Nearfall, by Joe Rasbeck, a review by nothingdoer

Title:  Nearfall

Author:Joe Reasbeck

Format:  paperback

This is a book that comes from two people's point of view.They are brothers named Matt and Mike. Matt is a fourth grader and Mike is a seventh grader. Mike is a brother who will pound anyone who hurts Matt. Mike is also a wrestler for his school. Matt is being bullied by a kid named TJ because Matt likes a girl named Kimberly.

                                                                                         

Matt's story

   

Matt gets in trouble a lot at school but he gets out of it by flashing his "signature smile." (Ladies don't get any ideas he is fake.) At recess if there is mud he plays smear with 5th graders. Smear is a game where a fourth grader gets a football and runs across muddy concrete without getting smeared by 5th graders. He likes a girl named Kimberly. Unfortunately all 4th and 5th graders do, too. Tj thinks Matt likes her a little too much, so he beats him up.

                                                                                         

Mike's story

Mike gets caught cheating on a nerd named Billy's test Billy doesn't tell... yet!(DRAMATIC MUSIC.)The next day Billy gets a B- Mike gets an A-. Billy almost tells, but Mike begs. Billy doesn't tell. Mike has a best friend named Dan. Dan is the best kid on the wrestling team. Sorry I can't say more, but I'll talk about it in Billy's story. He also is an over-protective older brother.

                                                                                       

Dan's story

Dan is the best kid on the wrestling team. He used to be fat. His dad abused him. So he worked out. His dad doesn't work -- he drinks, and he smokes. Dan doesn't like him. Dan's best friend is Mike.

Billy's story

Billy talks to Mike at Pattison Park. For cheating Mike will have to teach Billy wrestling. Billy comes home and his sister Kimberly is crying. He asks her what's wrong, and she talks about how Matt got beat up. Billy makes it worse by saying Matt's brother is a jerk.

Billy ends up being a wrestler. So does Matt (long story).I won't say any more so I won't give it away.

This book has violence but is fast paced. It has drama. I'd only read this book if you are 10 or older. The cover doesn't pop out. In fact it's really boring. I would rate this book 4.5 chocolate bars, because at parts it is slow but the rest is good.

Cracked, by K.M. Walton: a review by Gracey

Title: Cracked
Author: K.M. Walton
Format: hardcover
Price: $16.99

Now, this book was not a very happy book and had a pretty good ending, so I'm going to try not to spoil it for anyone.

This book consists of two main characters, one of whom is named Victor, who has been bullied by the other main character, Bull, since kindergarten.  Throughout the story, the perspectives of the chapters change between Victor and Bull.  Victor keeps talking about how much he hates Bull and just wants him to die.  Also, about his parents and how  he hates them.  While Bull, on the other hand, has some issues of his own.  His mom and dad are both alcoholics and keep stealing all of his money.  So, Bull takes out all of his anger on Victor.  But, when Victor tries to kill himself by taking some sleeping pills and ends up in the hospital, who does he find there with him?

Bull.  So they have to learn to work out their problems together.

Both of the characters grow throughout the book by somewhat learning from their own mistakes and taking responsibility.

The theme for this book, to  me, probably would be one: to not bully, and two: to not run away from your problems because sooner or later they're going to sneak up on you and kick you in the butt.

Some of the strengths of this book to me personally were probably how the perspectives kept changing and also how the problem was resolved.  One weakness I found was that it was a depressing book, but I guess I'm the one who chose to read it so I guess that's my fault.

It's hard to talk about the ending without being a spoiler but I feel this book had a decent ending just because everything seemed to somewhat work out in the end.

Rating:  4 out of 5 chocolate bars (because I ate the fifth one :)
Appropriateness:  PG-13 if it was a movie because of the language and suicide.  Also the theme would be complex for young readers.
Cover Thoughts:  Well, the cover kinda gave me the idea that it would be a sad book because there are pills on it, so I just hypothesized it being about death or something around those lines.

If you want to read this book it is possibly at your local library or at a nearby bookstore.