Blaze Union and the Puddin' Head Schools

Blaze Union and the Puddin' Head Schools by W.T. Kosmos is a gripping YA with characters that are finely drawn. In this political satire, the narrator who is a teacher by profession gets tired of the absurdity of book bans in schools, cultural conflicts, and the ridiculous refusal to acknowledge the environmental crisis. He develops what he calls absurdity neurosis as a result of book bans in schools. Advised by his shrink, he finds schools more ridiculous than his. It is then that he meets fourteen-year-old Blaze Union who lives on Puddin' Head Island.

Blaze suffers from discrimination with half of the population in this Island that loves soccer; she can't have a leadership position in school because she has Big Hands, like others. She rebels against the injustices around her. Having always wanted to be an education minister, a position that would allow her to change the system, she finally gets the opportunity to become an “associate” education minister, thanks to acts of bravery made with her friend, Chopper. But can she change the system and get rid of the injustices?

Blaze Union and the Puddin' Head Schools by W. T. Kosmos is a sensational tale, a story with memorable characters. It is hilarious, and the humor — biting as it is — greets readers from the very first page. It is like a spell that has readers hooked and can't stop reading. Kosmos uses the first-person narrative voice with ingenuity, infusing it with life and delivering the point of view of one who doubles as a social and political critic. The social and political commentaries are marvelously written, and it will be difficult to miss the indictment on those responsible for making decisions about education. I loved the satire; I loved the characters; I loved the dazzling prose.  Blaze Union and the Puddin' Head Schools stands out in its style, which is original; the quirkiness in the voice transforms it into a page-turning story, and the deft handling of resonant themes of social change and educational reforms adds depth to the story.