The Looney Experiment by Luke Reynolds follows Atticus as he tries to survive school and befriends a 77-year-old substitute teacher.
Atticus Hobart is one of the quiet ones. He doesn’t speak much in class, and when he does, his voice comes out as a whisper. Couple that with being in love with a girl who doesn’t know he exists and being the class bully’s favorite target, and it’s no wonder Atticus doesn’t really enjoy school.
Things only look worse when his dad leaves the family to “discover himself,” but luckily for Atticus, that’s exactly when Mr. Looney arrives.
Mr. Looney is an eclectic character whose teaching methods are like nothing Atticus has ever seen before, and he might just be the secret to Atticus finally standing up for himself.
‘The Looney Experiment’ book review
Though this book is clearly meant to be an empowering story for middle school students who can relate to the story, this novel will resonate with any generation. Not only is it a tale of courage and self-empowerment, especially for those who have trouble finding their own voices, it also explores important subjects such as bullying, separation and divorce, emotional and physical abuse, and doing what is right even when it isn’t easy.
Atticus, who is both the main character and the narrator of the book, at first appears to be completely average. He has trouble in school, he has trouble in sports, and he has trouble with social interactions. But he soon learns that the only person holding him back is himself, and once he realizes this, the real Atticus is revealed.
Mr. Looney is equally mysterious in the beginning of the story. His name is not the only thing that implies he could be crazy; his teaching methods also lend themselves to this idea. Loud, ridiculous, and completely off his rocker, he is exactly the type of teacher to get Atticus to open up and begin to feel comfortable in his own skin.
With excellent characters and a strong, emotional story, not much else is needed to make The Looney Experiment even more appealing. However, the author doesn’t stop there. Instead, Reynolds uses To Kill a Mockingbird to teach Atticus about his own name, about the role of fathers, and about what it means to be courageous. This lesson could not come at a more relevant time in history.
This book is real, and though it is meant for a young audience, it does not shy away from the tough topics kids often must face and understood well before they should. The ending does not tie up the story with a perfect little bow, and not every aspect is resolved, but such is life. The Looney Experiment will offer any reader, young or old, the opportunity to view difficult events from a child’s point of view, and by the end of the book, they will be better because of it.
The Looney Experiment by Luke Reynolds is on sale now. Add it to your Goodreads list or purchase it on Amazon or IndieBound.
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