What else could you ever need?
New book that's an absolutely must-read: Nancy Garden's Endgame. I don't know if you've heard of it, but if you haven't done it yet, pick it up and read it today! I have to warn you though, it's difficult to get through.
From the back cover, it becomes apparent before the book is even opened that the main character, fourteen-year-old Gray Wilton, is in serious trouble. He's been harassed and bullied and intimidated within an inch of losing his life. As the book goes on, the incidents keep piling up. The varsity football team corners Gray and his only friend on a regular basis, calling them derogatory names, shoving them around, getting increasingly more aggressive. Gray feels there is no one he can turn to, and even the reader has to agree. His father is angry, demanding, and unwilling to listen, and his mother is too weak to stand up to his father. His teachers either see nothing or pretend to see nothing. Gray is already an angry teen, and as things keep getting worse, so does Gray. He's backed into a corner. So, one day, he brings a gun to school. There are several things that make this book remarkable. First of all, even from the beginning, the reader knows that Gray is in jail, and it's strongly implied that he has killed some of his fellow students. Usually knowing this would turn us against the character. However, the way Garden writes makes us sympathize and even identify with Gray. As I was reading, I felt just as boxed in as Gray did. He had so few bright spots left in his life that even I couldn't find any. He's clearly a boy who needs some counseling and therapy, but first and foremost he's a boy who needs a friend. I genuinely felt for him; I was emotionally affected by his situation. In fact, Garden's writing was so powerful that it made me vow never to allow one of my future students to face such an issue alone. Bullying is still a real issue facing teens today. Physical, verbal, social, and cyber abuse happen on a regular basis, and Endgame brings this issue to life. Anyone who is either currently working with students or plans to work with them in the future should read this book. I promise you that you will never again look away when someone is "just getting teased a little." Reading this book is the first step toward ending bullying and protecting kids everywhere.
1 Comment
3/28/2015 08:12:08 am
I know this is an old post, but I'm glad I revisited it because I remember wanting to read this book when you talked about it in class. Even though you picked this book for a choice read week (I think), this book would fit into many categories because of its appeal to real life situations. This book would be awesome for students who are interested in real issues like bullying. Awesome post! (:
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AngelicaLaughter and literature are two of my favorite things, and I consider them to be crucial parts of my life. This blog is designed to spread life, laughter, and literature to anyone and everyone who needs them most. Photo by Tim Geers
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