BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA:
Anderson, Laurie Halse. 2007. TWISTED. New York: Viking. ISBN 9780670061013
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
TWISTED is the story of Tyler, a teenage geek turned bad boy who finds his life turned upside down after vandalizing the school during the summer before his senior year. As a result of this prank, Tyler spends the entire summer doing manual labor as punishment for his crime. When school starts up again in the fall, Tyler finds that his previous image as “a zit on the butt of the student body” has shifted because of his new muscles and new image as a tough, bad boy. Tyler even finds himself attracting the attention of Bethany Milbury, the incredibly popular “alpha female” of the school and daughter of his father’s boss. However, Tyler’s newfound transformation and shift in social status do not portray his whole story. Darkness simmers underneath the surface at home as his bitter and angry workaholic father continues to lash out and perpetuate emotional unrest in the family. When Bethany invites Tyler to a wild Halloween party, Tyler is on cloud nine until he realizes that Bethany is extremely drunk. When nude pictures of Bethany surface on the internet the day after the party, Tyler instantly finds himself being blamed. As word quickly spreads that Tyler is being targeted for this horrible act, the emotional impact becomes almost too much to bear. With his father angrier than ever, Tyler’s thoughts turn suicidal as he struggles to find a way to put everything back on track. The fast-paced and often surprising plot will suck young readers in, and Anderson’s expertly created strong and realistic characters will keep them engaged throughout the story. Tyler will strike a chord with any young reader who has ever wanted a second chance at fitting in, and his frustration and desperation will seem nearly tangible to the reader. The raw emotions and struggles exposed in TWISTED are dark yet realistic, making it a story that will likely resonate with readers for a long time to come.
CONNECTIONS:
If students enjoy the writing of Laurie Halse Anderson, recommend her critically acclaimed novel, SPEAK.
Tyler contemplates suicide throughout the story. Use TWISTED as a springboard for a discussion with teens on suicidal thoughts and dealing with emotions. Share the suicide hotline number with teens (1-800-SUICIDE) and encourage them to talk to someone if they know someone who might be suicidal.
Open up a discussion on how Tyler’s decisions affected the situations he found himself in. Could he have done anything differently? Would he have changed things if he could, or would he have kept things the same?
REVIEWS AND AWARDS:
From BOOKLIST (January 2007):
“Writing for the first time from a male perspective, Anderson skillfully explores identity and power struggles that all young people will recognize.”
From KIRKUS REVIEW starred (February 2007):
“Tyler was always the kind of guy who didn't stand out until he spends the summer before his senior year working as punishment for spray painting the school. His new image and buff physique attracts Bethany--the über-popular daughter of his father's boss--but his angry and distant father becomes even more hostile towards him. As tension mounts, Tyler reaches a crisis point revealed through one of the most poignant and gripping scenes in young-adult literature. Taking matters into his own hands, Tyler decides that he must make a choice about what kind of man he wants to be, with or without his father's guidance.”
From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (May 2007):
“Teenage concerns with sex, alcohol, grades, and family are all tackled with honesty and candor. Once again, Anderson's taut, confident writing will cause this story to linger long after the book is set down.”
Wilson’s Senior High School
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