The Dark Days of
Hamburger Halpin
by Josh Berk

    THE DARK DAYS OF HAMBURGER HALPIN by Josh Berk
    Category:  Contemporary
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 9+
    Release Date:  2/9/10
    Publisher:  Knopf
    Reviewed by:  Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"
    Rating:  4 Stars


    Looking for a wacky adventure?  Get your hands on a copy of THE DARK DAYS OF HAMBURGER HALPIN.  
    I'll admit I was attracted by the title, thinking it sounded like a "good time" read, and I wasn't disappointed.
    Will Halpin is embarking on a new and sort of terrifying journey.  Will is deaf and has spent his educational years
    attending a special school for the deaf.  He has recently made the decision to enroll in public high school.  In addition
    to his deafness, Will is a bit on the chunky side and not exactly up on the latest fashion trends, dating habits, and
    musical interests of mainstream high school teens.
    Will does his best to understand his surroundings by lip-reading the words of his teachers and classmates.  He meets
    a fellow misfit, Devon Smiley, who knows how to finger spell, and they strike up a friendship.  Together, the two
    pass the time observing and commenting on the various oddities of their classmates and teachers.  As outsiders, they
    watch as star football player, Pat Chambers, hands out coveted invitations to one of his special parties.  Knowing
    neither of them has a chance of being invited, they watch in fascination to see which privileged few receive the limited
    invites.
    The party takes a backseat in the action when the students go on a field trip to a nearby abandoned coal mine.  Just
    as it looks like they'll be boarding the bus for the return trip to school, panic breaks out when it is reported that Pat
    Chambers has fallen down the mine shaft and is dead.
    Will and Devon decide to take on the challenge of investigating the tragic accident, and the first thing they encounter
    is that it probably was no accident.  What follows next involves computer hacking, researching the backgrounds and
    habits of various teachers and students, and stumbling across a number of shocking discoveries.  Can a deaf kid and
    a Hardy Boys fan make sense of the clues and help the police solve the mystery?
    THE DARK DAYS OF HAMBURGER HALPIN by Josh Berk features sarcastic humor and clever mystery
    elements as it reveals what it's like to try fitting in when you have a disability.  Berk's characters creatively reflect high
    school stereotypes, making them entertaining and easy to relate to.  Overall, an enjoyable read and one many teens
    will be interested in checking out.