Key Selling Points

• A teen boy who’s been a scientific experiment his whole life, learns what being a teenager is all about and falls in love, all while trying to keep his whereabouts hidden from people who want to steal the experiment.
• A thrilling tale that examines how love and social interaction can change the way the brain functions.
• Made 4 You is a riveting mesh of sci-fi, thriller, and action, with just the right amount of romance. Its unique blend of genres is so compelling, you’ll read it in one sitting.
• Eric Walters won the 2020 Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s Literature – Text for his novel The King of Jam Sandwiches. His novels have all become best-sellers, have won over a hundred awards, including eight Forest of Reading awards and the 2021 Governor General’s Literary Award.
• I Read Canadian Day was his idea and he collaborated with organizations, publishers, booksellers and writers/illustrators to launch the first day which took place on February 19, 2020 and involved almost 2000 schools and libraries across the country championing Canadian books with their students and patrons.
• Eric has presented to more than 1,500,000 students across North America and internationally in Japan, Kenya and Germany. His presentations blend drama, storytelling, audience participation and interaction. He presents to students from K – Grade 12 as well as adult groups and has been a keynote speaker at a variety of conferences. During the pandemic he has done close to 300 virtual visits, as well as co-hosted a webinar series.
• In 2014 Eric was named a Member of The Order of Canada. The citation reads – For his contribution as an author of literature for children and young adults whose stories help young readers grapple with complex social issues.

Becky Lawrence lives in a small Indiana town where nothing much ever happens. Padding her college applications with good grades and volunteer work — while also managing the boys’ basketball team and playing in the school band — is her main focus, so when her guidance counsellor asks her to show a new student around, she agrees. It’ll be great fodder for a reference letter.

But there’s something very different about the new student, Gene Newman. He’s been homeschooled his entire life and he’s as brilliant academically as he is socially awkward, uninformed, and unaware. Gene also proves to be a gifted saxophone player and makes the school band, and his rapidly developed basketball skills allow him to play for the school team. Embarrassingly, Becky suspected he’d never played the sax or basketball before, and just wanted to spend more time with her. But nobody could possibly learn new things that quickly … Right?

With Becky’s help, Gene also quickly develops his social skills and learns to fit in. He’s certainly different from anybody Becky has ever known. In fact, Gene is like nobody else. As they become closer, Gene confides in Becky that he has a secret. More than that, he is a secret. And, apparently, it’s a secret worth killing for.