The Weird Series by Erin Frankel, illustrated by Paula Heaphy, is a trilogy about bullying that would be appropriate for elementary ages (but also adults working with children).
In Weird! Luisa is the kid being bullied (she speaks Spanish and wears polka dots!) Dare! is from the perspective of Jayla, a bystander, and former victim of bullying, watching Luisa's struggles. Tough! is about Sam, the bully. The colors in the illustrations pop, and add to the story. It's interesting to note things that carry over from one book to the next.
This trilogy of bullying and conflict resolution from different perspectives would be a great addition to any home and library. Each book is great as a stand-alone, but the three together are powerful.
Each book comes with a series of thought-provoking questions, a letter from the main character explaining how they felt and why they took the actions they did. There's a teacher's guide (well, Leader guide), an Activity Corner, and information for both adults and kids on approaching the issue of bullying. I think some good discussions would come from sharing this with your children or students.
Note: Also meets Common Core standards.
The Weird Series is published by Free Spirit Publishing. Digital ARCs provided by NetGalley.
Release Date: 09.01.2013
"They sent me away to boarding school. Sent me away makes it sound like they sent me to an asylum. There were no straps involved." -Andrew Largeman, Garden State
I try to relate books to other books, or movies. This YA novel was like Garden State mixed with Juno, mixed with Perks of Being a Wallflower, with snippets of Fault in Our Stars. And I ate it up (pun kind of intended).
A Really Awesome Mess by Trish Cook & Brendan Halpin is, well, a really, awesome mess!
This is the story of Emmy and Justin. Both are 16. Both are "messed up."
Emmy is adopted. She's Chinese, and her real parents left her, because, well, she's a girl. Her adoptive parents and sister are all tall, thin, and blonde. She always feels like an outsider. After threatening a bully at school, she is sent to Heartland Academy.
Justin feels numb. When his Dad walks in on him with a girl, in a compromising position, things just go downhill. After a handful of Tylenol, he is sent to Heartland Academy.
The two find each other, and an unconventional group of friends, at this reform school. They are denied Internet, TV, razors, nail clippers, tweezers, and books like 13 Reasons Why. Through classes, therapy sessions, and different antics, they learn to deal with their issues, discover themselves, and let others in.
Oh goodness, I loved this book. It's snarky and sarcastic, sad and cynical, quippy and crass...a full range of teenage emotion. With some serious laugh-out-loud moments.
It's told from alternating points-of-view, and does so as well as a David Levithan novel.
The supporting cast was as good as the two main players. We've got Mohammed, Justin's roommate, who's the "only black kid in 100 miles" and has some anger issues. Jenny, Emmy's roommate, who has selective mutism and a bit of an obsession with pigs. Diana, the 13-year old, cute-as-pie "psycho" and Chip, the mullet-sporting gamer, round out the Anger Management Group-turned-friends.
As Justin and Emmy try to make their way through the 6-tiered system, they made their way into my mind and heart. I was rooting for these kids, who have these deep-seated issues. I wanted them to achieve the next breakthrough (as much as I wanted them to backtalk the counselor trying to help them). As I got deeper and deeper into their issues, my heart hurt for them. And that made the breakthroughs that much more sweet.
If anything, read the book for an epic bout of Porcine Pandemonium at the State Fair. I would recommend this to anyone who's a fan of Ellen Page/Michael Cera movies & David Levithan or John Green books. I would also recommend it to anyone who has an interest in teens and mental health, unconventional heroes, and bacon.
A Really Awesome Mess is published by Egmont USA. ARC provided by NetGalley.
