| Title | : | Swan Boy |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1780749244 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781780749242 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 240 |
| Publication | : | Published May 5, 2016 |
A chance encounter with a swan sparks a series of events that result in Johnny playing the lead in a school ballet. His teacher wants him to live the role, and when feathers start sprouting on his chest, Johnny begins to understand his true potential. But will he be strong or brave enough to beat his bullies, take care of his brother, support his mother and find a place for himself among all the chaos that is prevailing in his life.
Swan Boy Reviews
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I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you OneWorld Publications for the copy.
This book took me by surprise. I don't regularly seek out books about dance and I thought, when I requested for this, that it would be interesting to try and see how it goes. Well, this book is about dance all right, yet it is about so much more. This is about bullying, fitting in, finding yourself, and being brave. It is a wonderful piece of literature that will speak to everyone who feels like they don't belong.
The writing flows effortlessly to deliver a story that is partly realistic and partly fantastical. I had to suspend my beliefs for a moment because the swan thing can be a bit creepy, lol. The characters' voices urge the reader to hear them out and empathize with them. I think Johnny is such a strong central character. He was realistic, you can't help but cheer him as you read more about him. Meanwhile, the swan is completely out of this world, and yet it was like a metaphor to rising above your present trouble so you can grow into this beautiful and strong creature that will conquer the world.
Anyway, Swan Boy is definitely recommended to early YA readers who enjoy stories about growing up and facing your demons, with a touch of magical realism. -
REVIEW BY BETH
An intriguing novel which has more than a hint of Billy Elliot about it (but this can never be a bad thing) Sheehan has brought a story similar to Billy’s into the 21st century and Johnny Emin and his family are every bit as endearing as that of Melvin Burgess’ cast of Elliots. There are many differences between the two novels and it is mainly the ballet element that made me think so much of Billy Elliot, although the way Johnny feels as he dances and the power it gave him also made me think of Burgess’ work. Anyway, onto Swan Boy and Sheehan’s clever and magical way of giving a grieving teenager a chance to find his way in his new life.
There are plenty of strange and quirky magic moments thrown into Swan Boy which make it stand out from your average contemporary trying-to-fit-in novel. Johnny is struggling in his new school and during his struggle he finds himself feeling more and more of an affinity with swans. As he is relentlessly bullied and ‘Swan Boy’ becomes a taunt, Johnny feels closer and closer to swans and less and less like the others around him. This comes at a time where the school is also planning to put on a performance of Swan Lake and to avoid litter picking detention, Johnny takes on one of the lead roles.
There is a traditional setup of Populars vs everybody else at school and there is a cast of characters who are impossible not to like, especially Mrs Cray, the dance teacher and another of the bullied pupils, Stefan, who was perhaps my favourite character.
As the novel expands it becomes clear that all of Johnny’s family are grieving and as much as he is ‘the man of the family’ it is a lot to handle for a young teenager and his mum soon realises the same. As well as Johnny and his mum there is his little brother Mojo who exhibits strange behaviour, even for a five-year old, and is obsessed with drawing on the kitchen table, another imaginative and wonderful feature of this novel which comes into its own in a truly bittersweet way as the novel progresses.
I was captivated from page one and needed to know if things would improve for all the characters as they try to adjust to their new life. Sheehan deftly shows us grief at many different points in life, but it’s not all sadness, there are plenty of funny moments too. -
I don't read many childrens or young adult books but I spotted this up and coming novel and something about the description appealed to me.
Swan boy is obviously going to draw comparison with Billy Elliott with the young lad and dance connection, but Billy Elliott didn't captivate me as much as Young Johnny Emin did. The lovely writing reminds me very much of David Almond
David Almond (of Skellig fame)
13 year old Johnny doesn't have an enviable life, his Dad died recently, his Mum moved them to a tower block miles from all his mates, he has to look after his little brother Mojo, whose name I really don't like :( Mogjo's just a little kid, 5 years old and half the time pretending to be a dog, or is he a cat today? He spends his free time drawing elaborately on the kitchen table and Johnny agrees to keep this hidden from Mum as at least it keeps Mojo occupied and helps with him missing his dad too much.
To crown everything, Johnny had to change schools with the home move, and is now the new boy that everyone loves to pick on, at a rather rough school where he can't seem to fit in.
