The Schwa Was Here

by Neal Shusterman

Book Overview

They say his clothes blend into the background, no matter where he stands. They say a lot of things about the Schwa, but one thing's for sure- no one ever noticed him. Except me. My name is Antsy... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0525471820
• ISBN13: 9780525471820
• Release Date: October 2004
• Publisher: Dutton Children's Books
• Length: 228 Pages
• Weight: 0.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 10 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 5 and higher

Customer Reviews

There are many Schwas

This book show the very real plight of many teens in America today as they try to make their mark on the world. What I really liked about this book was the way that the characters helped me take a look at society from a different angle. I was very glad I read it.

Surprising Depth

The basic story of Anthony "Antsy" Bonano and his friends is fairly straight forward - Anthony and his friends suddenly become aware of this kid who is pretty much an inconspicuous person in the world. I won't summarize the plot, as it is done pretty well in the reviews. What surprised me, though, was the depth of the book. It could have been just a recounting of the basic events as detailed in the summary, but instead, you get tantalizing images of some really interesting characters: Anthony, and Calvin "The Schwa", of course, but also Mr. Crawley, Lexis, Anthony's family, and even Anthony's friends. This is a deeper and more complex world than the simple facade would have you believe. At the same time, it is not belabored. This is not a didactic book - it isn't trying to teach you something, but it is showing you a world that is complex and multi-faceted. You can read the story as a straightforward accounting of events - and the plot is strong enough to make it a good read in that regard. Or you can see more - character study, exploration of values, decisions about what is important in life. Better than I expected somehow.

"The Schwa Was Here" is a must read!

Currently, I am near finished with this book. But already, I know this book is amazing. It starts with Anthony Bonano, a normal teenager who lives a average life of a kid his age. But when Calvin Schwa enters his life, his world flips upside down. He learns that Calvin has the power to make himself seem nonexsistant. From there, young Anthony experiences love, confusion, broken friendship, stealing, and much more. And the most confusing thing of all is, why is Calvin Schwa invisible and why can't people see him?

A page turner

Calvin Schwa seems to be invisible. Now you see him, now you don't. Antsy Bonano and his group decide to study this "Schwa effect" and use it for financial gain by taking wagers on Calvin's ability to enter improbable places unseen. The scheme is profitable until they accept a bet to steal a dog dish from the home of Mr. Crawley, the neighborhood eccentric. The Schwa is discovered by Crawley who can see him very clearly. As punishment, Calvin and Antsy become dog-walkers for the old man's 14 dogs. Later Crawley asks Antsy to befriend his visiting granddaughter, Lexie, who is blind. Schwa, Antsy and Lexie begin a search into Calvin's past and try to find out what happened to his mother. Is Calvin's "invisibility" tied to his past? This detailed story is a page turner. Schusterman writes with compassion and humor. As someone who works in a school setting, I found the story very moving because these "invisible" kids are in our classes. They are quiet, engaged and self sufficient so we sometimes overlook them. So much of a teacher's attention is claimed by high-needs students but the quiet ones also need all the recognition and acknowledgement that their teachers and friends can give them. The Schwa reminds me to make an even greater effort to keep these kids on the radar! This is a great read that will be appreciated by kids in grades 4 and up.

Clever premise

Schwa: The faint vowel sound in many unstressed syllables in the English language. Neil Shusterman says he got the idea for "The Schwa Was Here" when he did a Q & A session at a library and kept overlooking a boy who had his hand raised. The boy evolved into the title character, the Schwa. This book is as biting as its chapter titles ("Maybe They Had It Right In France Because Getting My Head Lopped Off By A Guillotine Would Have Been Easier"). Its main character, Anthony "Antsy" Bonano, is an Italian living in Brooklyn ("Jews and Italians seem to get along just fine. I think it has something to do with the way both cultures have a high regard for food and guilt"), a city known for simultaneously accepting, ignoring, and trampling over all its residents. The Schwa is especially a victim of being overlooked: He uncannily blends into his surroundings and can't be seen even when he is right in front of someone's face. Neil Shusterman's book is fantastically entertaining. He has taken an everyday problem (who hasn't felt neglected and ignored?), raised it to an almost paranormal status, but kept it at such a level where the Schwa almost a realistic character(the Schwa isn't actually invisible, but is mysterious enough to have a disturbing presence). The plot could have turned into a sniveling melodrama of deathbed confessions, persistant love triangles and tearful reunions, but Neil Shusterman cleverly avoided literary pitfalls. Instead, "The Schwa Was Here" is an offbeat novel, an urban myth of quirky, fascinating characters.