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The Schwa Was Here
Unavailable
The Schwa Was Here
Unavailable
The Schwa Was Here
Audiobook6 hours

The Schwa Was Here

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

This audiobook follows eigth-grader "Antsy" Bonano as he looks back on three accidental, but beneficial friendships with a few interesting characters, including the often ignored, Calvin Schwa.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateAug 12, 2008
ISBN9780739372364
Unavailable
The Schwa Was Here

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Reviews for The Schwa Was Here

Rating: 4.013618649805447 out of 5 stars
4/5

257 ratings23 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I have read a lot of Shusterman books and this is definitely a turn from his norm. The Schwa was Here is realistic fiction, at least I think that is where it fits in. He said he wrote this story after presenting at a school where during the Q & A, the teacher suggested he call on a quiet boy with his hand raised. She said he had his hand up the whole time and Neal thought to himself, that he had not even noticet the boy. The Schwa is a teen boy who is overlooked by parents, peers, teacher and people on the street. Half the time the teacher doesn't even mark him present or absent in school. to be continued...
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Meh. Forgettable. The whole point is that the Schwa is so unremarkable that he disappears under the radar. I feel the same could be said of this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a cute read with some nice lessons. It's audience is a little young for me but I enjoy Neal Shusterman so much that I thought I would try it out. I wasn't disappointed. Shusterman has a way with words that is very enjoyable.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Apparently books aimed for the younger teen boy are not my cup of tea. I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it either. Told from the perspective of Antsy, the story tells of the his new friend, The Schwa. The Schwa has a very indistinct personality that is quite a problem most of the time. It is a talent other times. The method by which he chooses to deal with this problem moves the story ahead. The story is funny and sad with a pretty tidy happy ending. It is a unique story with interesting and entertaining characters. I'd recommend this to teens that who don't love to read and want a simple, but funny story about kids with whom they can identify.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    While most of us probably don't have acqaintances who have perfected the art of fading into the background like Calvin Schwa, this story of his friendship with Antsy will speak to many teenagers who feel unnoticed. The audio version, read by the author, is a delight to listen to. Give this to middle school students who like their humor offbeat, their characters quirky, and a story that leaves plenty to think about at the end.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Children's LiteratureCalvin Schwa is a boy so bland and colorless, so utterly unremarkable and unmemorable that his new, and only, friend, Anthony (Antsy) Bonano, does science experiments to investigate the "Schwa Effect"—the degree to which Calvin can be present but utterly unnoticed by everyone. But the Schwa Effect fails on the doomed day that Calvin is dared to enter the dark and dog-ridden apartment of Old Man Crawley, a famous neighborhood recluse, to steal one of his dog bowls. The incident leads both Antsy and the Schwa into ever deeper involvement in Old Man Crawley's life, as he sentences them to walk his fourteen dogs, named after the seven deadly sins and seven cardinal virtues, and to befriend his blind (and attractive) granddaughter. Shusterman's characters are larger (and stranger) than life, and the events of the story are similarly exaggerated and bizarre, all narrated by Antsy in chapters with titles like "Which Is Worse: Getting Mauled by a Pack of Dogs, or Getting Your Brains Bashed Out by a Steel Poker?" and "Maybe They Had It Right in France Because Getting My Head Lopped Off by a Guillotine Would Have Been Easier." It all adds up to a thoughtful, though decidedly odd, parable on self-identity and the degree to which we need to have our existence recognized and validated by others
