Waylon: One Awesome Thing by Sara Pennypacker

Rating: Needs Parent Supervision

Waylon is an innovative, science-loving boy who seeks unity and peace-making. He befriends an outcast, outsmarts a charismatic bully, and frees an innocent creature. So what’s not to love? Well, a few things:

• There is mention of R-rated movies being watched in secret
• Waylon’s older sister defies her parents’ instructions to do her chores
• Waylon’s sister also embraces the goth scary persona
• Earth origin conservatives won’t like mention of the Big Bang
• Waylon is a bit self-conscious sometimes.
• He and his friends intentionally distract a group of police workers so as to release a dog on death row.

I’m so torn because there are so many great messages. If you do let your young reader have at it, be sure to discuss some of the issues listed here. Some families may take a pass. I’m borderline.

That said, I LOVE the sequel, Waylon: Even More Awesome, and you don’t absolutely need to read this one to be able to enjoy the sequel.