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Matt Burns

Matt Burns is an animation producer and writer of books for kids and teens. His debut young adult novel, Smooth, was published by Candlewick Press. Born in Georgia, he currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Agent

Katelyn Detweiler

Smooth

Fifteen-year-old Kevin has acne, and not just any acne. Stinging red welts, painful pustules, and massive whiteheads are ruining his life. In an act of desperation, he asks his dermatologist to prescribe him a drug with a dizzying list of possible side effects — including depression — and an obligatory monthly blood test. But when he meets Alex, a girl in the lab waiting room, blood test day quickly becomes his safe haven — something he sorely needs, since everyone, including his two best friends, is trying his last nerve. But as Kevin’s friendships slip further away and he discovers who Alex is outside of the lab, he realizes he’s not sure about anything anymore. Are loneliness and self-doubt the side effects of his new acne meds? Or are they the side effects of being fifteen?

Told in a bitingly funny first-person narration, this debut novel crackles with wry and wistful insights about the absurdities of high school, longing and heartbreak, and a body out of control. A surefire hit for teen boys and reluctant readers, Smooth gets under the skin of a tenth-grader who is changing — inside and out.

Praise for Smooth

“A rewarding depiction of a teen fighting isolation and depression.” —Kirkus

“[The] plethora of penis jokes and pimple anecdotes belies a surprising amount of pathos in this voice-driven debut.” —Publishers Weekly

Publisher

Candlewick

Publication Date

June 16, 2020

Age Category

Young Adult

Genre

Contemporary

Rights

JGLM