The Video Kid Rides Again

Joan Buchanan is a writer, storyteller and instructor and author of
Taking Care of My Cold.

This book is a 23-chapter contemporary action novel for junior-high
students. The content is fairly realistic and the tone is light-hearted,
even though the underlying theme deals seriously with self-image and
discovering one’s strengths.

It is spring and ninth-grader B.J. Noakes tries to make an impression
on his classmates by drawing on a moustache with his mom’s eyebrow
pencil. B.J. is still new in town, not great in phys ed, and doesn’t
consider himself to be very popular; however, he has an active
imagination that catapults him into dangerous situations where he
emerges triumphant. His imagination is also responsible for grandiose
ideas, such as promoting Bimbo, the tough guy in the school, for student
president. Life becomes complicated for B.J. when the bullies decide to
wreak their revenge on him and Bimbo isn’t there for protection. B.J.
also gets a part in the drama-class melodrama, but has trouble
impressing the female lead.

The story is told mainly in the first person, from B.J.’s point of
view, and since B.J. is given to exaggeration, he often thinks in
clichés, like “lost his marbles” and “doomed man.” Although
most of the characters are boys, the girls present are assertive and
capable equals. While it did give the reader a chance to get to know the
main characters somewhat better, the middle section seemed repetitive
and slow. As well, initially I found the similarity of the names B.J.
and Bimbo unnecessarily confusing. The last quarter gathered momentum,
showing the heroic side to “geeks” and “losers.” Overall, The
Video Kid Rides Again provides an entertaining read.