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    When it comes down to it, we all just want to know that we matter. I found this a rather poignant and funny coming of age tale about a Brooklyn teen, Antsy (short for Anthony), the relatively unnoticed one in his family, and his friend, Calvin Schwa, who is seemingly invisible to most of the world. The themes of mattering as an individual, being recognized as an individual and not blending into the background or existing only as part of someone's else's life, abandonment, and overcoming abandonment--if possible--are explored here, woven into the story deftly and heartbreakingly. I think that most people would identify with something in this book, and with some people it should really hit a nerve. Antsy feels that he is the overlooked glue holding his family together. Calvin feels that no one notices him. (Almost no one does in the story. Most people don't even see him, even if he wears garish costumes.) He struggles with overcoming this negative self worth after he, at age five, is (likely) abandoned by his lost and unnoticed mother in a supermarket. Lexi, a crush of both boys, is blind and struggles with most people being blind to the real her. Anthony's mother struggles to find herself after years of everything she does being a part of everyone else's life, but not her own. She finds she has "put all her eggs in one basket" and needs to have some other egg baskets for herself, so that she matters outside of living her family's life/needs everyday--which really resounded with me, as I suspect it would with many other full-time moms.In sum, another well-written book by Shusterman, with colorful, real characters, smart dialogue and fresh humor.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Imagine my surprise when I picked up a Neal Shusterman book – Neal Shusterman of Unwind and the Skinjacker series – and found myself laughing more than I have during a book in a long time. Yet in the midst of all that laughter, there are moments of the deepest sincerity, too.When Antsy realizes that Calvin, a/k/a the Schwa, is usually overlooked even when he’s standing right in front of someone, he’s intrigued and wants to know why. This leads to a course of experiments about what does and does not get the Schwa noticed. All of these experiments lead to a “job” that Antsy and the Schwa start together after school. Through the time they spend in their experiments and at their job, the two of them become close and Antsy wants to help the Schwa figure out the story behind how he became “observationally challenged”.I loved every character in this book, from Antsy’s best friends to the possibly crazy butcher, and they each play an important role in the story. Mr. Crawley is perfect as the crotchety, agoraphobic shut-in. Lexie provides a sense of compassion, and teaches Antsy how to see things in a profound way. The Schwa’s dad is eerily detached from his son in a way that is disturbing to read.At its core, this story is about feeling insignificant to the world. Although the story is hyperbolic, it works to make a point about how someone can feel completely surrounded yet completely alone at the same time. Antsy’s willingness to work against “the Schwa Effect” in order to help a new friend find peace – and to make sure he’s never really forgotten – gives the story its heart.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved The Schwa Was Here because it had such an interesting, meaningful story. It is told in the first person by an eighth grader in Brooklyn who meets someone named Calvin Schwa, and it turns out “The Schwa” sits next to him in class but he never noticed him. The Schwa is so unnoticeable that he seems to be invisible, but not really. Just like the “uh” sound symbolized by Ə, he seems to almost always be there but nobody realizes it.There is a deeper story that develops gradually that looks at the relationships between the different characters and their families. I think many people can identify with the story, because it’s easy to feel “invisible” or unnoticed. This book takes that to an extreme, but maybe that’s what readers need to get the point. It’s funny and enjoyable to read, and the deeper message that gets you thinking is very subtle.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    In Brooklynese, Antsy Bonano tells the story of his friend named, cleverly enough, Calvin Schwa. "The Schwa" is practically invisible until he waves in your face. But really, the story is about Antsy, and how he comes to terms with his own feelings of invisibility. There's a lot of all-over-the-board chaos, and character development is spotty in parts, but the story itself is fun, compelling, and mostly unpredictable.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Schwa was Here is a very funny and moving story. Shusterman ingeniously depicts the invisibility of the Schwa in a way that seems at once supernatural and totally real. All the characters are distinctive, from the quick-witted Ansty, to the curmudgeonly Mr. Crowley, to the wily Lexis, to the resignedly invisible Schwa. The Brooklyn dialect and humor makes the book a pleasure to read, and the conclusion offers hope to young teens that feel overlooked either at school or at home.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a pretty good book with a great underlying theme. This would be a good book for middle school and high school students to read. It keeps the reader interested throughout the whole book and does not give away the ending while reading. This is a great story of friendship that stands the test of time.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A comedic story about Antsy and his friendship with the Schwa - a kids who blends in so well people forget he exists. With a cast of zany characters and a series of improbable events, this story also has some completely straight and honest moments. It was good fun. The audiobook recording read by the author captures Antsy's voice very well, and I felt the city came alive beneath the words.