Also Known as Rowan Pohi

General YA Fiction

F/A. Fletcher, Ralph. Also Known as Rowan Pohi. Clarion Books, 2011. 208 p. 9780547572086. $16.99

Summer is almost over when Bobby Steele and his friends come up with a great practical joke, make up a kid and send his application to the local private school, Whitestone Prep. The joke is on them when the Rowan Pohi gets accepted. Bobby has been having a tough time since his parents split-up after a highly publicized domestic dispute. If he pretends to be Rowan Pohi, maybe he can turn his life around.

It is kind of unbelievable that in a fairly small town Bobby wouldn't be recognized by more people when he tries to pass in the private school. The other aspect that bothered me was the sub-plot of Bobby's little brother coping with the separation by claiming he is full blooded Native American and always wearing a feather in his hair to represent that.

Fans of Chris Crutcher and graduates of Diary of a Wimpy Kid would enjoy this light, comic novel about identity and being yourself.


Sarah Mae Harper, CoLAPL- AC Bilbrew Library