Allen Kurzweil delves into the intricate passions of his characters, a dedication that has led him to study pop-up book design and the repair of player pianos. His work is characterized by a profound engagement with his characters' inner lives, often manifesting in the construction of inventive and peculiar contraptions that mirror their complexities. This unique approach imbues his narratives with a distinctive depth and imaginative flair.
Winner of the Edgar (R) Award for Best Fact CrimeThe true account of one boy's lifelong search for his boarding-school bully. Equal parts childhood memoir and literary thriller, Whipping Boy chronicles prize-winning author Allen Kurzweil's search for his twelve-year-old nemesis, a bully named Cesar Augustus.
Employing scientific methods learned in Mr. Sparks's class, fifth-grader Leon competes in a potato chip tasting contest and takes revenge against Lumpkin the bully.
This book is about a hotel full of animals. And an evil ice maker. And glass eyeballs -- oh, and really old panty hose and Possibly Fake Hair. But mostly, it's about Leon Zeisel and his epic quest to survive fourth grade, despite his teacher, Miss Hagmeyer, and his archenemy, Lumpkin the Pumpkin, a human tank with a deadly dodgeball throw. Luckily, Leon has friends who will stand by him even if his magical plans for rescue and revenge involve ... SPIT!
Set against the backdrop of pre-Revolutionary France, the story follows Claude Page, a young man determined to become a groundbreaking inventor. His journey is marked by tumultuous experiences, including learning enameling and watchmaking, and engaging with a variety of eccentric characters. Claude's most ambitious creation, a talking mechanical head, ultimately brings him fame but also leads to a tragic downfall, echoing the fate of Marie Antoinette in its bizarre conclusion.