3.75 stars.

I’ve definitely read this book — probably back in middle school, which would explain why it’s not already on my shelves. It’s somewhere between middle grade and young adult, with simple but nuanced themes and pretty straightforward character development. I definitely got more of the geek references than I would’ve the first time, and overall it was a fun easy read.

Which is not to say it makes light of mental illness or homosexuality or betrayal or any of the issues it addresses; it matches Solomon’s own facetious irreverence in joking about the “worst” parts in every situation. The overall development is pretty condensed and the plot is fairly predictable, but there’s something comforting in that. Like Solomon’s holodeck: escapism at its finest and closest to home.