britty books

This will be the last Bullying Prevention contribution book review for a little while as I’m moving back to my hometown of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  I’m come to realize that it takes a trained eye to recognize the beauty of a desolate prairie landscape and my eye has been already trained.  In the meantime, please note other Bullying Prevention book reviews here on the site, or take some time to sign up for my good friend, J. Richard Knapp’s Bullying Prevention International Newsletter that comes delivered straight to your inbox at the top of each month.  We’ll see you soon in the Land of the Living Skies!

A Bully with a Background:  Gregory Maguire’s Take in
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

To the grim poor there need be no pour quoi tale about where evil arises; it just arises; it always is.  One never learns about how the witch became wicked, or whether that was the right choice for her – is it ever the right choice?  Does the devil ever struggle to be good again, or if si is he not a devil?  It is at the very least a question of definitions. ~page 298, Wicked

Some people may be familiar with this book because of the Tony award-winning musical, Wicked, featuring Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth.  The musical’s storyline follows the general premise of the book:  we, the reader, discover the background history of green-skinned Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West who lives in the land of Oz made famous by Frank L. Baum.

Elphie, as her friends know her, is born to a minister and his promiscuous wife.  It is implied that neither she nor her sister, NessaRose the eventual eastern menace, are blood children of their father.  Elphie doesn’t speak she is nearly five, whereupon her first word is ‘horrors.’  She is shunned from her mother, who can’t get past her odd manner and her green skin.  Her father is primarily absent.  Some respite comes when Nanny takes it upon herself to social Elphie with the other children, who promptly take to throwing rocks at her.

Skip to twelve years later and Elphie meets her roommate, Galinda, at boarding school.  You may have guessed already, but this Galinda eventually drops the ‘a’ and becomes Glinda, the person we know as the Good Witch of the North.  Of course, things get off to a rocky start as Galinda cares more about the social set than her moody, scholarly roomie, but as time goes by the two become good, if not great, friends.  Elphaba encourages Galinda to use her brain more instead of acting stupid to impress people.  Galinda drops the ‘a’ when she joins Elphie’s cause to discover why the talking Animals are disappearing from Oz (non-speaking animals are not represented with the formal ‘Animal’ term).  Political pressure reigns down from the top dog in the land, the Wizard of Oz.

Another five years pass and a chum from the boys’ school, Fiyero, finds Elphaba in hiding as she is a member of an underground movement to save the Animals.  Fiyero and Elphie start an affair, which leaves Elphie pregnant with a son, Liir.  More is written about him in Macguire’s sequel, Son of a Witch. After a botched attempt by the authorities trying to capture Elphaba, it is believed Fiyero is dead.  Elphaba travels to his homeland to make penance with his wife and discovers Chistery, who later becomes the leader of her flying monkey squadron.  Life continues to go downhill for Elphie from here…and Dorothy hasn’t even appeared yet!

Maguire’s view is both dark and unique as a peek behind the curtain at the person before she became the Witch.  He poses a good question:  are bad people born or made?  Are bullies only a result of their environment?  Is it the responsibility of everyone to maintain a social normal, or do we encourage out-of-the-box ideas and seek to understand them?

The Wicked Witch certainly is a sympathetic character in Macguire’s point of view.  Socially awkward, she only tries to improve the destiny of those she sees as oppressed by the system using radical measures.  In return, the system makes her an outcast.  Glinda, on the other hand, falls into conformity, married well and is sainted.

If being bullied, it is difficult to want to stop and examine why the bully is acting the way they do but it may be worth it.  A bully’s background may provide a key to why they act the way they do and, given this key, you may discover a way to reverse or correct their past.  Asking questions of a bully in calmer moments may lead to common understanding and deeper insight.  Maybe your bully only wants a sympathetic ear or someone to pay attention to them.  Maybe they want someone to take seriously what they have to say.  Given the circumstances, it is most likely your bully doesn’t have the tools to communicate properly and is given to bullying as a method of being.  Pick your moment and try being a try friendship as a viable option.  Your may be pleasantly surprised!

One last note on Wicked, the book: as opposed to the musical, this is a book intended for an adult audience and includes dark and sexual themes.  It is not recommended reading for children or teens.

