom to cast a snarky eye over all he sees, from Little Big Tom, the teen's hapless and deeply uncool stepfather, to Clearview High, where school spirit reigns supreme. Portman has crafted a perceptive protagonist, whose brilliantly wry observations will keep readers laughing and whose voice is infused with an all-too-believable mix of innocence and cynicism. An typical adolescent boy despite his intelligence and depth, Tom is realistically frank, dropping in sexual jokes and thoughts, along with the references to rock artists and musicians. The author excels at description and tone, though it's often at the expense of plot. The book introduces a number of amusingly sketched characters and plot threads, few of which culminate into actual story lines. There are also a number of references to events in the first book, which may be confusing to those who haven't read King Dork. Quibbles aside, Tom is a winsome character who rings true and whose escapades will keep readers engaged.-Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal
Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
September 1, 2014
Grades 9-12 How do you survive high school without succumbing to institutionalized Normalism ? That is one question asked by self-professed loser Tom Henderson in this long-awaited sequel to cult-favorite King Dork (2006). There are other questions as well: How do you get female attention and increase chances of ramoning (having sex)? And what would make a good band name? In the wake of last semester's scandal, Tom is finishing his sophomore year at a new school that is disturbingly friendly and spirited ( Go Badgers! ) yet still holds girlfriend potential. Unfortunately, life at home isn't as rosy. Though lacking the mystery of King Dork, this novel's subtle plot is carried by a voice sharp with humor, sarcasm, and intelligence. Small but important revelations result in Tom's growth and ability to better navigate the normal world. Because the novel is packed with music, book, and movie references, readers' cultural literacy will get a definite boost. Utterly enjoyable, this book's culture-meets-romantic-confusion focus makes it a teen take on Nick Hornby's High Fidelity (1995), and it should hit home with social misfits and subnormals. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)