LGBTQIA+ (Fiction) |
Juvenile Literature |
Juvenile Fiction |
Science Fiction |
9781524775285 |
Summary
Summary
"If it wasn't for the fused-with-Zyx thing, I suppose I would just be normal--whatever that means."
When Felix Yz was three years old, a hyperintelligent fourth-dimensional being became fused inside him after one of his father's science experiments went terribly wrong. The creature is friendly, but Felix--now thirteen--won't be able to grow to adulthood while they're still melded together. So a risky Procedure is planned to separate them . . . but it may end up killing them both instead.
This book is Felix's secret blog, a chronicle of the days leading up to the Procedure. Some days it's business as usual--time with his close-knit family, run-ins with a bully at school, anxiety about his crush. But life becomes more out of the ordinary with the arrival of an Estonian chess Grandmaster, the revelation of family secrets, and a train-hopping journey. When it all might be over in a few days, what matters most?
Told in an unforgettable voice full of heart and humor, Felix Yz is a groundbreaking story about how we are all separate, but all connected too.
Author Notes
Lisa Bunker recently left a thirty-year career in public and community broadcasting to write full-time. She lives in Exeter, New Hampshire, and does not play chess as well as she would like, but still plays anyway. Find her on Twitter @LisaBunker.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8-Felix Yz would be an absolutely normal 13-year-old, if an accident in his father's lab had not fused him with Zyx, a superintelligent being from the fourth dimension, when he was three years old. This alien causes him to appear disabled; Felix is painfully bent, and he twitches when Zyx gets excited, and sometimes cannot speak, making him an easy target for bullies. But he has the love and support of his family: his bisexual mother, piano-prodigy sister, and gender-fluid grandparent. Now that he is maturing, Felix must be separated from Zyx, or they will both die. The problem is that there is a high probability that one or both could die during the procedure. As Felix counts down the days to the surgery, he journals his daily life, with the help of Zyx's perfect recall. His entries reveal a caring, introspective, and terrified teen who has a talent for writing and a crush on a biracial boy. Bunker's multifaceted characters help readers consider gender identity, race, and sexuality pragmatically but thoughtfully, as she introduces gender-neutral pronouns and the concept of Threeness that Felix develops. Michael Crouch performs brilliantly; with true emotion and wit, he creates an instantly likable character in Felix. He, Tara Sands, and Erin Spencer beautifully manage the difficult task of voicing the broad cast of characters, Zyx's interjections, and sister Bea's observations. -VERDICT This charming, engaging, humorous, and heartrending tale of self-awareness and coming of age is enriched by the superb audio presentation.-MaryAnn Karre, Vestal, NY © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Felix Yz, the 13-year-old narrator of Bunker's captivating debut, is just like everyone else. Well, mostly. At age three, Felix was fused with Zyx, "a hyperintelligent being from the fourth dimension," during an accident involving one of his father's inventions, which also killed his father. A dangerous procedure to separate Felix from Zyx is scheduled to take place in 29 days, and Felix is determined to make the most of the intervening time. Felix tells his story via his blog, using Zyx's perfect recall to recount conversations verbatim as he contends with bullies and works up the courage to talk to his crush, a boy named Hector. Felix's humor, vulnerability, and strength give this story its big heart, which is rounded out by a loving family that includes Felix's mother, piano prodigy older sister, and genderfluid grandparent who goes by Vera or Vern on different days. Set against a countdown to the unknown, Felix's story is a love letter to anyone who feels out of place and a testament to the beauty of being "different." Ages 10-up. Agent: Brianne Johnson, Writers House. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Eighth grade, like every other year of Felix Yz's life, isn't easy, but right now, it's increasingly intense. Why? He is inhabited by a fourth-dimensional creature, Zyx, whose presence forces Felix's body into a hunched stance he calls the Pose. One month before undergoing a procedure designed to separate the boy from his alien, Felix starts a detailed blog of his life, challenges, and thoughts. Told as a daily countdown, Felix records when he's bullied, when he finally talks with Hector (on whom he has a crush), how the Yz family copes with his situation, and when his fears about the procedure bubble up. Felix is likable and funny, and his relationship with Zyx is fresh and genuine. Containing eye-opening diversity, including Felix's relationship with his gender-fluid grandparent (Vern or Vera depending on the day), the story provides an original take on classic themes of family acceptance and middle-grade love. There are plenty of laughs to be had in this lovable debut. Bunker is an author to watch.--Fredriksen, Jeanne Copyright 2010 Booklist