Blaze Union and the Puddin' Head Schools

by W T Kosmos

Overview

A divided nation has a ludicrous new hope.

Epic teen adventure. Wry teacher narrator. Blistering satire.

Dear Reader,

If you are timid, gullible, or seeking a fluffy romance, please find another story. For the courageous, I regret to inform you that divisive knuckleheads have spun Island Nation Schools into new levels of lunacy, and the conflict between the Puddin' Heads and the Sweeties is utter madness. Take Blaze Union, a spirited fourteen-year-old Puddin' Head. She was reprimanded for resisting MegaCorp book bans and spoon combat training, attacked by Sweeties at school, and to top if off, expelled for playing soccer and guitar with "large" hands. In revenge, Blaze vowed to change the whole ridiculous system.

And get this: Despite no qualifications and an island of outraged Sweeties, this fiery teen has suddenly risen as the Puddin' Heads' greatest hope for leading the nation's schools. Alas, the "supreme" prime minister stands in her way, a powerful man with tiny hands and a noggin as big as his appetite for division. But then again, Blaze has nothing to lose.

If you still dare to catapult into an epic journey of whackadoodle schools, sensational showdowns, and a very strange quest for liberation, then strap on your spoon helmet. You're going to need it.

Spoons up! Heigi hooga!

W.T. Kosmos

Praise for Blaze Union and the Puddin' Head Schools

2023 American Book Fest, Fiction Book Award: Humor/Comedy/Satire, Finalist

2023 Mark Twain Book Award, Humor/Satire, Finalist

"Gloriously absurd... delightfully funny... larger than life."

- Kirkus Reviews

"An absolutely hilarious story that had me laughing at the odd behaviors presented in every chapter... The perfect book for those of you who may look around and ask, 'Is divisiveness becoming as absurd as I think it is?'"

- Reader Views

"A unique and imaginative work of satire."

- Literary Titan

"An original and fun read from cover to cover."

- Midwest Book Review

"A sensational tale."

- The Book Commentary

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798988315117
Publisher:	Wise Wit Press, LLC
Publication date:	06/15/2023
Pages:	408
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.91(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

W.T. Kosmos is the humorist author of the award-winning Blaze Union and the Puddin' Head Schools and the upcoming series, Maya and Waggers. He is the alter ego (pen name) of a life-long educator who has had the great privilege and joy of serving as a teacher and school principal.

Editorial Reviews

Gloriously absurd... Kosmos employs a conversational style throughout the narrative and portrays Blaze as larger than life but still relatable... a sense of silliness carries the day, and Blaze's escapades are often delightfully funny.

- Kirkus Reviews

An absolutely hilarious story that had me laughing at the odd behaviors presented in every chapter... The perfect book for those of you who may look around and ask, "Is divisiveness becoming as absurd as I think it is?"

- Reader Views

A wittily crafted, real-life-inspired narrative that adeptly intertwines humor and social critique... This book stands out as a unique and imaginative work of satire that invites readers into a world where ludicrous norms are questioned and intellectual bravery is celebrated.

- Literary Titan

An original and fun read from cover to cover, "Blaze Union and the Puddin' Head Schools" showcases author W. T. Kosmos' genuine flair for humor, narrative style storytelling, memorable characters, and a fully entertaining YA novel.

- Midwest Book Review

Highly conversational, this is a tale that reads with ease... Readers with an interest in stories that offer unique and intentional descriptions of the world through atypical lenses will appreciate both the design and storytelling found in this book.

- Reedsy Discovery

A sensational tale, a story with memorable characters. It is hilarious, and the humor-as biting as it is-greets readers from the very first page... The social and political commentaries are marvelously written... and the quirkiness in the voice transforms it into a page-turning story.

- The Book Commentary

From the Publisher

2023-07-21
Kosmos’ YA debut sees a schoolgirl rebel against an educational system that oppresses large-handed students.

Fourteen-year-old eighth grader Blaze Union lives on Puddin’ Head Island, a nation that venerates soccer and discriminates against the half of the population—those who have been deemed to have hands that are too large (known as “Bigs”). As a Big, Blaze is barred from leadership positions at school, only allowed to play defense in soccer, and generally treated as a second-class citizen. She rightly finds this unfair, and her ceaseless protesting and rebelliousness have caused her to be expelled from 22 different schools. Blaze’s burning ambition is to become education minister and reform the school system. She gets a chance to change things after she and her friend Chopper launch a punitive raid against inhabitants of Sweetie Island—the Puddin’ Head Islanders’ traditional enemies who, among other things, recently attacked the school with a cookie dough bomb. She and Chopper are judged to have performed a Noble Deed, and Blaze is rewarded by being made an “associate” education minister. She revels in the opportunity to be in charge, but the changes she attempts end in disaster. Eventually, however, she realizes the truth about anti-Big prejudice and the Sweeties conflict. Kosmos employs a conversational style throughout the narrative and portrays Blaze as larger than life but still relatable; the teen is fierce, determined, and angry at the injustice around her, yet also rather self-centered. Chopper does his best to temper her impetuosity, as Blaze’s intentions are good, but her methods more questionable—a point that’s made repeatedly. For the most part, though, a sense of silliness carries the day, and Blaze’s escapades are often delightfully funny. Still, the novel’s nearly 400-page length may prove daunting to some YA readers, especially as the pacing is uniform throughout. Anyone who enjoys wild shenanigans for their own sake, however, will appreciate the extra pages.

A gloriously absurd but overlong adventure.

Kirkus Reviews