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Theodore Taylor

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The Weirdo Paperback – March 1, 2006

by Theodore Taylor (Author)

4.6 61 ratings

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Chip Clewt, known simply as the weirdo, lives like a hermit in the Powhatan Swamp, a National Wildlife Refuge that is at the center of a heated controversy between local hunters and environmentalists. A hunting ban on the Powhatan is about to expire. The environmentalists want to protect the wildlife; the hunters are oiling their guns. Then someone completely unexpected comes forward to spearhead the conservation effort--the weirdo.

Includes a reader's guide.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An eloquent debate pitting human and animal rights against each other is both informative and moving as this murder mystery/love story/environmental thriller weaves its uncommon spell. Deftly drawn characterizations, from the admirable to the loathsome, and an engrossing journalistic format are two of the many strong points that make this timely and compelling novel a winner."--Publishers Weekly
—

About the Author

THEODORE TAYLOR (1921-2006), an award-winning author of many books for young people, was particularly known for fast-paced, exciting adventure novels. His books include the bestseller The Cay, Timothy of the Cay, The Bomb, Air Raid--Pearl Harbor!, Ice Drift, The Maldonado Miracle, and The Weirdo, an Edgar Award winner for Best Young Adult Mystery.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Young Readers Paperback; First Edition (March 1, 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0152056661
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0152056667
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 years and up
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 770L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.4 x 0.76 x 6.9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,680,978 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #887 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction about Self Esteem & Reliance
- #1,496 in Science & Technology for Teens (Books)
- #4,826 in Teen & Young Adult Mysteries & Detective Stories

Customer Reviews:
4.6 61 ratings

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Theodore Taylor

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Theodore Taylor has written several award-winning books. The Cay won the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award and was also made into a movie.

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4.6 out of 5

61 global ratings

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S. Gregory

Great for 12 year olds and up

Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2008

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This was required summer reading for my sons upcoming seventh grade class. He was required to answer questions about the book so I decided to read it along with him so I could help him. I found this book very easy to read. It was based in North Carolina (my home) so it was fascinating to read about areas that I was familiar with. It has a great plot and excitement in every chapter. My son has really enjoyed it. When we discuss it, he can give me details about the story and says what he likes about it. That is always a good sign that he is enjoying it. I think that the issues raised in the book are appropriate for his age group as this is the time that "saving the environment" seems to really kick into high gear. I would recommend this as a good read for anyone 12 and older.

2 people found this helpful

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stewartbenner

Interesting adventure story / mystery with two engaging teen leads

Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2023

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The Weirdo is a slightly flawed but thought provoking tale for teens and adults about two teens in the swamps of the American South. Chip, the title character of "weirdo," is a boy who struggled for years with the aftermath of a plane crash that left him disfigured and reluctant to venture beyond his house. After meeting a grad student who tags and studies bears, Chip starts working for him and discovers a passion for science that helps him come out of his shell. Chip meets fellow teen Samantha, and as their friendship grows and deepens, they must deal with the disappearance of Chip's friend, poachers, and an escalating feud between hunters and environmentalists in a deftly characterized coming of age tale for them both.
Some reviewers are right to critique the sequencing of the story, which can be confusing and seems to be an odd choice for the author, but it is still an enjoyable read that will stay with me. When I was a teen, I wish I had known people like Chip and Samantha, and I think feeling that way about main characters is the mark of good writing.

Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2009

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Suitable reading for middle school students. Presents facts about wildlife and investigates the different relationships between teenagers and adults. It also presents the reader with a real world dilemma and challenges the reader to resolve the issue in question. A good read.

2 people found this helpful

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librarian

Best book ever

Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2020

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I absolutely loved this book! It had just enough action, romance, and everything in between! Best book I’ve read in a long time!

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Veronica Pagán

LIFE SAVER...THANK YOU!

Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2018

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THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SPEEDY DELIVERY! MY DAUGHTER TOLD ME AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE SHE NEEDED THIS BOOK FOR SCHOOL!

One person found this helpful

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Judy K. Polhemus

An excellent book worthy of four stars

Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2009

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A good reviewer always emphasizes positive aspects of a novel before the negative. However, I'm reversing the order this time because "The Weirdo" has such wonderful possibilities as a required reading book.

I am a generous star-giver, mainly because I rate a book based on its genre and type of book. I don't compare a young adult book with literary classics. I don't compare a thriller with a reflective thematic book. I wanted to give "The Weirdo" five stars, but the book has three problems.

The minor problem first: I don't like the title. Once we know "the weirdo," a severely disfigured teenager, burned in an airplane crash, the title loses its fear factor, which is never a problem for the other major character, Samantha (Sam) Sanders. The second problem--and a major one--is time sequencing. When the "kid reviewers" say the story is confusing, they are right. As an experienced reader (English teacher and librarian), I was confused, especially concerning the pivotal night-in-the-swamp episode. This time-line problem is caused by the writer's alternating narrative chapters by the Chip Clewt (the "weirdo") and Sam. The problem arises when Taylor merges them toward the end, making the time sequence for that important night episode confusing.

The third problem concerns "boring" as reported by "kid reviewers." Again, they are right. Halfway through, I set aside the book and read two others. When I picked this one up again, the pace picked up and the story went faster (also reported by "kid reviewers"). What causes "boring" are some chapters by Chip, written as beautiful college journal entries, which describe various aspects of the swamp. They really are a necessary part of plot and character development to show Chip's dedication to preservation of this beauty.

As for the positive points: What I want to emphasize is the book's important value as an addition to the young adult genre and ecological impact. The setting is the Dismal Swamp, National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina, here called the Powhatan Swamp. In fact, the University of North Carolina, in conjunction with public schools, created a middle school resource unit, using "The Weirdo" as the central focus of a multi-disciplinary study. See Comment below for more information.

The two stories are rich in possibilities for teaching this novel. Sam's story takes place outside the refuge and involves suspense, mystery, and her father, who is a hunter for both pleasure and food. Chip's story is set inside the refuge and involves professional bear tagging for the local university, his isolation because of disfiguring injuries, and his opposition to lifting the ban against hunting in the refuge.

What ties the two stories together are an old murder, a missing person, and the potential lifting of the hunting ban. The most beautiful part of the novel is the developing relationship between Sam and Chip. That alone makes this novel worthy of being read.

All the positive aspects of this novel far outweigh the negative. In fact, "The Weirdo" is the required novel for summer reading for our incoming 8th grade class. My innovative, research-based principal and a former science teacher personally picked this novel because of the teaching unit mentioned earlier. Here in our corner of Louisiana we also have a national wildlife refuge, which is available to schools for field trips and guided nature walks. It will be incorporated into the unit.

This review is dedicated to the middle school teacher. Please read this novel. Think collaboration. Think possibilities.

4 people found this helpful

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B. Metzler

The Weirdo

Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2012

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Wonderful book for middle schoolers and up. I am an adult and loved it. The lessons taught about kindness and tolerance are so well demonstrated.

3 people found this helpful

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