"You're acting like a crowd of kids!" says Piggy, hardly more than a kid himself.

Welcome to the Bullying Prevention book review this month!  There has been a tremendous focus on the issue of bullying in the news during the month of October, especially involving social media and the preventable death of Tyler Clementi.  If you are concerned about bullying, are a victim of or know someone that could use some strategies to cope, I recommend that you investigate J. Richard Knapp’s International Bullying Prevention monthly newsletter. Remember, bullying is not only a children’s issue.  These book reviews are a small part of this free subscription.

You’re Acting Like a Crowd of Kids…and Other Statements
That Led to Piggy’s Downfall
in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies

William Golding’s first novel in 1954 was recognized as an instant classic for the social experiment within.  The main thrust of the plot is a school of English boys stranded on a deserted island when their transport plane crashes.  The only adult on board, the pilot, dies.  So, the boys (who range in ages from approximately 6 years to 14 years old) must learn to fend for themselves.

Immediately, the reader is immersed in the relationship between two of the three main characters, Ralph and a boy only known as Piggy.  The reader never does discover Piggy’s real name, as he becomes an easy target of the other’s repulsion with his asthma, his glasses and by being overweight.  Although Piggy is somewhat of an outcast within the tribe of schoolboys, he is one of the few older children and, most importantly, is council to Ralph, the voted chief of the island.

Ralph is a graceful, good-looking, self-confident type that the other boys see as a natural leader.  The only threat to this duo is Jack, a tall, lanky redhead who insists that hunting the island pigs is far more important (and much more thrilling) than keeping a signal fire going in order to be rescued.

As the novel progresses, the power shifts from the lawful use of assembly via a conch shell that denotes the speaker who has the floor, to a hodge-podge dictatorship run by a half-crazed and painted-faced Jack, with his strongman, Roger, to do his evil bidding.  Although a once banned book, Lord of the Flies is standard reading for most high school English curriculum, so it may come as no surprise to most that Piggy’s own words are his ultimate downfall in his final confrontation with Jack.

Piggy, the voice of reason and order on the island, becomes nothing more than a target to bully as the balance of power shifts to Jack.  Because of Piggy’s adult reasoning in this expanse of children, Jack feels the need to silence Piggy in order to be able to give himself and the rest of the boys completely over to the savagery in which they wish to participate.

In Piggy’s final speech, he appeals to Jack saying:

‘I got this to say.  You’re acting like a crowd of kids.’
The booing rose and died again as Piggy lifted the white, magic shell.
‘Which is better – to be a pack of painted niggers like you are, or to be sensible like Ralph is?’
A great clamour rose among the savages.  Piggy shouted again.
‘Which is better – to have rules and agree, or to hunt and kill?’
Again the clamour and again – ‘Zup!’
Ralph shouted against the noise.‘Which is better, law and rescue, or hunting and breaking things up?’
~page 200

Conformity is sadly still one of the sticklers of social acceptance.  Piggy never compromises his inner wisdom of things he believes to be right and wrong and therefore becomes a figurehead for the boy’s rebellion against adulthood.  Should have Piggy been less rigid, joined in the hunt and admit to Jack’s style of leadership?  Or was the downfall of Piggy inevitable?

If you have never read or studied this novel before now, I strongly encourage you to do so.  Discover in what places we, as adults, ‘go along to get along’ and when we decide to stand up against the odds for what we know is right.

When you're lost, you can't get any loster.

This is my second newsletter article/book review with Bullying Prevention by speaker and author, J. Richard Knapp.  For more information on bullying prevention or to sign up for the monthly newsletter, see his website for details. Click here to look at a review from last month on Flowers for Algernon. Happy reading!

