- John McMullen
- Leslie Stella
Teenagers face a lot of challenges, but Bud Hess has more than most. He’s prone to disabling panic attacks. He has anxiety disorder. He’s clinically depressed. He’s under the care of a psychiatrist. He’s slight of stature. He’s constantly bullied and humiliated. He’s smart but not a good student. He’s called racist names. And he’s not even really a “Bud.” His Iranian-American father had his name changed from Badi Hessamizadeh, in the hope that Badi would fit in better at his new school.
But a name change doesn’t come with inner psychological changes. Bud/Badi reacts to problems in the same way he always has: with rage, revenge, and defiance. He does have the support of a few fellow social outcasts in the new school, but his difficulties continue. Rumors surface among the students that Bud was kicked out of his former school because he tried to kill someone. Bud doesn’t deny the rumor because it’s true. He’d tried to kill himself.
But there’s hope (and some humor) in the darkness.
