Bus Ride Bully (My 1st Graphic Novel)

Title: Bus Ride Bully (My 1st Graphic Novel)
Author: Carl Meister
Illustrator: Remy Simard
Publisher: Stone Arch Books
Copyright: 2011
Price: $22.65
ISBN: 978-1-4342-2059-2
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Summary and Quick Thoughts: The bus: one of those “no man’s lands” for kids and a perfect bullying spot. Bus drivers are too focused on the loud kids and making it to school on time. For Gavin, this is an all too true reality. Every day Gavin boards the bus, hating the smell, hating the color, and fearful of Max, his Bus Ride Bully who finds him no matter what and squishes Gavin into the window and steals his snacks. Every day Gavin lives in fear. When Max doesn’t ride the bus because of a bike accident, things change. Bus Ride Bully is a simple graphic novel that has more appeal in a school setting than a public setting, but fills a slight need for good graphic novels for young kids.
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Recommended Audience: ages 5 to 7 (young readers)
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Things to be aware of: N/A
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Further Thoughts: Bus Ride Bully makes one giant mistake in telling the story of bullying: they become friends. According to a popular bullying prevention program, we should look for books to help children cope with bullying and should steer away from stories where the bully and the bullied child become friends. In fact, Bus Ride Bully has this unbelievable twist in the story that is hardly believable. Yes, boys may bully girls because they like them, but boys bully boys because they want to be friends? Not believable to me. I actually expected Gavin to get beaten to a pulp when he visited Max. Instead, they were instant friends. YEAH. RIGHT. Not believable and certainly not bibliotherapeutic to kids being bullied on the bus and looking for answers in this book. On the other hand, it does make a good discussion book about bullying behaviors and whether that “twist” is believable or not. Bus Ride Bully is a title helpful to those who are looking for titles on bullying to use as discussion, or in need of beginning graphic novel readers.

What a shame though. I had more hope for this one.
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Bonus: Discussion questions at end of book. How to read a comic book (of this ilk, a mix of text and comic panels)

Source: Library copy.