reneek84's review
5.0
Wonderful, wonderful book. At the end of my son's junior year (2009)the entire school was given a copy of this book to read over the summer and even though he hasn't read it yet I did and I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone, adult and young adult alike.
kyliemahealani's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
lakesidegirl's review against another edition
5.0
David is not a normal boy by the standards of society. He is bullied at school because of his appearance and disabilities (or are they abilities?), so he changes to a school for others like him who are not “normal.” David befriends Cheetah, who has epilepsy. He struggles with his “defects,” wondering if they are a curse or a gift. He questions what God has done to him and if, perhaps, God might have a plan for his defects.
Defect explores issues of disability, self-acceptance, and personal choices from the perspective of a young man who experiences these matters on a daily basis. Weaver showcases these subjects in a realistic world with a fantastic situation. Defect would be an excellent book to introduce a class or reader to the experiences of teenagers with disabilities.
librariann's review
5.0
Ages 12+ (a few sexual references, one "shit") Sixteen year old David is different. Bug-eyed, big eared, small jawed, tall and skinny. But that's not his biggest difference - he has wings. Wings that he's carefully kept hidden from everyone in Minnesota, where he was sent to live by his mother at age 12. Torment from his classmates leads him to an alternative high school, where he meets Cheetah, a girl with epilepsy. Are David's deformities a gift or a curse? And if he had the chance, would he give them up and be normal? Fable-like with strong emotional impact, and good message about accepting who you are. Strongly recommended!
karen_k77's review
4.0
I really liked this book. It was, in a nutshell, different.
David is a fifteen-year-old with a few mutations; he's 'ugly,' has 'hearing aids' and has this really bad smell (which, I have to say, was the only defect of his that I could imagine myself being slightly put-off by. That sounds shallow of me, but I'm just being brutally honest with myself). But what he hasn't told anyone is that there's one more mutation; his wings. Or rather, flaps of skin under his arms that allow him to glide and are probably the source of the humid, pungent odor he gives off.
What I absolutely LOVED about David was how much his personality surprised me. People who are ostracized or taunted for being different are usually angry or depressed or meek or some combination. But David was hilarious. He was witty, smart, not afraid to play tricks on those who bullied him. He was admittedly kind of shut-off, but he definitely broke any stereotypes I had set in my brain for the typical 'outcast.'
Cheetah was...okay. Very flat. She wasn't explained at all. So she just...didn't make an impression on me. David's foster parents seemed cool. The perfect balance between saints (because they could love him for who he was) and flawed humans (because they were still a bit weirded out by him, which is only normal). Doctor Ramaswamy was okay, too. Very flat. And any other character is just too boring or inconsequential to mention.
The plot wasn't really a plot, so much as the sequence of events of this kid's life. It was a life-story, not a beginning-middle-end story. And I can appreciate those. It felt more real.
And it dealt with more realistic issues. He feels kind of isolated from his friends and foster parents, which is understandable. He doubts the existence of God, which is understandable (his whole THERE IS A GOD revelation was the only part of the book I didn't really like. It was just weird for me). And he has doubts as to whether or not he should get corrective surgery for his face and wings. All of this is understandable, and it creates a sort of exaggerated version of the feelings 'normal' teenagers might be feeling. So it was a creative medical fiction as well as a relatable realistic fiction. Which is awesome.
The writing was great. Perhaps one of my favorite styles I've ever seen. Weaver managed to be descriptive without prattling on. And I say that about a lot of writers, but this guy perfected the technique. If he had a metaphor to give, he only used a sentence or two and then moved on. But it worked perfectly. That sentence or two conveyed a beautiful simile or whatever in such a way that I was left thinking I wish I could be that deep and thoughtful.
Overall, very good book. A nice short read, nothing too overwhelming or lengthy, which is nice. I definitely recommend this to people who enjoy personal or moral gray areas, or contemplating the debate concerning beauty's increasing importance in our society (although it deals more with David than it does with society and beauty). This book is definitely worth your time.
