Gordon Korman delivers yet another witty but completely relatable novel, Whatshisface, that takes a common middle school problem and tells it in such a way that has the reader laughing one minute and shaking their heads in unbelief the next. Poor Cooper is used to being Whatshisface, the new kid who is never in one place long enough thanks to his military dad, for people to get to know him. The latest move takes Cooper to a town called Stratford, a place that is really into Shakespeare. To make up for having to move again, his parents gave him a new phone. However, there’s a little more to the phone than meets the eye.

Imagine Cooper’s surprise when his phone seems to be hosting a ghost from Shakespeare’s time, a boy just his age named Roderick. While Cooper is dealing with 21st century problems, Roderick is dealing with remembering his problems from the 13th century. As Cooper and Roderick get to know each other, they end up helping each other out. In the process Cooper becomes more than just Whatshisface and makes friends at his new school. Along the way he learns that sometimes the things worth having are worth a little effort. Getting to this point with Roderick’s company however, makes it a little interesting and hairy at times. How does it appear to everyone else as Cooper finds himself talking to a ghost…in his phone, more and more? This is what makes this novel so enjoyable and unpredictable.

Whatshisface is a novel that anyone who has felt a little invisible, whether or not they are the new kid, can relate to. Korman writes novels that draw the reader in and gives them a story that they can relate to and laugh along with.

Other novels by Gordon Korman reviewed by Compass Book Ratings:

Restart

Slacker

Schooled

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Scholastic Press (A Scholastic Imprint)

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None 

Violence/Gore:  Character mentions his father was executed; story of Romeo and Juliet (including mention of the ending with the poisonings and suicide) briefly retold; character is tripped by class bully; ghost causes a bike accident resulting in injury; mention of the other deaths that occur during Romeo and Juliet. 

Sex/Nudity:  2 characters hug (2 times); girl kisses boy on the cheek.

Mature Subject Matter:

Death, ghosts/supernatural.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

None