Official Review: Silence in Center by Jody Studdard

[Tanaya]

I heavily considered reviewing this book but read the sample on Amazon. I had the same issues with the writing style as you did. First person narration isn't always the best choice. Still, sounds like a good book with a great message for younger readers.

[bookowlie]

I enjoyed reading your review! The book sounds like it has a nice message for tweens and teens.

By the way, cool avatar! I have very little expertise with technology stuff. When I joined, I wanted either an owl reading or a cool quote. Well, I had trouble uploading most of the avatars I found. Then I came across good ol' reading owl, which I thought was so unique. Turns out there are a couple of other members who have the same avatar as me. Oh well, we can be the Reading Owls Society or something!

[rachel_bruhn]

It definitely has a strong message about acceptance of others that are not like you. There is such a strong dichotomy between teaching kids not to bully and teaching kids how to cope with being bullied. Personally, I think we need a little bit of both. We need to teach kids how to cope with their stress appropriately and learn how to solve their problems without expecting others to do it for them (within reason of course). We also need to teach kids about respecting other people and not being afraid of someone because they are different. Typically, bullies are kids that experience bullying at home in some way, so they compensate for being the victim at home by finding weaker targets other places to exert control over. These kids are crying out for help, but instead people blame them for being a bully.

I didn't know what I wanted for my avatar and actually just left it blank for a while. zeldas suggested I change it, so I googled "pink" (my favorite color) and "book nerd" (embrace who you are) and found that image somewhere down the list. Although, I think things just turn out better in books than in real life. Like when you are fighting with someone and you make a really good point: in the book they have a sudden epiphany and agree with you and all is better, but in real life they continue to remain defensive and the fight goes on. haha

[Cee-Jay Aurinko]

@Rachel_jacks

Ah, the bullies. Good times. I became popular in high school only after eighth grade, but before that I pretty much had a hard time with them paperball throwers. Can you believe that they actually became my best friends later in school, even though I used to think of pretty inventive ways to go all Dexter on their a***s?

Congrats on the avatar, Rachel_jacks.

[debo9967]

Nice and well detailed review! The book seems quite interesting.

[rachel_bruhn]

My experience with softball ended when I was in like 3rd grade, so I enjoyed how easy it was to understand everything even with only a minimal knowledge on the subject material.