A Silent Voice Volume 1 by Yoshitoki Oima

Volume 1

Ok but bullying.

Do I want to strangle the teacher for like...not handling the bullying properly. Yes. Yes I do.

Also how bullying can drive a person to dark places.
Don't mind me while I go buy this entire series.
192 Pages

Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas

Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow. This surprised me on so many levels. I love the storyline, and all of the conflict. I also love all the beautiful words and thoughts that are sprinkled throughout. Plus, it's heated and the drama is fueled by years worth of emotion.

I think this is the ultimate reversal on the enemies to friends trope, and sparks fly everywhere as these two knock heads. Also, there's so much character growth, which is fun to watch.

Character-wise, this would be a YA romance. Graphic content-wise, it leans hard towards an adult, or new adult audience. I mean, don't get me wrong. I would have definitely read this in high school, but my mother always let me read whatever I wanted, from birth on. A more fearful parent of a teen might stroke out if they realized their teen had read this story, so if you're a teen with a more challenging, judgmental, controlling, and/or very conservative parent, be sure to respect your parent and read this book as far away from your house as is possible. ;)

Book 276 read in 2018

Pages: 343

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a thoughtful, well-written middle grade novel with a touch of suspense, a bit of angst, a reflection on social status, some vicious bullying, a rich, historical setting, and a lot of heart.

Pages: 304

Tim by Colleen McCullough

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

Tim was born with a mental problem but grew big and strong by his parents. When they die of old age, a friend takes in Tim but has to deal with social issues and peers.

Audio:  7 hrs.

Print:  255 pages

"My Brother's Keeper" by Adrienne Wilder

Ellis Harper has lived a solitary life taking care of his mentally disabled older brother, Rudy, who manages to do things he shouldn't when they go out in public.  They become the target of the town bully after Rudy scares the man's girlfriend at the store.  But Ellis and Rudy find a kind of protector, and Ellis a kindred spirit, in Jon Foster, a former cop whose partner was killed because of his mistake.  Helping Ellis take care of Rudy brings Jon out of his depression to find a purpose in life again.  This is book one in the My Brother's Keeper Trilogy.  280 pages (Kindle edition).

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

A new student arrives midterm, head down, with broken sandals. She sits right next to Chloe. The teacher introduces the new student as Maya, but hardly anyone says hello, and Chloe doesn’t smile or greet her.  Chloe’s best friends call her “Never New” because she wears secondhand clothes. Each time Maya asks them to play they say no.

When their teacher invites them to throw a pebble in water and watch the ripples radiate to symbolize an act of kindness they share with the class, Chloe stops. Maya no longer is there. Her family has had to move. Had Chloe been kind even once?

MASL ‘Show Me’ award nominee 2014-2015.

32 pages