The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen - A Heartfelt Middle Grade Novel About Bullying & Healing | Perfect for Classroom Discussions & Teen Book Clubs

This book was an outstanding take on the perspective of the younger brother of a school killer. The younger brother witnessed his older brother being bullied and harassed beyond his ability to take it any longer. The fact that his brother went mad and killed his main tormentor is only a testament to the human spirit's inability to suffer humiliation, defeat, and physical abuse on an ongoing basis. I read the book because I want to learn all I can about bullying - I was bullied as a child in school and at home. My children were bullied. We have all experienced the sense of shame, helplessness, and rage that both the killer and his brother suffered. Thankfully we lived through it and survived (as did the bullies) - but I experience and note the long-term effects in myself and family members: poor self-esteem, difficulty in forming close friendships, and an overall distrust of people. I think that Susin Neilson captures not only the tumult of mean emotions that are associated with this issue, but has managed to encapsulate this dark tale within a lively, charming story. I read the book in one day, and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in this problem.