Paul, Big, and Small

August 2, 2019

Gr 7-10-Paul is hardly five feet tall and only 100 pounds dripping wet, which makes him the perfect target for the animals in high school, but he survives by sticking to the outer edges of the hallways. When Paul enters his language arts class, he encounters Lily Small, a tall, athletic black girl, and Big, a triple-X Hawaiian shirt-wearing Polynesian. The trio are partnered up for a project on Of Mice and Men, discussing mental illness in the early 1900s. Little does Paul know, this assignment is the seed for the strongest friendships he has ever had. Through this project and at the local rock climbing gym, Paul, who is white, learns to recognize others' issues that cause them to pick on those weaker than themselves, and discovers that being small isn't always a weakness. While much of the book focuses on the mental strength and physical agility necessary to be a successful climber, the subplots demonstrate how this sport can provide the therapy needed to overcome bullying, grief, and trauma. Big is the teddy bear character who only seems to find the beauty in everyone and everything, from dandelions growing in the sidewalk to ants carrying chips back to their nests. VERDICT This book shows how friendships can be found when least expected. Perfect for libraries building their sports collections, as it clearly explains the fundamentals of rock climbing not often found in other YA books.-Jessica Lorentz Smith, Bend Senior High School, OR

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2019
Despite their differences, three teens become friends. Paul's a short guy. By the time he reaches high school, he's well aware that his stature puts him in the crosshairs of bullies. When Paul, who is white, meets the Hawaiian newcomer, Kamakanamakamaemaikalani Pohaku--or, Big--a 300-plus-pound, cheerful transfer student, and overcomes his fear of Lily Small, a black Kenyan girl adopted by white parents whose height and race make her stand out in their homogeneous school, he discovers true friendship. An avid rock climber, Paul's hobby increases his confidence, which becomes important when crises strike. Unfortunately, the interest the book builds through showing a diversity of experiences is negated by two-dimensional, stereotypical characterizations. Though Paul develops a crush on her, descriptions of Lily repeatedly evoke the angry, violent, black woman trope ("It wasn't hard to imagine her breaking my neck with those arms"; "I had to remind myself she was a vicious predator") as well as culturally inaccurate depictions of the Maasai. Big's descriptions recall condescending images of ever smiling plus-sized people and happy-go-lucky Polynesians ("He lumbered down the hall with a big, friendly smile on his face that made me think he was imagining himself on a beach, holding a drink with an umbrella"). A woman with mental illness is portrayed as hysterical and irrational. While attempting to address serious issues, the book fails to reflect real-life complexities or nuances, instead mirroring troubling stereotypes. (Fiction. 14-18)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.