Gosh I loved Johnny, I really wanted to make everything ok for him, but it isn't and it's going from bad to worse. The gang of kids known as the populars have chosen Johnny as their pet project and making his life even more miserable is the little gangs leader Liams ambition. Liams a nasty little bully boy with a few hangers on who aren't any better than he is. But one day as Liam has a massive go at Johnny a rescuer appears in the unlikely appearance of a Swan who scares off Liam and seems to be protecting Johnny. Rather inevitably this marks him out even more and he becomes known as Swan Boy and not in a nice way!
Johnny's not the only kid being bullied, there's the lonely overweight kid Stefan from whom the gang are extorting cash and both he and Johnny end up in the schools strict punishment regime of being made to pick litter after school as reparation for any misdemeanour a hated rule from which there no escaping. Except that this time there is .... an alternative that is.
The large group of youngsters on litter picking duties, which also includes Liam and his cronies are offered the chance to escape the litter crew by taking part instead in a dance group which quirky drama teacher Mrs Cray has formed. It's Hobsons choice for Johnny, either he picks litter wearing a bright green uniform and become even more noticeable and likely to be bullied, or learn to dance and get picked on for that. But when he reluctantly goes to Mrs Crays class she offers him a starring role in the dance - which just turns out to be ballet and it's based on Swan Lake! Swans become an over riding influence to Johnny and he keeps coming across them in unusual places as he eschews litter picking to learn dancing and even a piece de resistance move which will be almost like flying. Day by day he grows and develops and it really is a coming of age story in this respect.
There are a few slightly intangible elements to the story, although many things fall into place very neatly a couple of things remain inexplicable. The whole story is beautifully told, just the right balance of nastiness and a touch of niceness to counteract it and the everyday alongside the otherwordly. Utterly charming and wonderfully readable I recommend this enchanting book to readers of all ages from 8 to 80. -
It's only because I'm feeling especially generous that this book is receiving a two-star review.
It may work for 12 year olds, but not for me, unfortunately.
The first thing I noticed was that the story is written in both third-person and past-tense. The story clearly belongs to Johnny and should be narrated by him, but the author uses the third-person point of view as an excuse to randomly switch the focus onto another character for a couple of paragraphs, before switching back to Johnny. This happens a few times throughout the novel and it's really off-putting.
This book is clearly aimed at a younger audience than myself, but reading this as a 20 year old, the language and dialogue was so basic and, in my opinion, not well written, that I was constantly bored and had no motivation to continue reading.
The story was barely held together, and just about everything that happened within the school was completely unbelievable. Yes, kids get bullied, I know that, but there are multiple points in this story where a 13 year old kid is being obviously bullied and harassed by a group of people, and not one teacher ever notices or cares, in fact some of them blatantly ignore it. To the extent that the bullied child gets in trouble and the bullies get off scot-free. That might happen sometimes, but not every time. Also I'm 100% sure a dance teacher can't just pull kids out of lessons for entire days at a time to practice for an impromptu ballet. They are at school to learn.
This paragraph is likely to be mostly under a spoiler cut, but honestly this story doesn't know whether it's fantasy or reality, and neither do I.
There's so much forced reference to:
1. Swans - they're really not that relevant to daily life, and
2. Johnny's dead dad - yes, we get it, he's dead. Throughout the whole story, the dad-references feel forced and unbelievable, and the only glimmer of any true emotion we're given is right at the end of the story, with Mojo.
On a related note: what the fuck kind of name is Mojo?
The friendship between Johnny and Stefan also felt rushed and forced; they went from Stefan hating Johnny to best friends within about a chapter, with no real bonding besides "hey we're both kids who get beaten up", which isn't even relevant because that's the reason Stefan dislikes Johnny in the first place.
Nothing within this book felt real.
I would say something about Johnny and Stefan being good role models for kids, teaching them not to be ashamed of themselves - if they want to dance, they can dance! Which would be a nice message, if it was the one the book gave. Except the only reason they continue with the ballet is because they're there under duress, and Johnny doesn't even want to dance - he wants to be a swan. Also they're definitely not good role models, as the book seems to promote fighting your way to popularity, which is just... not good in the slightest.
