Choyce, Lesley. Rat. (Orca Soundings series)

Choyce, Lesley.   Rat.  (Orca Soundings series)

Orca  120p  $9.95    978-1-4598-0300-8    2012  hs    VG-BN       Realistic Fiction    

Despite his own reputation as a troublemaker, Colin despises students who bully while student onlookers remain silent.  When Colin speaks out against bullies who amused themselves by tormenting an elderly man, he himself becomes the focus of the bullies’ abuse.  They post an embarrassing photo-shopped image of him on a social networking website.  Colin’s peers are polarized by the events, especially when embarrassing pictures of his female friends begin appearing online.  Again Colin defies the (unwritten) social code against “ratting” and turns in the bullies.  He makes new enemies, and some new allies.

Jerome is one of Colin’s new supporters.  When Colin discovers Jerome is selling weapons to kids at school for “self defense”, Colin threatens to turn Jerome in, but then backs off, fearing he will add to his growing reputation as the school “rat”.  Colin soon regrets not speaking up.  Jerome is shot and dies. 

Choyce’s gritty urban realism will appeal to many teen readers, particularly reluctant readers.  The plot is active, with contemporary dialogue and vocabulary, and addresses timely issues of concern to young adults, including cyber-bullying, sexual harassment, and school violence.

Bullying–Fiction, Gun violence–Fiction                    --Hilary Welliver