The Quick Cut: A twelve year old boy takes his extra credit social studies assignment and creates a movement called "Pay It Forward". A Real Review: We all wanted to be treated well by others, but when people do nice things with no expectation of being treated to the same, we often meet that with skepticism. However, what if we spread kindness so much so that it became everyday behavior? This is what the young Trevor does for his extra credit assignment. A new teacher arrives in social studies class and gives a unique extra credit assignment: find a way to change the world. Only a handful of kids tackle the assignment but one manages to spark a movement. He does a good deed for three people and tells them to do good for three other people (aka paying it forward). The idea sounds life changing but when he doesn't see the results he expected, he becomes disappointed. Can good deeds change the world for the better? I never saw the movie but I've heard enough about the plot to understand it. A friend of mine gave me the book and I was interested to see how it played out. Although the idea itself is beautiful, the story itself meanders and gets lost in the sea of characters. There are so many different characters that narrate that it makes it hard to care for any of them. If the author would have focused on the core three of the teacher, Trevor, and his mom - I think that would have been more impactful. Trevor is one that you want to support though. He hasn't had an easy life and seeing him so fully take on this extra credit makes you want to be a better version of yourself. A brilliant core story with too many characters. My rating: 4 out of 5