There are a lot of mature issues that are addressed in this book. Thirteen year old Stewart has a genius IQ, but hardly any social skills. I think he is meant to have an Asperger's type personality. It has been almost two years since his mother died and his father is now dating a woman and they move in with her and her daughter, fourteen year old Ashley. Ashley is beautiful, popular, shallow and mean and since Stewart is so smart, he is moved up to her grade when he transfers to her school rather than spending hours on the bus each day to continue attending his old private school - Little Genius Academy. Ashley is still upset over her parent's divorce, which happened around the same time Stewart's mother died, when Ashley's dad came out as gay. She still has not told her friends about her dad. Stewart is bullied, Ashley is nearly raped, and several other difficult issues occur. Stewart's character seems rather immature but likeable while Ashley is not very likeable at all. I think that teens will enjoy this book because it is intense and does include difficult issues that may make them think about things a bit differently. I listened to the audio version of this book and it was done well.
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