Dear Bully edited by Megan Kelly Hall & Carrie Jones

Pages: 339
Intended Audience: Teens and Tweens
Genre: non-fiction anthology
Notes for Parents: Contains stories about bullying.

The Back Cover

Discover how Lauren Kate transformed the feeling of that one mean girl getting under her skin into her first novel, how Lauren Oliver learned to celebrate ambiguity in her classmates and in herself, and how R.L. Stine turned being the “funny guy” into the best defense against the bullies in his class.
Today’s top authors for teens come together to share their stories about bullying—as silent observers on the sidelines of high school, as victims, and as perpetrators—in a collection at turns moving and self-effacing, but always deeply personal.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The book includes a list of resources for educators and parents, and all proceeds from the sale of the book are being donated to Stomp Out Bullying, an American anti-bullying and anti-cyber bullying program for kids and teens (part of the Love Our Children USA program).

What’s good?

With contributions by such authors as Ellen Hopkins (Crank), Heather Brewer (The Chronicles of Vladimir Todd), Lisa McMann (the Wake series), and Carrie Ryan (The Forest of Hands and Teeth), this is a poignant collection of stories by some of the genre’s top writers. Each story is short and easy to read, and offers a personal glimpse into the common childhood affliction called bullying. Sometimes the author is the bully, or a bystander, or just the sad victim of a failed friendship, but each story is affecting in its own way.
Best Part: So many to choose from, but…Finding Light in the Darkness by Lisa Schroeder, written in verse, was probably the one that moved me the most.

What isn’t good?

I have to wonder if all the stories are true examples of bullying. While it sucks when a friend stops being your friend, or when someone doesn’t want to sit with you at lunch, I don’t think it can always be considered bullying. But I think the real point to these stories is that tough times are common and there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
Worst part: n/a

Recommendation þþþþo
I found it really interesting to see how the childhood experiences of these writers contributed to the person they would become. While some of the stories were a little benign, most offered some important food for thought. Definitely recommended.

Hall, Megan Kelley & Carrie Jones, eds. Dear Bully. New York: HarperTeen, 2011.

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Pages: 361
Intended Audience: Mature teens
Genre: Mystery-Thriller
Notes for Parents: Contains mild coarse language, graphic descriptions of murder scenes, and disturbing descriptions of psychotic behavior.

The Back Cover
Jazz is the son of the world’s most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, “Take Your Son to Work Day” was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops only wish they could—from the criminal’s point of view.
Now, with bodies piling up in the sleepy town of Lobo’s Nod, Jazz must work with the police to prove that murder doesn’t run in the family.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a trilogy (#2 Game; #3 Blood of my Blood) which also includes a prequel called Lucky Day that will be available online April 1^st, 2014.

What’s good?

This mystery-thriller is both disturbing and compelling. Characterization is excellent. The main character, Jazz, is easy to like despite his occasional psychotic moments brought on by his much damaged childhood. The supporting characters are fantastic – especially friend Howie, who has the courage to be friends with the town freak, and Jazz’s grandmother, who is delightfully bizarre and horrifyingly enabling at the same time. The plot is wrought with twists and turns, eerily described crime scenes, and moments of pure adrenalin.
Best Part: The scene with the dog was freakishly unnerving. I had to close the book and walk away for a while. I guess this means it was well written but…see Worst Part.

What isn’t good?

Describing the phrase “bros before hos” as a “cute motto” nearly made me close the book for good. There are a dozen better ways to express that friendship comes before girlfriends. The casual use of the phrase was very off-putting. Speaking of girlfriends, Jazz’s girlfriend Connie was not well developed and remained vague through most of the story. Perhaps she figures more prominently in later books, but here her existence seemed kind of pointless. Also, I found it oddly convenient that the killer found girls with the right age, initials and occupation in what’s suppose to be a small town.
Worst part: …The scene with the dog made me wonder if I was somehow enabling the author’s psychotic thoughts by reading it.

Recommendation þþþþo

While brilliant in its portrayal of psychotic behavior, it’s a ridiculously disturbing mix of Criminal Minds and Dexter. I learned way more about the psychology of serial killers than I’ve ever wanted to know. This is not the kind of book I can finish and say I enjoyed. It’s a very specific genre that will only appeal to a select group. Highly recommended, but only for those who like that kind of thing.

 

Lyga, Barry. I Hunt Killers. New York: Little, Brown& Co., 2012.