Will Reid is a gawky kid who wears fake turtlenecks, is obsessed by his ant farm project, and is lousy at gym. In other words, he's the perfect target for Shane, the Grade 9 bully. Katie has been Will's friend in elementary school, but defending him in the high school environment comes at an unforeseen cost - she dreads the rumours that link them in a boyfriend/girlfriend way she's never considered. Devan has been part of Shane's bullyboy team until now, when he comes to realize that it's not so smart to mindlessly back up each nasty attack of Shane's. Together the three young teens are struggling to find their way out of one of the classic dilemmas of life: how not to be a bystander to bullying, how to stand up for your friends, and how to deal with consuming rage.

Young readers will find lots to think about as they turn the pages of this crisp and compelling story by newcomer Caroline Pignat. Each character takes a turn at telling the story -- through the spare blank verse of Will, wrapped up in the world of his single-parent father and his own eccentric preoccupations; through the clear-eyed accounts of Katie, wrestling with her own private demons; and in the sensitive narrative of the slowly awakening Devan, who comes to notice Katie as a spunky, attractive individual whom he'd like to know better but fears thinks he's a goof.

Note that Bullying for Ages 13 and Up.

Gr 7-10

Ninth-grader Will Reid, obsessed with ants and the science fair, wears a turtleneck dickie under his shirts. His only friend is Katie, a girl he has known since elementary school. Awkward and strange, he is the school bully's primary target. Shane has two lackeys-Brad, who is equally as sinister, and Devan, who goes along with the crowd even though he knows deep inside that it is wrong. The book is filled with stories of tormenting Will, from smashing his prized ant farm, to locking him out of the locker room naked. Told from the perspectives of Will, Devan, and Katie, the book delves into the psychology of the characters from a realistic standpoint. Devan battles with both his crush on Katie and his need to disengage himself from Shane's aggressiveness, and Katie wants to protect Will but also to maintain her relationships with her other classmates. When one particular prank goes haywire, Will ends up in a coma. However, the book ends on a positive note, and the short chapters and high-paced drama are sure to engage even the most reluctant readers. Unfortunately, the story tends to generalize the reasoning behind Shane's behavior (he is abused by his father). There are also subplots, such as the deaths of most of the characters' parents, which draw away from the focus of the story. Still, teens will empathize with the characters and see the personality types inherent within themselves or in their schools.-Marie C. Hansen, New York Public Library

Categories:

• Teen & Young Adult
  
  
  • Literature & Fiction
    
    
    • Social & Family Issues
      • Peer Pressure