BLAZE UNION AND THE PUDDIN' HEAD SCHOOLS

Kosmos’ YA debut sees a schoolgirl rebel against an educational system that oppresses large-handed students.

Fourteen-year-old eighth grader Blaze Union lives on Puddin’ Head Island, a nation that venerates soccer and discriminates against the half of the population—those who have been deemed to have hands that are too large (known as “Bigs”). As a Big, Blaze is barred from leadership positions at school, only allowed to play defense in soccer, and generally treated as a second-class citizen. She rightly finds this unfair, and her ceaseless protesting and rebelliousness have caused her to be expelled from 22 different schools. Blaze’s burning ambition is to become education minister and reform the school system. She gets a chance to change things after she and her friend Chopper launch a punitive raid against inhabitants of Sweetie Island—the Puddin’ Head Islanders’ traditional enemies who, among other things, recently attacked the school with a cookie dough bomb. She and Chopper are judged to have performed a Noble Deed, and Blaze is rewarded by being made an “associate” education minister. She revels in the opportunity to be in charge, but the changes she attempts end in disaster. Eventually, however, she realizes the truth about anti-Big prejudice and the Sweeties conflict. Kosmos employs a conversational style throughout the narrative and portrays Blaze as larger than life but still relatable; the teen is fierce, determined, and angry at the injustice around her, yet also rather self-centered. Chopper does his best to temper her impetuosity, as Blaze’s intentions are good, but her methods more questionable—a point that’s made repeatedly. For the most part, though, a sense of silliness carries the day, and Blaze’s escapades are often delightfully funny. Still, the novel’s nearly 400-page length may prove daunting to some YA readers, especially as the pacing is uniform throughout. Anyone who enjoys wild shenanigans for their own sake, however, will appreciate the extra pages.

A gloriously absurd but overlong adventure.