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Bruiser's real name is Brewster, but his gruff, outsider demeanor has given him a nickname that invokes that of a bully. But Brewster is anything but. This novel, told from four different perspectives, asks the question "what would you do if you or someone you know was able to take pain away from others but was also forced to endure said pain?". The result is complicated and heartbreaking. Brewster has kept people at a distance for most of his life, primarily because of his ability to take pain from people he cares about. Unfortunately, he lives with an alcoholic uncle and his younger brother, who Brew feels a strong need to protect. It is not until he begins dating one of the narrators, Bronte, that keeping his secret becomes a challenge. The other two perspectives are from Brew's younger brother, Cody, and Bronte's twin, Tennyson. The use of multiple narrators gives complexity to an otherwise pared-down and straightforward plot (that's a good thing, by the way). Shusterman doesn't need to rely on excessive world-building or unnecessary subplots to flesh his story out and I appreciate that as a reader. He is also a master of "show, not tell", which further adds to the depth of Brewster's situation and the reactions of his new friends, Bronte and Tennyson. A great novel; one I am looking forward to discussing with my high school students tonight.