Bruiser, by Neal Shusterman

Neal Shusterman is one of those authors you keep an eye on - whenever a book of his comes out I make sure I double check the flap to see if I want to read it. His stuff is sci-fi/fantasy at its best - well done, with an edge that sets him apart. I haven't read much of his, because reading him can be a bit stressful (I get nightmares easily. I know. I'm an adult, but that's just how my head works.), but I encourage those that haven't heard of him to try him - you won't regret it.

Bruiser, by Neal Shusterman
Young Adult, 2005

from fantasticfiction.co.uk:
Tennyson:
Don't get me started on the Bruiser. He was voted "Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty" by the entire school. He's the kid no one knows, no one talks to, and everyone hears disturbing rumors about. So why is my sister, Bronte, dating him? One of these days she's going to take in the wrong stray dog, and it's not going to end well.
Bronte:
My brother has no right to talk about Brewster that way - no right to threaten him. There's a reason why Brewster can't have friends - why he can't care about too many people. Because when he cares about you, things start to happen. Impossible things that can't be explained. I know, because they're happening to me.

First of all, don't you LOVE those names? I could totally name a little girl Bronte - how cute is that?! Second, uh, I'm not actually reviewing this. Trackgeek is. So he's going to take it away:

Trackgeek: I an incredibly interesting plot. I guess that I shouldn't give away what is going on with Brewster, because figuring out what's happening and how it affects him is fuel behind the plot. What I can say is that it is an interesting phenomenon that gets you thinking about what we give and take from those we love. It was very thought provoking while keeping your eyes wide open the entire time.
It was clean with some mild swearing. Highly recommended for teens on up.

Graded a B.