
Reach for this book if your teenager feels trapped by a past mistake, a family reputation, or the feeling that adults in their life are more interested in appearances than their actual well-being. This raw, contemporary novel follows Gerald, a teenager who was once a child star on a reality show that depicted him as a violent problem child. Now, years later, he is struggling to outrun the 'Crapper' label the world gave him while navigating a home life where his parents remain deeply dysfunctional. This is a heavy but necessary read for teens who feel misunderstood or exploited. It explores the roots of anger and the courage it takes to reclaim your own narrative from those who seek to profit from it or define it for you. While it deals with intense themes of emotional abuse and mental health, it ultimately serves as a powerful testament to personal agency and the possibility of healing outside of toxic environments.
Explores the ethics of parents using their children for financial gain and entertainment.
Deals with severe emotional neglect and the psychological aftermath of childhood exploitation.
Depictions of sibling violence and outbursts of rage.
The book deals directly with emotional and physical abuse, parentification, and the psychological impact of childhood exploitation. The approach is stark and realistic. While there is no religious framework, the resolution is hopeful in a gritty, survivor-focused way: Gerald does not 'fix' his family, but he learns to save himself.
A high schooler who feels like they are the 'black sheep' of their family or school, or a teen who is skeptical of social media and the way people curate and consume the lives of others.
Parents should preview the scenes involving Gerald's sister, Hannah, as her behavior is erratic and includes elements of self-harm and verbal abuse toward Gerald. This may be upsetting for some readers and could prompt conversations about mental health and coping mechanisms. The book contains strong language and depictions of a highly dysfunctional home. A parent might reach for this after seeing their teen express deep-seated resentment toward family dynamics or observing a child who feels they can never live down a past reputation.
Younger teens (14) will focus on the 'uncool' nature of the reality show and the bullying Gerald faces. Older teens (17+) will better grasp the systemic exploitation and the complex psychological toll of having one's childhood sold for entertainment.
Unlike many YA novels that focus on the glamour of fame, King looks at the 'disposable' nature of reality stars and the lasting trauma of being a public commodity before one is old enough to consent. """
Gerald Faust is a seventeen-year-old living in the shadow of his childhood as the star of a reality show that documented his behavioral issues. Labeled 'The Crapper' by a public that watched him poop on a table at age five, Gerald struggles with intense rage and a family that remains exploitative and emotionally abusive. When he meets Caddie, a girl with her own secrets, he begins to see a path toward a life that belongs to him, eventually realizing he must physically and emotionally escape his toxic household to survive.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a review