Reality Boy by A.S. King

Reality Boy is a few years old, but it is another wonderful book by one of my favorites, A.S. King.  In this novel she tells the heartbreaking story of Gerald Faust.  Gerald and his family (but particularly Gerald) were the subject of a reality TV show when he was just 5 years old.  Gerald was tormented by an older sister who seemed to get away with everything.  This torment caused Gerald to act out in ways that made him a TV and internet "star" in a way that he never asked for.

Almost 12 years later Gerald still carries with him that scars that reality TV inflicted upon him.  It continues to boil within him to the point that he is afraid he will snap and wind up in jail, the place that many predicted he would end up.  But Gerald realizes that he doesn't have to be what everyone expects of him.  Gerald realizes that he can take control of a life that has often been so out of control.  Gerald realizes that in order to live the life that he deserves, all he has to do is jump!

I loved this book.  I have been planning on reading it for so long, but just have never picked it up.  Now I am mad that it took me this long.  Reality Boy is another masterpiece by King!

From Amazon:

In this fearless portrayal of a boy on the edge, Printz Honor author A.S. King explores the desperate reality of a former child television 'star' struggling to break free of the oppressive anger he's felt since he was five years old. Twelve years later, he's still haunted by his rage-filled youth - which the entire world got to watch from every imaginable angle - and his anger issues have resulted in violent outbursts; everyone is just waiting for him to snap. And he's starting to feel dangerously close to doing just that - until he chooses to create possibilities for himself that he never knew he deserved.