Flamingnet Student Book Reviewer  JPear
Hannibal Greatneck III is a detective. Handy finds he has some work to do as a sixth grade transfer student in his new school, William B Travis elementary. His new school has a very different idea of what to do about bullies. Handy notices this soon after entering the school--it would be hard to miss. There is a cage, where the bully Ralphie is made to sit, in the middle of the classroom. The power to stop the bullies is given to wimpy Kurt, and that power can be used another way...to become a bully. People in school are scared, and Handy has to figure out why and fix it.

Don't Feed The Bully is a quick read that kids will be able to relate to. Important lessons are taught, but the book still manages to be funny and entertaining! Even reluctant readers will enjoy this book, with its fun characters and the mystery that is the center of the story. To add to the fun, there are entertaining illustrations by Logan Sibrel that definitely add to the book. Most of thte pictures are a great addition to the story. Just because there are pictures doesn't make this a book for little kids, though; everyone will enjoy this story!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9

Reviewer Age: 15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Asheville, NC USA

Don't Feed the Bully is a fictional detective story aimed at boys 10-14, although, anyone who can read will love this funny and meaningful story. Hannibal Greatneck III, detective, sixth grade student, or Handy to his friends, walks into William B. Travis elementary and finds a cage in the middle of the classroom. The school has dealt with its bully problem by handing over all the power to another bully. Handy must find the clues, outwit the villains, and get control of William B. Travis back to the students and faculty. The story is a funny one with hilarious and serious undertones, but with great purpose.

My new book, Don't Feed the Bully is a fictional detective story aimed at boys 10-14, although, anyone who can read will love this funny and meaningful story. Hannibal Greatneck III, detective, sixth grade student, or Handy to his friends, walks into William B. Travis elementary and finds a cage in the middle of the classroom. The school has dealt with its bully problem by handing over all the power to another bully. Handy must find the clues, outwit the villains, and get control of William B. Travis back to the students and faculty. The story is a funny one with outrageous and serious undertones, but with great purpose:

1. To get boys 10-14 to love reading by putting a book into their hands that is funny for them, plus has great lessons that they can easily understand and apply.

2. A comforting ally in their own struggle with bullying. They can see others have dealt with the problems and realities they are dealing with everyday from their fear of confrontation to the ignorance and apathy of most teachers and staff.

3. To give them a few steps to master that will help quell the bully tide. Plus, more indepth help if they and their school system want to truly help the cause of bullying.

Brad Tassell

Brad Tassell has been a comedian and author for over 18 years. His books and shows have been enjoyed all over the U.S. and around the world. He speaks on a wide range of topics at schools far and wide, and usually gets more laughs than the last nine authors that made the trip. He also creates many teachable moments and enlightens kids of all ages. Brad's speeches for teachers and administration have also been lauded as not only funny but motivational. Brad spends the rest of his career life happily performing for Carnival Cruise lines and doing his Kids Comedy Show at theaters around the mid-west. He is married and has one daughter.

DON'T FEED THE BULLY by Brad Tassell is an excellent book for parents and educators to use as an introduction to their discussions on the problem of bullying. Brad's book is written for middle school students to help them realize that bullying can be present in school even when it seems that it has been eliminated or controlled. He also emphasizes that students have the power to deal with bullies. Brad presents a story filled with humor and compassion to help lay out an approach to bullying that goes beyond "just let them work it out together," as is often proposed. In the Appendix, he also offers a practical step-by-step plan to help students use their intelligence to deal with bullies, similar to the way the book's main character dealt with his tormentors.

Students need adult guidance and intervention during the very difficult social challenges presented by the middle school years. DON'T FEED THE BULLY is an easy, fun, insightful book that helps students address one of these challenges, bullying.

Flamingnet Student Book Reviewer  JMc
Hannibal "Handy" Greatneck III, a boy detective, moves to a new school. There he discovers an unusual sight. There is a cage in the classroom, and all the students seem to be afraid of a puny Kurt Pesterman. When Handy tries to expose Kurt's misuse of power to the teachers, Kurt frames Handy in an attempt to get Handy in deep trouble. Don't Feed the Bully is a humorous story with a very good moral.

To be frank, I was skeptical about this book when I recieved it. It was thin, had drawings, and sounded...well like something a child would read. I was somewhat wrong. While the plot is geared more towards ages 10-12, there was a surprising amount of extensive vocabulary. The analogies Brad Tassel writes made me chuckle every time. The plot had great lessons on how to stop or deter bullying, and that was amplified by the appendix giving step-by-step explanations about how to overpower bullies. The book has great potential, and I think Brad Tassell could make this into a series. Handy Greatneck might just be the next Encyclopedia Brown.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7

Reviewer Age: 13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Quincy, Pennsylvania United States of America