Ezra Exposed
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
Even though Ezra’s got good friends and can make everyone laugh, he feels like he’s invisible, both at home and at school. To make things worse, he’s the only kid in his group without a phone—left out of plans and shared jokes and games. Finally, at the end of fifth grade, his parents come through.
The phone changes everything. Ezra texts his friends all the time, can instantly keep up with his favorite teams, and boredom is a memory. Best of all, the funny pictures he’s posting on social media are getting a lot of attention. Other kids—including the popular kids—are noticing him for the first time.
Then he takes a photo that pushes things over the edge, and suddenly he’s in the principal’s office with his parents …
Amy Feldman’s debut is smart, laugh-out-loud funny, fast-moving—a great read that also takes on the very serious subject of kids and phone use. Middle-grade readers will recognize Ezra as one of their own, and the author’s light touch allows her to address an issue parents might not recognize, but kids need to be aware of. Ezra Exposed is just right for fans of Gordon Korman, Tom Angleberger, and Rebecca Stead.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Fifth grader Ezra Miller, who uses humor to connect with others, learns the pitfalls of social media and technology in Feldman's topical debut. Ezra often feels invisible within his family and friend group, but when he receives a smartphone for his 10th birthday—as one of the last in his grade to get one—he believes that his newfound feeling of coolness will thrust him into the spotlight. His initial excitement over connecting with others gives way to social media popularity after Ezra posts a picture of a chicken nugget that looks like a butt. Emboldened by this sudden notoriety, Ezra starts posting photos of various other objects, each resembling a tush. But his pursuit of fame starts to impact his relationships with family and friends, and when a photo Ezra took of his own backside begins circulating, a visit from a detective foreshadows legal consequences. The novel's tone abruptly pivots between slapstick humor and strident moralizing, making for an uneven read. Nevertheless, Ezra's droll first-person narration, desire to be liked, and evolving maturity deftly render this a humorous and self-reflective tale. Characters read as white. Ages 8–12.
