Bystander
Written by James Preller
Feiwel and Friends $21.99
Recommended for ages 11-14

Eric and his mother and brother have just moved to a small town on Long Island. School has not yet started. As a result, Eric has not yet figured out who’s who. One day while out shooting hoops he sees a boy his age flee past him with his shirt torn and covered in Ketchup. Who could have done such a thing to a fellow human? Eric has a good idea whom it may have been when four other students come cruising through the parking lot asking if Eric had seen anyone pass by on a bike. Smart enough to know better, Eric pleads ignorance.

When school starts, it all comes together for Eric. He quickly observes the stereotypical cliques that had been established years ago. Leading the “cool guys” is none other than Griffin, the boy who was responsible for the Ketchup incident. Despite a gravitational pull to Griffin, Eric knows there is something “not quite right” about this fearless leader. Sure he is over-the-top polite to adults but when it comes to his peers, he is a true bully.

Although Eric is not directly involved in the bullying, he is tremendously uneasy about what he witnesses. He is a bystander and in many ways this is just as bad as being the bully. If Eric stands up to Griffin, will he become the next victim? This fast-paced read is an eye-opener for children in the often-confusing world of middle school.