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Book Summary: For Marley, middle school is not a pleasant experience. He is bullied on a regular basis by three boys he calls the Gorn, a reference to the original series of Star Trek, as well as by Digger, who forces Marley to do his history homework with the threat of getting his dad to buy and tear down the Rialto, the theater where Marley and his parents live. He does have friends, however, in Ramen, who is obsessed with Star Wars, and Max, who is a Batman fanatic. The three regularly argue over which is best. Marley does learn that things can get better when he accidentally wins the Tiggy Tiger Turkey Trot, and becomes known throughout the school for how fast he can run. Marley is the center of a fast-paced adventure about what can be the hardest time in a person's life: middle school.
APA Reference of the book: Yee, L. (2011). Warp speed. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books
Impressions: This book gave a very interesting insight into what it is like to be bullied. It is easy to sympathize with Marley, and feel his dread when he comes face to face with Digger or the Gorn. I also cheered with Marley when things started looking up at school and loved seeing his relationship with his parents. The copious Star Trek references were entertaining, especially since I am a Star Trek fan myself, although my knowledge of Star Trek is not as comprehensive as Marley's. They add color to the story, but don't necessarily detract from it if you are a huge fan of Star Trek. There are also many Star Wars references thrown in by Ramen, which also help add to the story and make the characters unique. Overall, the book is one that I would read again and would recommend to others. It has also made me want to read some of the other books in that series.
Professional Review: "Gr 5–9--Marley Sandelski is invisible. At Rancho Rosetta Middle School, he's chased by bullies, threatened into sharing his homework, and ignored by everyone else. An admitted geek, he loves Star Trek, AV Club, and the Rialto, an old movie theater that serves as both his home and his parents' business. His empathetic nature shines through, and he's not without allies, including his closest buds Ramen and Max. And of course, there's always the Trekkie action figure of the day in his pocket to help him out of jams (he frequently asks himself, "WWSD--What Would Spock Do?"). Though he's resigned to hiding behind the shadows of those standing on the sidelines, his ability to outrun bullies catches the track coach's eye. During the school's annual Tiggy Tiger Turkey Trot race, Marley finds himself running for his life, away from the Gorn (a trio of tormentors nicknamed after the "evil, slow-moving beasts" in a Star Trek episode), and accidentally winning the trophy. Suddenly sky-rocketed into the spotlight, Marley's the star of the school. As his external universe alters, he must re-evaluate himself and set a new course for his place in the cosmos. Yee's previous protagonists, Millicent, Stanford, and Emily, all make cameo appearances. Once again, the author addresses a serious issue with a light touch. An entertaining read and a solid example of bibliotherapy."
Roth, R. (2011). [Review of the book Warp speed by L. Yee]. School Library Journal, 57(5), p. 126-127. Retrieved from: http://www.slj.com/
Library uses: This book could be used in a display about school bullying or to spark student discussion on the subject of bullying.
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