I count Ned Vizzini as a friend. I met him just after he published his first novel. He had published his first novel and was probably working on BE MORE CHILL at the time we met. I had invited Ned to do an author visit to the small southeastern Michigan middle school where I was teaching. He was an immediate success with the students and he returned to our tiny town four more times. We fell in love with Ned and many of my former students felt touched by him and still mourn the loss of his powerful stories.
BE MORE CHILL is about Jeremy Heere, a nerd in the truest sense of the word. He is teased and taunted by almost every kid in the school. He is constantly making tally marks on spreadsheets to record the details of each and every taunting comment which only makes the bullying worse.
One day Jeremy is approached with the offer of a miracle cure for his nerdiness. He is told that for the right price he can purchase a Squip. This Squip resembles a pill, but promises the power of a supercomputer. If swallowed, it will talk to him and guide him in the ways of being cool. His life could be changed forever.
Unfortunately, in the pursuit of coolness, Jeremy may risk losing his few true friends while gaining nothing. Vizzini's original novel is intricately layered with humor and subtle hints that there is no easy way to get a perfect life.
Author David Levithan and artist Nick Bertozzi have teamed up to honor Vizzini with this graphic version of BE MORE CHILL. Although it lacks the depth of the original, through the inspired dialogue and excellent artwork, it manages to do justice to the Vizzini's craft with a bit less of the sometimes gritty directness of Vizzini's signature style. Fans of the late Ned Vizzini will want to remember his greatness by taking the time to check out this graphic version.
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