NERDS

Photo credit Abrams Books

“You have accessed the physical enhancement protocol of the National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society. Prepare for upgrade. Code name, please? NERDS. It’s an unfortunate acronym.” NERDS by Michael Buckley is a hilarious science fiction middle grade novel that will put you right into the action! Stumbling upon a secret society in your school and being turned into an robotic spy is just as much fun as it sounds, but be careful, if you get caught in the guards sights, you’ll be “cooked like a Hot Pocket.”

The narrator in NERDS tells the story in 3rd person point of view, but does it in transmissions from secret spy files, which adds dimension to the story. There are times during these transmissions that the narrator talks directly to the reader for special spy clearances. For example, “Still here, huh? I would have bet money that your little belly couldn’t handle all the excitement. Well you’re braver than I thought. Eager for more? Good. Please place you eye on the retinal scanner. I’m waiting pal. I know you didn’t do it. Level 3 access granted. See how easy it is when you cooperate? Begin transmission:” This interaction between the reader and the narrator adds humor and engagement to make readers feel like they are a part of the story.

Buckley has so much character development and grown within the novel that it makes the characters well rounded and relatable. We can all relate to making friends and feeling like an outcast, but it’s how we treat people that matters and Jackson has to learn this. “Ashamed, Jackson looked across the lawn at his teammates, and for the first time he wasn’t annoyed that they didn’t want to be his friend. He suddenly understood. He didn’t deserve their friendship.” While Jackson made strides in his character development, the relationship between him and his brother Chaz also developed as the story went along. “I’ve been a total jerk to you. Chaz said. Jackson shrugged. If it wasn’t for your insults, I wouldn’t have anyone speaking to me at all. They talked for hours. Mostly about their father, but also about how much they missed their mom, and about how much their dad had changed since she died.”  Grief had changed them all and in a way after they dealt with it and navigated through the hard times, it brought them closer and developed them in ways they never imagined.

While this is a science fiction novel, there were some unexpected insights into life, that I think kids at this age need to really think about. Instead of all action and spy missions, the characters had to learn how to rely on each other but also how people may not always be what you think. “That's your problem, Braceface. You judge others by what they look like. You’ve spent your life putting people into little categories - nerd, geek, athlete, cheerleader, weakling - and you can’t imagine they might be more than what you think. People are always more than what they appear.” I think for us, as people, we want things to fit in nice little boxes, but people and the world are so much more than that.

Buckley takes a look at good vs. evil in NERDS like most science fiction novels, there is a battle between good and evil, but there is also moral dilemmas that the characters face. For example the assassin, Hyena, has a hard time killing a job she is on because her target’s daughter appears and reminds her of herself and her father, so she can’t kill him. Jackson also has a moral dilemma that appears when his actions are shown as being a bully and he sees how that impacts others. Our morals and how we treat people are so important to how we can make the world a better place. The NERDS are there to save the world, and their actions should reflect that. I found NERDS to be so much fun! It was highly entertaining, hilarious, and a wonderfully told story from two different perspectives. I give this 4 out of 5 stars!

NERDS is a fun, action packed, adventure! With its wonderful character development, reader engagement from the narrator in a unique story structure, and unexpected insights, this book has something for everyone. This is a hilarious middle grade novel that is sure to engage readers and keep them laughing all the way through. Make sure you get your level clearances to access these top secret National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society files.