Survival of the Cruelest: Bean’s Manipulation of Street Bullies
In Ender’s Shadow: Orson Scott Card

“So we know that a lot of kids who should get a turn can’t even get in the line, because they’re pushed out.  And if we do manage to stop the bullies and let one of the little ones in, then they get beaten up afterward.  We never see them again.  It’s ugly.”
“Survival of the fittest.”
“Of the cruelest….”  ~page 20, Ender’s Shadow

The Ender’s series of books by author Orson Scott Card may be some of the best science fiction you’ve never tried.   Ender’s Game written in 1985 zoomed to the tops of best-selling fiction lists.  This story featured a brilliant boy named Ender who goes to Battle School to save the earth from an invasion of the Formics (also known as Buggers).  Ender receives a good dose of bullying, both from his brother while on earth and from fellow Battle School students in space.  How he deals with their aggressive and manipulative behavior is at times shocking (i.e. he kills another student in self defense.) but always interesting.

Ten years after the release of Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card decided to try his hand at writing a companion novel called Ender’s Shadow that would follow another character during the same time period.  Bean is that character.  And, as with Ender, Bean has a lion’s share of bullies in his life.

Bean grows up on the streets of Rotterdam somewhere in the world’s not-to-distant future.  At four years of age his powers of observation are far superior to an average man’s.  He studies how social interaction works to people’s advantage and disadvantage.  He decides to enter into a ‘family,’ or gang, of children scavenging for food.  Quickly, he informs the current leader, Poke, that she needs to recruit an older, tougher bully to work for them and protect them.  The family, by force, coerces a lame boy named Achilles to be their ‘papa.’

Because [Poke] had picked, not just the weakest bully, the easiest to beat, but also the smartest, the one that understood how to win and hold the loyalty of others.  All Achilles had ever needed was the chance.  ~page 38, Ender’s Shadow

Under Bean’s strategic plan, Achilles flips the soup line politics on its head and smaller children are able eat instead of spending their days foraging for food.  The older bullies gather their own ‘families’ and it seems like civilization returns to the streets.  However, Achilles has a long memory and the willingness to wait.  He remembers how Bean, a four-year-old small for his age, once had power over him, a bully.  Bean knows he must escape Achilles before the bully can exact his revenge…

Both Ender’s Shadow and Ender’s Game are highly recommended reading for anyone who has ever felt small.  Although Bean and Ender both take extreme measures against their bullies; they cannot be faulted for cowering.  Is their confidence in the face of danger reckless or the smartest course of action?

Author J. Richard Knapp. Used with permission.

I’m honored to be able to talk with author of the award-nominated young adult novel Truth’s Lair: Perils of a Dead Man’s Diary, Mr. J. Richard Knapp.  For my Britty Book’s review on this novel, click here.

Britty: Truth’s Lair: Perils of a Dead Man’s Diary is filled with adventure, espionage and world travel.  Where do you draw your sense of adventure from in your life?

Bailey and team go on a hunt for the truth barring all odds in this high-flying, wild adventure ride.

Bailey and team go on a hunt for the truth barring all odds in this high-flying, wild adventure ride.

If you’ve read a little about the Bully Prevention articles I’m doing lately, then I’m sure you’ll recognize the name of this author, J.Richard Knapp.  He and I met through Twitter (if one really ‘meets’ anyone online) and quickly struck up an easy back and forth.  As a result, he sent me a signed copy of his latest book, Truth’s Lair, which he agreed I could review here on Britty Books.  He also was kind enough to grant me an author interview, which can be found here. As you can see, he’s a pretty nice fellow all around!

Gist of the Story

This story is intended for young adults and is classified as juvenile fiction.  While I’m not one to restrict at what age any young person should read any particular book, I would give a guess that both young ladies and men between 13 and 20 years of age will enjoy reading this tale.

We begin at the end of WWII with Lt. Matthew Sanders and a top secret mission to blow up some stuff.  Blowing up some stuff is always a great way to get a reader hooked!

Skipping forward to current day, we catch up with Lt. Sander’s granddaughter, just after his funeral.  It turns out as the only surviving heir, she is entitled to a lot!  Put six digits behind that five, throw in a ranch and raise the stakes with a high-tech mystery and you have yourself one adventure tale!  Bailey joins up with a team of pre-doctoral candidates all as intelligent and uniquely gifted as she and are put on a quest to discover whether or not UFO’s do exist.

