by Graham Gardner
Elliot's life wasn't always the way it was- before the incident, he was just a regular kid with regular friends living a normal life. But after what happened to his dad, his life had started to rapidly go downhill. Elliot and his mother were forced to live their lives as if nothing had happened while his father just sat on the couch staring at the TV screen. Every minute. Every day. Elliot constantly got bullied in school, and he felt he could not do anything about it. He made no effort. It felt as if he was living as an already-dead person.That's when he moves to another town, transfers to Holminster High, and tries to start a new life. Things are different in Holminster high. A group called the'Guardians' rule over the school, and soon enough Elliot finds himself trapped in a position he doesn't know how to get out of. In his 'new' life, he tries to invent a new Elliot, as he tries to push the past Elliot away. But he knows that the old Elliot will always be a part of him, because that is who he was and what he would always be.
This book handles the biggest problem that exists and will exist in schools all over the world. Many kids suffer from the physical, verbal, and psychological violence that they are given in their everyday lives. Just like Elliot, they feel like they can do nothing about the problem. This book will help readers to understand that there is a solution to this undying problem, and that the problem can only be solved if one is brave enough to face the task. Also, readers will understand through this book... how much it hurts to be bullied. They can experience this through Elliot's eyes as he realizes that moving and transferring schools is not the real solution to the problem.
This book ends with Elliot turning the doorknob to the principal's office. Of course, this means he finally realized getting an adult's help, letting them know what's going on might just help solve the problem. Maybe he knew it all along, but he was just afraid to confront the fact, afraid to work up the courage to put the truth into action.
