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Nobody!

a Story About Overcoming Bullying in Schools
Sep 11, 2015mmcbeth29 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
SUMMARY: Thomas has become miserable at school because of Kyle who is bullying him. Thomas starts to believe that maybe he is a nobody because of the mean words Kyle says. Even though Thomas has other friends, everything Kyle says and does overshadows his life. Then one day, Thomas decides to look at things differently. He looks at life from Kyle's perspective. He also decides it's okay to be different because it's what makes him Thomas. His new perspective and a talk with his mother help him deal differently with Kyle making things better for both of them. ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations are done in a mix of black and white and color making it more appropriate for the older audience it targets as well as making them more subdued for the serious subject. THE GOOD: I like that this story is told from Thomas' perspective--about how he feels about the bullying and how depressed he is becoming even though he has other friends. This is a very realistic portrait of bullying. But the bullying is not too ugly as to make it inappropriate. Towards the end, Thomas finds ways to cope with the bullying that are positive for everyone. At the back of the book are thoughts on bullying from kids' perspectives, activities, and discussion questions. THE NOT AS GOOD: When Thomas starts to think about his life, things become a bit abstract and harder to follow. I am not quite sure in the end how he got from point A to point D. AGE RECOMMENDATION: Grades 1-5 NOTE: I received a free ARC copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My reviews are always 100% honest based on preset criteria.