Synopsis
What could I do? I'd tried everything. And what was the worst that could happen? So they shave her head, I thought. It's just hair, it will grow back. Kevin Frasier is in a new high school—his fourth in the last year. He is trying to get along and not cause any waves. When he falls in with Nick and his friends, Frasier ends up going along as the group bullies and threatens their way through the school. When Nick starts tormenting Erin - and she stands up to him - the harassment escalates until Kevin is forced to make a difficult decision and risk everything. Darlene Ryan is the author of Saving Grace, an Orca Soundings novel, and Rules for Life. Darlene lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Children's Literature
AGERANGE: Ages 10 up.
Kevin is a kid whose dad works as a carpenter and takes jobs wherever he can find them. As a result Kevin frequently moves from school to school. He has learned to just keep his mouth shut and to "go with the flow" in order to survive. Kevin wishes that a classmate named Erin would practice a similar technique. Unfortunately, Erin does the opposite. She talks back to a bully named Nick and she even snitches on him. This angers Nick and makes him more determined to torment her. When Nick and his goons plan an attack that involves sexually assaulting Erin, Kevin has to decide whether he should continue to keep out of trouble by keeping his mouth shut or jeopardize his own safety by trying to defend her. Ironically, Kevin's dad is in a similar situation at his work. Together, Kevin and his father learn that doing the right thing is not always easy and it does not always come with benefits, but it is something you need to do anyway. This fast paced book can be upsetting at times, but it is also enlightening. It is part of the "Orca Soundings" series. Reviewer: Denise Daley