Official Review: The "Great" Sarah Johnson

JessNWheeler · Post by **JessNWheeler** » 01 Nov 2018, 15:50

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The "Great" Sarah Johnson" by R.M. Demeester.]

3 out of 4 stars

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She walked in the halls of her high school that day feeling quite confident. She had a gorgeous new purse. Sarah Johnson, the most popular girl in school, would be so jealous. Sarah Johnson had been her worst nemesis since Kindergarten. Author R.M Demeester tells the story of a bullied young girl in the short story titled The “Great” Sarah Johnson: A Short Story.

Elaina Tinley had just about enough. Just when she was feeling confident, the intolerable Sarah Johnson humiliated her again. Sarah tripped Elaina causing her to hit the floor, and the contents of her beautiful new purse spilled out onto the floor for everyone to see. All of the teens surrounding them burst into laughter. Astonishingly, Sarah’s friend, Valerie came to Elaina with an offer that she could not refuse. Valerie’s deal would give Elaina the golden opportunity to finally put Sarah in her place. Still, Elaina would have to dig deep to find the courage to see the plan through to the end.

I had high hopes for this story as I really enjoyed another short story written by this author. Unfortunately, this short story was a disappointment for me. The start of the story was very good. It immediately caught my attention. Bullying is a huge problem in our society today. Our young people are in need of good examples to follow to help bring an end to bullying. In my opinion, this story is an example of how not to handle a bully. I was devastated by the characters’ actions.

This is a well-written and well-organized book. There are two grammar errors in the text. These errors are missing and misplaced words. However, these errors did not distract from the story. The story comfortably flows from one scene to the next making it pleasant to read.

I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. The story is fun and entertaining with interesting, relatable characters. Young readers ages ten to twelve would enjoy this book strictly for entertainment. I would love to recommend this book to younger readers, but there is one mildly profane word in the text that I find inappropriate for readers younger than ten. Still, this is a well-written story with minor grammar and editing errors. I am just completely disappointed by the actions and the decisions that were made by the characters. However, not every story needs to teach some valuable lesson. This is a story that is sure to engage and entertain young readers.

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The "Great" Sarah Johnson
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Caylie_Cat · Post by **Caylie_Cat** » 02 Nov 2018, 00:19

I know life is not all fun and happiness, and that not every story has a happy ending. Is it really necessary though, to put negative messages and stupid ideas into the heads of our vulnerable kids? I haven't read this book, but your thoughtful review makes me feel disappointed that the author had to go this way when there was an opportunity to give a more constructive outcome.

Sonya Nicolaidis · Post by **Sonya Nicolaidis** » 02 Nov 2018, 01:48

It's a pity that the author didn't offer readers a better solution for the bullying. This scenario is so common and it would have been a perfect opportunity for young readers to get some helpful advice on how to handle bullies. It seems that the opportunity was lost. Still, you give this book a good rating so there must be something to it. Thanks for your comments.

fredrick otieno · Post by **fredrick otieno** » 02 Nov 2018, 03:08

Bullying is a problem that seems is here with us to stay, even with the advancement in our society, it is still here. By speaking about it like the author has done in this book is a great step, and i think this should be a must read for all the teens in our society.

Post by **kandscreeley** » 02 Nov 2018, 08:10

We absolutely need more stories about bullies and their consequences and how to handle them. I'm so sad that this one doesn't really demonstrate the proper way to handle bullying.

I guess the only way I would recommend this one is to be able to sit down with your children and point out the flaws. Thanks for the review.

Samantha Simoneau · Post by **Samantha Simoneau** » 03 Nov 2018, 08:20

Bullying is a huge problem in our society today. Our young people are in need of good examples to follow to help bring an end to bullying. In my opinion, this story is an example of how not to handle a bully.

I completely agree. We have to be careful what we're teaching the younger generations - bullying a bully just creates more bullies. Great review!

Sahar Majid · Post by **Sahar Majid** » 05 Nov 2018, 10:37

Well it is true all stories don't need to teach something, but if it's tackling something that's prevalent in our society then maybe it should? Either way, thank you for the informative review!

Book Lover 35 · Post by **Book Lover 35** » 07 Nov 2018, 00:52

So is it a story about revenge? I like that it is a book that many kids can relate too. Also goes to prove that many bullies are insecure. Great review!

daydreaming reader · Post by **daydreaming reader** » 07 Nov 2018, 17:38

While I understand your point about the solution to bullying, perhaps this book could be used as a conversation starter between a mature and responsible individual and someone of the recommended age range. Thank you for your honest review.

Franc93 · Post by **Franc93** » 09 Nov 2018, 07:00

Books with grammatical errors are usually a turn off. With that being said i would like to add that indeed a solution to the crisis highlighted in the book should have been given at the end. It is an unwritten rule that should have been adhered to. Great review but i'll give this one a wide berth