Kathe Koja excels in these YA novellas at introducing us to the social outcasts of high school society. In this book, it's the Buddha Boy of the titles - aka Michael martin - aka Jinsen.
He's just transferred into Edward Rucher High School and he does NOT fit in. He dresses wrong. He begs for money in the cafeteria. He acts weirdly and doesn't respond the way he should. That includes showing not respect/fear to the school bullies which makes him number 1 target.
The narrator of the book, Justin, is forced to partner with Jinsen on a school project where he discovers that Jinsen is an amazing artist. From that grudging moment of respect, a tale of friendship against the odds builds rapidly.
The story is told in Koja's unmistakable stream of consciousness style of writing. It's a compelling read, as evidenced by the fact that I read it in one two hour sitting.
She delivers a great message about acceptance of people who seem different, about getting to know people rather than writing them off as freaks. Jinsen's back-story, when it's revealed, feels genuinely tragic and his recovery uplifting.
My only disappointment with the book is that, being told in flashback, I hoped to find out more at the end about what happened next, just an epilogue chapter to say what the characters achieved and if the friendships continued or fizzled with distance. Even that is just a personal feeling of disappointment because I wanted more, rather than a flaw with the book's ending, which is suitably emotional.
She left me wanting more... that can only be a compliment.
I have more of her full length adult novels on my shelves due a read or re-read at some point next year. She really is one of those writers who I will read anything she writes, no matter how far out of my personal comfort zone. She can make you feel the character's deepest feelings with ease.
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