This review is for the second of the
four signed books I’ve recently won from this author through a massive giveaway
on one internet site, which had consisted of 13 individual ones, and the
following is my honest opinion for this book.
In “SEND” Ms. Blount addresses one
of the most prevalent scourges which plagues our youth today, and to cut to the
chase I referring to the topic of bullying. While this had been when I went to
school as a child of the 1950’s, its history goes even further back. Back in my
days this had always taken the physical form where vast majority of boys who
participated in the practice would go after the weaker boys for the lunch money
with threats of being beaten up if they’d dare tell anyone. Don’t blink because
there had also been an extremely small handful of girls doing the same thing.
The author here has updated the
situation because these days the bullying is no longer predominately physical
it takes the form of derogation of others merely for the fun of it through the
use of the internet, which is known as cyberbullying.
Unlike most stories you’ve probably
heard about or read, Ms. Blount has skillfully switched the ever-present POV of
the victim to that of the bully.
Bullies have no fear of what they
do, the somehow go unscathed by their actions, expect as in the case of a
pivotal character of this book, Dan.
Dan, whose real name is Ken, had
five years earlier caused the suicide of a classmate through his bullying and a
final blow when he’d press the SEND button on his computer with an extremely
humiliating picture. Ken has been bullying classmates for years, suffering
nothing more than a slap on the wrist, which had caused his family to be
continuously moving. However, this time he got send away a juvenile delinquent
for one year. Now with only his senior year in high school, he realizes he must
change, and with his family having move once again he decides to change his
name.
At his new school, things really did
a 180, the moment he decided to step in and save a classmate from the school’s
apparent most notorious bull; becoming an instant hero. And, of course, for
every action there’s a reaction, while Dan wants to remains low key, keeping
his past a secret, the local bully now is keeping a keen eye on him.
And at the same instant he meets
Julie, and the more he sees her, the more he likes her; yet at the same time
she suspects something about him he doesn’t want anyone else to know and their
relationship begins.
The book is wrought with emotions,
such as regret and forgiveness.
This book is not only an enjoyable
read for its target audience, especially for those towards the upper end of the
range for young adults; the book also has a wonderful educational message woven
discussion guide at the back, with questions about the book, and through its
pages. This value is once again supplemented by the questions for its readers
about themselves.
For the different levels this book
is representing, I’m happy to give it 5 STARS.
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