Stoner & Spaz

Stoner & Spaz is a witty and heartfelt young adult novel about Ben Bancroft, a sixteen-year-old with cerebral palsy who feels most comfortable hiding in the back of a movie theater. His solitary world is upended when Colleen Minou, a 'drugged-up' and rebellious teen, unexpectedly sits beside him. The story beautifully captures their rare repartee and the development of an unlikely friendship that helps Ben break out of his shell and embrace his true self. It's a powerful narrative about overcoming social divides, finding connection in unexpected places, and the journey of self-acceptance, suitable for mature young adult readers.

A funny, in-your-face novel starring an unlikely teenage pair - a sheltered cinemaphile with cerebral palsy and the tattooed, straight-talking stoner who steals his heart. For sixteen-year-old Ben Bancroft - a kid with cerebral palsy, no parents, and an overprotective grandmother - the closest thing to happiness is hunkering alone in the back of the Rialto Theatre watching Bride of Frankenstein for the umpteenth time. Of course he waits for the lights to dim before making an entrance, so that his own lurching down the aisle doesn’t look like an ad for Monster Week. The last person he wants to run into is drugged-up Colleen Minou, resplendent in ripped tights, neon miniskirt, and an impressive array of tattoos. But when Colleen climbs into the seat beside him and rests a woozy head on his shoulder, Ben has that unmistakable feeling that his life is about to change. With unsparing humor and a keen flair for dialogue, Ron Koertge captures the rare repartee between two lonely teenagers on opposite sides of the social divide. It’s the tale of a self-deprecating protagonist who learns that kindred spirits can be found for the looking - and that the incentive to follow your passion can be set into motion by something as simple as a human touch.