The Computer's Nerd
W. Royce Adams
(Reviewer - Rebecca Brown)
2002 Rairarubia Books
ISBN: 097122062X

Brainy-boy Arthur, who is beset by school bullies, encounters fear, cowardice & a computer who talks to him, & discovers courage, honesty & friendship.

Every day the school bell rings for lunch, Arthur goes through hell as Matt, Ned & Victor hunt him down to insult, threaten & eventually, take the lunch his Mother makes for him, or his lunch money.

It doesn't help that Arthur has to wear eyeglasses, isn't interested in sports, reads voraciously, & his parents don't believe in television. Oh, & he doesn't have any brothers or sisters, either. It also doesn't help that he's worried because his Dad is out of work, right now.

The bullying has began to affect his ability to concentrate in the classroom, because he's so busy anticipating it that he doesn't hear what his teachers are saying, & he can't make any friends because no one wants to befriend the class bullies' target. He's also the brainiest person in the class, & that includes the teacher, because he always notices the little mistakes she makes, like calling a tomato a vegetable!

It's not that Arthur doesn't want to stop the bullying, in fact, his mind thinks of a lot of retorts, comebacks & scenes in which he bests the bullies, it's just that when those three bigger boys descend on him, he gives in out of dread & fear.

Naturally, he doesn't tell his teachers nor his parents. The only person who seems to notice the daily bullying is Natalie, & why would she be interested in such a pathetic wimp as he?

One evening, Arthur's parents give him a surprise -- a computer. He is thrilled & takes it to his room, hooks it up & gets another surprise -- the thing talks to him, without him doing anything other than turning it on!
What's even more weird is the computer seems to know everything about Arthur, especially being the brunt of Matt, Ned & Victor's bullying. & the computer has a game it wants Arthur to play. A game that involves questions Arthur must answer about what should happen to the bullies the next day when they attack him. The computer gives Arthur three answers & he must choose what punishment he thinks should be meted out on his oppressors.

At first, Arthur doesn't believe his answers will make a difference until the very thing he decided should happen to Matt, does.

That's when Arthur's conscience stirs awake, not enough though for him to stop The Game with his computer, not enough to stop the lies he feels he has to tell, nor enough to fight back at the remaining bullies.

Then Victor gets hurt, just the way the computer said he would, & Arthur becomes conscience-stricken. After all, he didn't really mean to hurt the bullies, he just wanted them to stop picking on him.

The Computer's Nerd is a good story about how a boy learns about the difference between wanting something to happen & making it happen; about how telling one lie only leads to telling more; about cowardice & courage.

It is about how everyone has to wrestle with their conscience. It's one thing to wish someone evil, it's another thing entirely to make it happen, even to people who are stupid, hateful & mean.

The Computer's Nerd is for everyone -- kids & parents alike -- who have ever been on the receiving end of bullies. It is a well written, interesting story about surmounting fear, cowardice & ignorance.

website: www.rairarubia.com
(09/22/02)

Rebecca