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Charlie Masters sat at the backyard picnic table with his best friend, Ruben Ramsey. The two thirteen-year-olds had a young adult novel spread between them, its cover showing a winged cheetah soaring over two kids. The Unwanted by Lisa McMann, the title read.
“I’m glad you actually read it! I wasn’t asking you to read all seven books—just the first one,” Ruben said, grinning.
Charlie adjusted his thick glasses and frowned slightly. “I did keep my promise, Ruben. I’ve never broken a promise in my life. I just wish you hadn’t been so... pushy about it.”
“Well, yeah! You only read non-fiction! It was like pulling teeth trying to get you to read a fiction book. But hey, what do you think of it?” Ruben pressed, leaning forward.
Charlie took a moment to think. “Well, Quill is pretty depressing. But I guess that’s what dystopias are like. It’s messed up that they send kids to die just because they’re too imaginative.”
“Right? It’s awful! And those 'Necessaries'—they’re basically slaves! The way Alex’s family acts when he’s declared Unwanted? It’s like they don’t even care. It’s messed up,” Ruben said, taking a swig of his Mountain Dew.
Charlie sighed and sipped his Coke. “At least the names are easy to say, even if some of them are a little goofy. Like Mr. Today, the wizard who created the place for the Unwanted.”
Ruben smiled. “Yeah! Artime is amazing! It’s not just the magical buildings and chimera creatures. It feels like a real place of wonder!”
Charlie nodded. “Totally. The author really brought Artime to life, especially when you compare it to the bleakness of Quill.”
“So, what about the characters? What do you think of Alex Stowe?” Ruben asked, clearly interested.
Charlie’s eyebrows furrowed. “I’m kind of jealous of how good he is at art. I can’t even draw a stick figure! But yeah, I get that he’s meant to be a leader. He goes through a lot in this book, and I’m sure it only gets more intense.”
“Yeah, but they don’t really describe what the characters look like. It took me forever to figure out what they looked like! I had to check the Wiki, but that was so hard to do without spoilers!” Ruben said, rolling his eyes.
Charlie nodded with a grimace. “Spoilers are everywhere. It’s impossible to avoid them. A few of our classmates just blurt out everything!”
“Tell me about it! So, what do you think about the relationship between Alex and his twin, Aaron?” Ruben asked, leaning in.
Charlie sighed, rubbing his chin. “I can already tell Aaron is all about revenge. He wants to be in control of everything. The way he snitches on people? No empathy there.”
Ruben nodded. “Alex is having a hard time letting go of Aaron. Some twins have this crazy bond, and it’s just heartbreaking when you realize your twin isn’t who you thought they were.”
Charlie’s expression softened. “Yeah, that part was tough, especially when you realize how unloved everyone is by the people who should care about them. Justine’s brainwashing over Quill is powerful.”
Ruben wiped his eye. “Yeah... but then, thank goodness Sam remembers Alex is left-handed, and Aaron’s right-handed! That little detail saved the day!”
Charlie smiled. “Exactly. It’s all about paying attention to the little things. Even the smallest detail can change everything.”
Ruben grinned. “So, you gonna read the rest of the series? Or try another fiction book? Not saying you should give up non-fiction, but maybe you could branch out?”
Charlie thought for a second. “Yeah, I’ll definitely read the other six books. Maybe even try something else, like historical fiction. Who knows?”
“Awesome! So, what now?” Ruben bounced in his seat.
Charlie grinned. “How about you quiz me on some of those words we need for the spelling bee? I could really use the practice.”
“Sure thing!” Ruben shot up from the table. “Let’s grab the practice dictionary!”
The two boys rushed inside the house, laughter and excitement filling the air as they prepared for the next challenge.