An incredible book about the effects of bullying when the bullied don't actually bust a cap in someone's ass ( )

Wow, this book is creepier and meaner than I thought it would be. Also, the lead character is a bitch.I loved it. ( )

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One of the most realistic accounts of elementary school bullying ever written. By choosing to tell the story from the viewpoint of neither the lead bully nor the victim, Judy Blume allows the incidents to be told in a much more raw manner without allowing for as much emotional interference. Jill's participation in senseless acts of torment against the common victim of the class enables children to question their own behavior when being integrated in a group which may or may not share their values.

The story does not follow a traditional structure in that it does not truly build toward a proper climax, but this also means that it is easy to follow, particularly for slower readers. Certain elements show that the book was written more than a few years ago (the mother smoking in her children's presence or the parents winding down in the evening with a Bloody Mary, for example), but the message, and the reflection it can lead to, is priceless. ( )