(George)

by E.L. Konigsburg

Book Overview

Who is George? Only Howard Carr and his older brother, Ben, can answer that question, because only they know about George. George is the funny little man who lives inside Ben, helping him (mostly) navigate life as a sixth grader who happens to be a scientific genius and who happens to be studying organic chemistry with students much older than he. One of those students is William Hazlitt, a senior who has been Ben's lab partner in previous years...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416949577
• ISBN13: 9781416949572
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.0" x 7.8"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Ever wanted a twin sibling in your brain?

It's hard to believe this book was originally published in June of 1970, before I was even born! I encountered it in 5th grade and until this day always assumed it had been written by Ellen Raskin... So if you like The Westing Game et al, you will probably enjoy this book as well. Benjamin Dickinson Carr is a sixth grader whose scientifically-inclined mind is smart enough for any two kids--which is fortunate because he shares his brain with an alternate personality named George. This disorder turns out to be more of a character trait than plot point, which makes it all the more creepy. Highly recommended!

Brilliant Exploration of Mental Illness

This was one of the heralds of the movement of children's literature reflecting real life. As the protagonist deals with family and school stress, he relies on his inner voice, named George. It should not be thought that George is simply the personification of the devil or angel on one's shoulder. He is a repressed 2nd personality. This would be an excellent book to use as bibliotherapy and, additionally, belongs in the library of every gifted teacher. Konigsburg, as always, treats characters humanely, wittily, and respectfully. (George) is one of those all too rare titles that the reader will remember years after reading it.