As a teacher, I’m always drawn to YA books that follow an underdog. Whether it be a nerdy, gamer kid who shies away from making friends in the real world or a seemingly well-adjusted teenager, going through an internal struggle while appearing fine to the outside world. In this particular book, the underdog is a boy who is neither small, nor popular but is going through his own external and internal battles, while just trying to find a place to belong in the process.
Cliff Hubbard, not-so-formally known as Neanderthal due to his impressive stature, girth, and somewhat disheveled appearance at Happy Valley High, is experiencing an extreme rough patch in his already screwed up life. A year ago, Cliff’s older brother Shane committed suicide without any obvious warning or reason, leaving Cliff to feel like even more of a lonely outsider in his already clique plagued school. Even worse is the bullying he experiences at home at the hands of his alcoholic, unemployed, deadbeat dad. Though it’s obvious that Cliff is struggling, he conveys this to the reader with cutting humor and deadpan sarcasm that only a teenager could masterfully wield.
Aaron Zimmerman, the resident golden boy/quarterback/douche bag, seems to be getting on Cliff’s case quite a bit; teasing, bullying, and getting into brawls fairly often. That is, until he gets into an accident and lands himself in a coma. Once Aaron wakes up, he’s a totally different guy, making both his friends and foes alike question whether some serious brain damage could be the cause. One of his new and alarming actions? Befriending Cliff Hubbard and demanding that Cliff help him complete a list of tasks to make Happy Valley High School a better place…as given to Aaron by God.
On the list:
1. Put an end to Niko’s bullying.
2. Call the JTs to repentance.
3. Remind Mr. Spinelli why he chose to teach.
4. Show Frank’s gang a better way.
5. Find and stop HAL.
From there, Aaron and Cliff embark on the daunting task of bettering their school, their community, and ultimately themselves and those around them. Cliff discovers what it means to form friendships with the most unlikely group of people. And he uncovers the truth about his brother’s suicide and exactly who HAL is.
Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe is a very different YA book. It is sci-fi, romance, LGBTQ, humor, religion and drama, all rolled into one. I really loved Cliff and his somewhat jaded, dry humor. I liked reading about a kid who was experiencing bullying, but stood up for himself and wouldn’t take crap from anyone. I definitely saw the revelation of Shane’s suicide coming and guessed about halfway through the book who HAL was going to be.
I think this is a great book for kids (or people in general) who feel like outsiders; it’s a reminder that none of us truly fit a cookie cutter mold, you never know what other people are going through, and you should have empathy above judgement, always. I will definitely be putting this in my student library! 5 stars 🙂
If this sounds like your kind of read, check it out here:
If you’re interested in quirky/nerdy/outsider YA books, you might also enjoy these reads:
