BYSTANDER by James Preller

 Bystander by James Preller

Bullies, Realistic Fiction, Divorce, Anxiety

226 pages

Description

School Library Journal (January 1, 2010)

Gr 6-9-Eric Hayes has moved from Ohio to Long Island, NY, with his mother and younger brother. His schizophrenic father left long ago. Eric soon meets Griffin Connelly, a handsome kid with natural leadership, lots of charisma, and a real mean streak. While Griffin is the perfect bully, David Hallenback is the perfect victim: beaten down and willing to do anything to get Griffin's approval. At first, Eric is a bystander, not participating in the bullying but not doing anything to stop it. However, several events move him out of this passive role: Griffin steals from him and reveals Eric's confidences about his father; adults at school address bullying; and Mary, a girl he likes, takes a stand against it. Eric realizes that his silence makes him complicit and speaks out, only to become Griffin's next victim. Preller has perfectly nailed the middle school milieu, and his characters are well developed with authentic voices. The novel has a parablelike quality, steeped in a moral lesson, yet not ploddingly didactic. The action moves quickly, keeping readers engaged. The ending is realistic: there's no strong resolution, no punishment or forgiveness. Focusing on the large majority of young people who stand by mutely and therefore complicitly, this must-read book is a great discussion starter that pairs well with a Holocaust unit.-Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.

My Comments
This is a popular book with 6th and 7th graders, although painful for me as an adult to read. It brings to mind 'The Lord of the Flies,' though obviously not as brutal - but brutal enough. The characters are very well developed. It was difficult to watch the main victim accept the bullying in a fruitless attempt to be popular. I really liked the ending, which was positive, but not what I expected. Great choice, especially for middle school.

TWO DEGREES by Alan Gratz

 

Two Degrees by Alan Gratz

Adventure, Survival, Natural Disasters, Global Warming

365 pages

Description

School Library Journal (November 1, 2022)

Gr 4-7-A fictional story about climate change geared for the middle grade audience. It is told through the eyes of four middle school students, all individuals battling climate disasters in North America; the parallel plots are linked by climate events. In Nevada, Japanese American Akira Kristiansen witnesses giant sequoias catching fire, which seems impossible. She is separated from her family as she struggles to survive the extraordinary wildfire. In Manitoba, eighth grade boys Owen Mackenzie (white) and George Gruyère (Mushkegowuk) face ravenous polar bears. In Miami, Puerto Rican Florida resident Natalie Torres is washed away by a hurricane. All characters suffer losses and scars. Gratz writes at the end of the book that he was inspired by Greta Thunberg and other climate protestors and wanted to boost their signal. The chapters are short and flow well enough to keep the reader's attention. Gratz drives home the point that we are all very closely connected when it comes to climate change, and that everyone should be looking at the big picture. VERDICT Gratz urges readers to see that what is happening around them isn't in isolation, but affects everyone around the world. Fans of Gratz and the "I Survived" series will welcome this action-packed title. -Lisa Gieskes © Copyright 2022. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

My Comments
These stories are vivid and powerful. The message is clear; climate change is happening, and we are all connected, all impacted by the effects. These are gripping scenarios. Highly recommended for all middle school readers.

TRULY DEVIOUS by Maureen Johnson

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

Mystery and Detective Story, Murder Investigation, True Crime, Puzzles, Boarding Schools, Young Adult

Trilogy: Truly Devious, The Vanishing Stair, The Hand on the Wall

420 Pages

Description

School Library Journal (October 1, 2017)

Gr 8 Up-Stevie Bell is a dyed-in-the-wool true-crime buff. And what better place to deepen her understanding than at Ellingham Academy, the Vermont private school founded in the 1930s by wealthy eccentric Albert Ellingham? Partly because the custom courses of study are tailored to students' passion-writing, engineering, film, math-but also because the school was the scene of a notorious crime not long after it opened: Albert Ellingham's wife and daughter were kidnapped, ostensibly for ransom, and a student was killed. His wife's body was found eventually, but his daughter, Alice, never was. Stevie plans to solve the case. But when a classmate is killed, everything changes. There is a lot to love here. Stevie is a smart, relatable, self-aware protagonist. The cast is racially diverse and includes teens on various parts of the gender, sexuality, and neurotypical spectrums. The setting is fully realized, and the adults are as well characterized as the students. Johnson excellently sets up both mysteries as well as Ellingham's love of puzzles, riddles, and secret passageways, but very little is resolved at the end of this series launch. VERDICT Fans of puzzles, boarding school stories, and true crime will tear through this book and love every minute, but those who are easily frustrated by cliff-hangers may want to wait until more books in the series are available.-Stephanie Klose, Library Journal © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

My Comments
It's a page-turner filled with puzzles. I tore through all three as quickly as possible. There is suggested romance, but nothing overt. Give to mature 7th-8th graders and high school students.