THE SCHWA WAS HERE
Antsy Bonano, #1BY NEAL SHUSTERMAN | PUBLICATION: MARCH 2, 2006
PPENGUIN BOOKS | GENRE: YA FICTION
RATING: ★★★★
“It’s a story about invisibility that reminds you how much it matters to look closely, to notice, to choose to see.”
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Anthony, also known as "Antsy," is fascinated by "The Schwa Effect"--the fact that no one ever sees Calvin Schwa. Even when acting weird and dressed like a total freak, The Schwa is only barely noticed. The two boys form a partnership and get away with all kinds of mischief, from conducting experiments at school to confounding opponents on the basketball court. When The Schwa senses that even Antsy is beginning to lose sight of him, he vows to do something that will make him so visible, no one will ever forget him. Any kid who's ever felt unnoticed will identify with Schwa and Antsy and their quest for notoriety.
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A Good Lad, That Antsy.
This story isn’t your typical case of athazagoraphobia. Calvin Schwa is functionally invisible. Unless he speaks, people don’t notice him even when he’s standing inches away. Lose focus for a moment, and you’ll forget he was ever there. They call it The Schwa Effect. Sometimes even his own father forgets to set a dinner plate for him. It’s heartbreaking and fascinating all at once. How do you cure something like that?
Antsy Bonano thinks he has the perfect plan to put The Schwa Effect to good use — until the idea turns around and bites them. It turns out some people are immune to Calvin’s invisibility, like the perpetually grouchy Mr. Crawley. Before long, Antsy and Calvin are walking his fourteen dogs and stumbling into trouble neither of them expected.
I completely fell for Antsy while reading this. He’s funny, sharp, and surprisingly grounded. I love the way he loves his family — loud, chaotic, imperfect, but deeply affectionate.
One of my favorite lines captures the book’s mix of humor and truth:
“Life is like a bad haircut.
At first it looks awful, then you kind of get used to it…”
Neal Shusterman weaves in real family issues throughout the story. Some are handled lightly, others feel painfully inescapable. The book nudges you to think about how we treat people, how our choices ripple outward, and how those choices shape who we become.
It’s a great read — one I wish more people would pick up.
“I mean, it's like we all get our raw materials from our families
— but it's up to us whether we build bridges or bombs.”
Thank you, Peter, for recommending this.
This story isn’t your typical case of athazagoraphobia. Calvin Schwa is functionally invisible. Unless he speaks, people don’t notice him even when he’s standing inches away. Lose focus for a moment, and you’ll forget he was ever there. They call it The Schwa Effect. Sometimes even his own father forgets to set a dinner plate for him. It’s heartbreaking and fascinating all at once. How do you cure something like that?
Antsy Bonano thinks he has the perfect plan to put The Schwa Effect to good use — until the idea turns around and bites them. It turns out some people are immune to Calvin’s invisibility, like the perpetually grouchy Mr. Crawley. Before long, Antsy and Calvin are walking his fourteen dogs and stumbling into trouble neither of them expected.
I completely fell for Antsy while reading this. He’s funny, sharp, and surprisingly grounded. I love the way he loves his family — loud, chaotic, imperfect, but deeply affectionate.
One of my favorite lines captures the book’s mix of humor and truth:
At first it looks awful, then you kind of get used to it…”
Neal Shusterman weaves in real family issues throughout the story. Some are handled lightly, others feel painfully inescapable. The book nudges you to think about how we treat people, how our choices ripple outward, and how those choices shape who we become.
It’s a great read — one I wish more people would pick up.
— but it's up to us whether we build bridges or bombs.”
Thank you, Peter, for recommending this.
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About the Author:
Neal Shusterman is the New York Times bestselling author of more than fifty award-winning books for children, teens, and adults, including Challenger Deep, which won the National Book Award, Courage to Dream, a Sydney Taylor Honor Book, Scythe, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book, the Unwind Dystology, which won more than thirty domestic and international awards, and the highly acclaimed novels, Dry, and Roxy which he co-wrote with his son, Jarrod For his body of work, Neal won the 2024 Margaret A. Edwards Award, and the ALAN Lifetime Achievement Award. His novel, Unwind, has become part of the literary canon in many school districts across the country-and has won more than thirty domestic and international awards. Many of his novels are in development as TV series and movies.
Neal Shusterman is the New York Times bestselling author of more than fifty award-winning books for children, teens, and adults, including Challenger Deep, which won the National Book Award, Courage to Dream, a Sydney Taylor Honor Book, Scythe, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book, the Unwind Dystology, which won more than thirty domestic and international awards, and the highly acclaimed novels, Dry, and Roxy which he co-wrote with his son, Jarrod For his body of work, Neal won the 2024 Margaret A. Edwards Award, and the ALAN Lifetime Achievement Award. His novel, Unwind, has become part of the literary canon in many school districts across the country-and has won more than thirty domestic and international awards. Many of his novels are in development as TV series and movies.
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Oh, you've read it! You're very much welcome, Louize! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
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