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This was an easy read, which I appreciated. The text is funny and quick, allowing a reader to get through it in record time. Appropriately, given the subject matter, I doubt that I will think about this book a whole lot in the future. But especially as a good guys' read, it would be worthy of recommendation.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A young man prides himself on being able to shrink into the background and being invisible amongst his classmates. He becomes so good at it that his peers begin to make a game of his innocuousness. During the game he develops a friendship with another boy, and the two of them begin to rely on the friendship. Eventually the Schwa begins to feel used and isn't always comfortable with this game, and eventually quits being invisible. This has a tremendous impact on the friendship and the life that the Schwa chooses to live.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Neal Shustermans' almost allegorical tale of a teenage boy who 'disappears' works on many levels. Themes of teen disenfranchisement and adolescent awkwardness are enriched through a seemingly realistic yet surreal shaggy dog story. It is certainly one of the most entertaining and perceptive novels that I've read as a YA librarian in a middle school. I love this book!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Summary: The Schwa is a local legend. They say he's invisible his mother dissapeared and his father is apparentally crazy. But is the Schwa really invisible? And can they really break the so-called "unbreakable plastic"?Review: An amazing read. Kinda feel bad for the Schwa and that was kinda mean of Lexi trying not to give either or the guys up!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The schwa was here was a very good book. not really action packed but very adventerous and cool. a good and unique plot i thought.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The Schwa Was Here appeals to a wide age range.The main character is a student somewhere around early high school or late middle school age. The book has interesting, quirky characters, and deals with the feeling everyone has had at some time or other—that you are invisible and no one notices that you exist.The Schwa is like that. His full name is Calvin Schwa, and the narrator, Antonio Bonano, can’t remember when he first met him. He was sitting beside Antonio for months in science class before Antonio even noticed his existence.Antonio and his friends decide to do a science experiment about the Schwa Effect. They find that four out of five people don’t see the Schwa in your standard classroom, that even acting weird and dressed like a total freak, the Schwa is only barely noticed, but that he cannot get through an airport metal detector with an iron bar in his pocket, even though the security guard won’t notice him until he sets off the alarm.Antonio’s desire to capitalize on the Schwa Effect ends up getting them into trouble. They meet the recluse Old Man Crawley, and doing community service for him leads to both boys falling for his blind grandaughter.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Eighth-grade Antsy (whose real name is Anthony) is fascinated by his classmate Calvin Schwa. The thing is - the Schwa is pretty much invisible to everyone. No one ever notices him. Now, what kind of trouble could you make if no one could see you? Well, that's what Antsy and the Schwa work on figuring out. This is a funny book. But it's more than that - these are real kids with real problems, too. Antsy's Brooklyn accent comes through loud and strong. This is one of the California Young Reader Medal nominees for middle school. Worth reading!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    When you want a weird book, you got it here. This is a strange combination of the bronx and finding who you truly are. Nuff said.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Antsy Bonato is the narrator in this story about becoming visible. Calvin Schwa has the unique ability to blend in, he's "observationally challenged". After a moneymaking scheme involving a series of dares, the boys get caught and forced to do community service by Old Man Crawford. At its heart the book is about seeing and being seen. I really liked Antsy's voice as the narrator. He was sassy and coming into his own. There was a great sense of humor in the writing and The Schwa was an enjoyable read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Anthony becomes close with a strange nearly-invisible kid, the Schwa. As handler for The Schwa’s pranks and dares, he becomes involved when a dare goes wrong and they are both pressed into service for an elderly hermit with a blind grand-daughter.This book made me laugh out loud repeatedly. Anthony has a cynical, irreverent but slightly naïve outlook that makes for a truly enjoyable read front to back. Nothing is too neat, but it’s uplifting nonetheless.