Kari's Review of Bully by Penelope Douglas

Via Dictionary.com:

bul·ly1 [bool-ee] 

noun, plural bul·lies.

1.a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates smaller or weaker people.

Above is the definition of bully.  Many times, especially today, this word is tossed around.  Giving a label to an individual who doesn’t quite fit the definition, or does it?.  But read the definition again.  Really read it…Go ahead.. I will give you a minute..Ok. So let’s relate this to the story...

Jared, was Tatum’s neighbor.  They used to be best friends, until one summer Jared went to spend time with his father.  When he returned, Tate’s life became hell on earth.  Jared had changed, and they were no longer best friends.  Jared made it his life’s mission to destroy any semblance of a high school experience that Tate, may have otherwise enjoyed.  Day after day, Tate was the focus of rumors, humiliation, and sadistic pranks thanks to Jared and his friend Madoc.  

Tatum was given an opportunity to study abroad and left for a year to be free of Jared.  She thought that maybe this would have given Jared the opportunity to move on.   To forget all about her.  That didn’t happen.  But even though Jared was still the same, Tate wasn’t.  She was no longer going to let Jared get the best of her.  She was no longer going to sit back and let Jared and his posse have their fun. 

In the first half of the book, Jared and his posse were the bullies.  They intimidated Tate and habitually badgered her.  They made her a loner.  Jared threw parties late into the evenings so she couldn’t get to sleep when she had track meets the next day.  He kept guys away by threatening them or spreading rumors about her. 

For Jared, there are secrets that form him into this type of predator or bully.   

Now, the second half of the book, shows a different Tate.  She is fighting back, with words, and sometimes with violence.  I do not in any way condone Tate using her hands to rectify a situation, but in her defense I may have reacted the same way.  Most times, when you are threatened or feel threatened, adrenaline takes you over and you do what you have to do to protect your self.  Jared is impressed by her tenacity and slowly starts to see her differently.  

Tate is feisty and I loved her. She tried her best to hold her head up high.  She reversed roles in the book with Jared, but it showed strength in a way.  Jared was mean and I tried not to love him, but I did.  He slowly showed that he remembered Tate’s friendship and that she was more to him.  Its hard to like someone who is so unkind and purposefully hurtful, but there are always reasons for someone’s behavior.   

Overall, I would say that everyone in some way has bullied another person at some point in their lives based on the definition above.  It could be calling someone a simple name, or spreading lies and ruining a reputation.  It is intimidation and dangerous.  Bullies are formed for reasons.  It is never really black and white.  With that said, I recommend you read this story.  It is heart wrenching and educational.  I won’t give away the ending, but it is a read that left me with so many mixed feelings.  At points I hated Jared and Tate and then I loved and admired them both.  Remember that bullying is never the answer.  Your words can cut someone worse then a knife sometimes.