David is a fifteen-year-old with a few mutations; he's 'ugly,' has 'hearing aids' and has this really bad smell (which, I have to say, was the only defect of his that I could imagine myself being slightly put-off by. That sounds shallow of me, but I'm just being brutally honest with myself). But what he hasn't told anyone is that there's one more mutation; his wings. Or rather, flaps of skin under his arms that allow him to glide and are probably the source of the humid, pungent odor he gives off.
What I absolutely LOVED about David was how much his personality surprised me. People who are ostracized or taunted for being different are usually angry or depressed or meek or some combination. But David was hilarious. He was witty, smart, not afraid to play tricks on those who bullied him. He was admittedly kind of shut-off, but he definitely broke any stereotypes I had set in my brain for the typical 'outcast.'
Cheetah was...okay. Very flat. She wasn't explained at all. So she just...didn't make an impression on me. David's foster parents seemed cool. The perfect balance between saints (because they could love him for who he was) and flawed humans (because they were still a bit weirded out by him, which is only normal). Doctor Ramaswamy was okay, too. Very flat. And any other character is just too boring or inconsequential to mention.
The plot wasn't really a plot, so much as the sequence of events of this kid's life. It was a life-story, not a beginning-middle-end story. And I can appreciate those. It felt more real.
And it dealt with more realistic issues. He feels kind of isolated from his friends and foster parents, which is understandable. He doubts the existence of God, which is understandable (his whole THERE IS A GOD revelation was the only part of the book I didn't really like. It was just weird for me). And he has doubts as to whether or not he should get corrective surgery for his face and wings. All of this is understandable, and it creates a sort of exaggerated version of the feelings 'normal' teenagers might be feeling. So it was a creative medical fiction as well as a relatable realistic fiction. Which is awesome.
The writing was great. Perhaps one of my favorite styles I've ever seen. Weaver managed to be descriptive without prattling on. And I say that about a lot of writers, but this guy perfected the technique. If he had a metaphor to give, he only used a sentence or two and then moved on. But it worked perfectly. That sentence or two conveyed a beautiful simile or whatever in such a way that I was left thinking I wish I could be that deep and thoughtful.
Overall, very good book. A nice short read, nothing too overwhelming or lengthy, which is nice. I definitely recommend this to people who enjoy personal or moral gray areas, or contemplating the debate concerning beauty's increasing importance in our society (although it deals more with David than it does with society and beauty). This book is definitely worth your time.
lindzee's review against another edition
1.0
Could not finish. There are several scenes where the main character eats bugs and describes in some detail how they taste and feel. I was eating lunch. Then I was not.
rovertoak's review against another edition
4.0
Touching narrative about David, a boy who either holds the key to human evolution or is the product of errant amino acids. I'm very impressed with Weaver's treatment of David's foster parents. Often, they're portrayed in literature and opther media as these leeches taking on kids just to get a check from the state. Here, the Trotwoods are very supportive and loving even though there's a bit of emotional space between them and David -- David came into their care later in his childhood. It's a quick book that will give most readers something to think about.
clementinelover's review against another edition
5.0
So freaking entertaining! I loved this book, it came as quite a surprise! I never would have expected enjoying it so much going into it. This book deals with heavy topics such as a dark self-perception and the experience of being a social pariah. Captivating, dark and despairing, but also very funny and sweet!! Highly recommend!
maidmarianlib's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting book about being yourself. Some elements don't really work and the emotional elements are not really worked out.
rovertoak's review
4.0
Touching narrative about David, a boy who either holds the key to human evolution or is the product of errant amino acids. I'm very impressed with Weaver's treatment of David's foster parents. Often, they're portrayed in literature and opther media as these leeches taking on kids just to get a check from the state. Here, the Trotwoods are very supportive and loving even though there's a bit of emotional space between them and David -- David came into their care later in his childhood. It's a quick book that will give most readers something to think about.
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