The search for the truth takes the team all around the world.  At each step of the way they are plagued with doubts of a mole within the group and who, exactly, are the enemies.  With multiple factions of ‘bad guys’ chasing them, the reader is often left off-balance wondering who is behind it all.  No spoilers here, folks, but just let me say you’ll never guess who the villain turns out to be.  (It got me!).  With a little romance on the side, Truth’s Lair effectively covers all the bases of a successful adventure tale.

If you have a young adventurer in the family, give this story a wild ride.  Other comparable adult reads would include Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code or Angels and Demons. Comparable youth reads (though a bit younger) would include Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet.

First Lines, Last Words

Lieutenant Matthew Sanders sat alone at the edge of the cobblestone road with his back against a large rock, as a column of American trucks carrying supplies and soldiers drove past him into the rubble of the once, small German town.

“The land always reveals the truth,” said Bailey with a smile on her face.

Quotable

“Looks like your insurance policy just came due.”

Book Rating

Truth's Lair overall rating 4.33

4.0 Beside the Bed. Yes, I’m a little embarrassed were I to die in the middle of reading a youth novel.  Especially one where there is kissing…;)

4.8 Sleepless for the Story. Once Bailey and gang get rolling, you won’t want to stop reading.

4.2 Regifting this read. Obviously, I’m not regifting my signed copy!

4.33 Overall Rating. Curious to how book ratings work?  Check out this information.

As Charlie Gordon's intelligence increases, his memories of being bullied also return.

The great thing about Twitter is the accessibility to authors all over the world.  Recently, it was my privilege to speak with J. Richard Knapp (@jrichardknapp) about the possibility of reviewing his recent novel.  He agreed, so be on the lookout for that review coming soon.  But, as creative types are wont to be, he realized an opportunity to make it a win-win for both of us.  He asked me to be a monthly contributor to his newsletter on Bullying Prevention by providing book reviews.  Hooray!  So, below is my first article for his September newsletter.  Subscribe here to the newsletter to find out more about prevention for adults and children.

Charlie, Charlie, Fat-Head Barley:
A Book Review on Bullying in Keyes’ Flowers for Algernon

Flowers for Algernon by author Daniel Keyes was required reading for every grade nine student at Thom Collegiate High School in Regina, Saskatchewan.  And, like the other students, I railed and complained against having to read this book.  Or any book for that matter.  The teacher was the enemy and we, the students, were united in our dislike of homework.  Of course, being the diligent reader I am, I secretly read ahead of the class and stayed up late at night, excited to see what would happen next.

Children circle around him laughing and teasing him like little dogs snapping at his feet.  Charlie smiles at them.  He would like to put down his bundle and play games with them, but when he thinks about it the skin on his back twitches and he feels the way the older boys throw things at him.
-Flowers for Algernon, page 32

In this near-day science fiction, diary-style novel, Charlie Gordon is a legally retarded man who undergoes an operation to increase his intelligence.  As his intellect grows, his ability to recollect childhood memories grows, too.  As the passage indicates, Charlie is bullied by neighborhood children for being slow and then later on the same page, bullied by his co-workers for sleeping on the job.  His distrust and suspicion of others is a common theme throughout the rest of the novel stemming from these early incidences of aggression and isolation.

When children or adults get together and present a united front, they can change opinion.  At Thom Collegiate High School, the students often changed the teacher’s opinion about the due date of the Flowers for Algernon homework sheets.  It went like this: one person complained and everyone stood behind them in silent agreement.

Look for this book review in Bullying Prevention September newsletter.

For Charlie Gordon, one person bullies him and his co-workers stand in silent agreement while Charlie’s humiliation mounts.  As Charlie’s intelligence increases, he realizes how ill-treated he was…but it still continues to haunt him.  He returns to his former workplace seeking understanding but finding only confusion.  The effects of bullying on Charlie Gordon are some of his earliest recovered memories and certainly the last to fade.  Daniel Keyes keenly portrays how cruel people of all ages can be to “outcasts.”

This novel is a quick read and a good study on the long-term effects of bullying on self-image.  Even through perceived success, Charlie fails to make amends with the bullies of his past.  In real life, atonement is possible to achieve.  How would you rewrite this ending for Charlie?