I went into this book with so much hope for greatness, and came out sad and disappointed. I'd say it might be better aimed at a younger audience, but with reflection on my last point, maybe not. -
Recently I read that magical realism was coming back into fashion. Well, Nikki Sheehan is most definitely waving the flag for the new phase, with Swan Boy. The magical realism in the story is so subtle and realistic that you question whether it is truly there. It reminded me of The Girl With Glass Feet by Ali Shaw. Nikki Sheehan makes magic seem like it is a natural part of every day life.
This book has a Billy Elliot feel to it. As Johnny finds himself dancing in a modern version of Swan Lake, you watch him go from disbelief in himself to completely believing in his abilities. I could easily imagine Johnny soaring through the sky as he leapt.
There are elements of this story that will stay with me forever. Purely because they are so unusual. I won't give anything away because I don't want to spoil it for you, but you will know when you reach these elements.
The main characters are soulfully written, each burrowing into your heart. Johnny showed such inner strength as he dealt with all the bullying that occurred. Mojo completely stole my heart. His drawings and how they meant so much to him - it was like he was completely opening up his insecurities and worries and laying them out for everyone to see, they just had to open their eyes and look closely to really see. We can only stand as spectators as the family work their way through the five stages of grieving as they deal with the sudden loss of their father.
I loved the inclusion of the swans, real and metaphorically throughout the book. Such a majestic and mystical bird that added strength and determination to Jonny's character.
By the end of the book we see a transformation within Johnny. I honestly believe he becomes the person he is supposed to come. This is a true coming of age tale as Johnny transforms from the boy he once was to the man he will become. Through his decisions and actions he faces the consequences of his choices to really be who he is supposed to be.
This book is beautifully written with a surprising element of quirkiness and smatterings of humour. Truly an original. -
Swan Boy is eccentric author Nikki Sheehan’s latest novel. It depicts a boy, named Johnny, whose father has died. He moves to London, just to find that his new flat isn’t anything like what his mum said it would be. At school, nobody likes Johnny; to them, he’s just the 'new boy.' One day, on a school trip to Regent’s Park, the school bully puts a swan’s poo in Johnny's sandwich. Just as the the bully starts laughing at him, a swan comes out of the lake. The swan looks at Johnny, like he’s it’s master, then attacks the bully.
At school the next day, people start to call Johnny “Swan Boy”, because of what had happened the day before. Later on, Johnny gets bullied by the ‘populars.' Somehow Johnny ends up in trouble. He has to choose between litter-picking duty and doing a men’s version of ‘Swan Lake.’ In the meantime, Johnny has been growing feathers and turning into a swan!
The main characters in this book are Johnny, who has to leave his old life to start one without his dad; Johnny's little brother, who likes to pretend to be different types of animals, and who wants to find out more about their dad-he also loves drawing. Then there are the ‘populars,’ the group of bullies who are feared throughout the school. We also have Johnny’s mum, a caring woman, who mourns the loss of her husband. Lastly, we have Mrs Cray, the dance teacher/librarian, who helps Johnny through, step by step.
Nikki sheehan has a beautiful sense of imagination, and this book brings out that quality creatively. She’s also known for her best-selling novel, ‘Who Framed Klaris Cliff.’
Swan Boy will captivate it’s readers. I want to thank Nikki, for bringing another brilliant book into the world. Keep them coming!
Review by Declan Miele-Howell -
Originally on
Fable's Library
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review!
This month is bullying awareness/prevention month, and Swan Boy is the PERFECT read for not only this month, but every month. I really did end up loving this book, so let me break it down!
NOTE: I’m having a hard time reviewing this book because I DID enjoy it that much. I’m going to do my best to explain my thoughts, but I’m sorry if this ends up as a lot of rambling.
-Swan Boy, as the title of this review says, was a roller-coaster of feelings. This book focuses on our main character Johnny, and his move to a new school… I don’t want to spoil anything, but the main focus is bullying, change, and what it means to grow up. At least, that’s how I interpreted it. Swan Boy is highly impactful, and I really wanted to cry sometimes.
-Nikki Sheehan is a really good writer! I loved how we got into not only Johnny’s head, but a few of the other characters too. We were able to get an idea about Johnny’s world, and the people around him which I really appreciated because it gives a better sense at what’s going on.
-Basically, the big thing about Swan Boy to ME was the fact that it did a great job portraying bullying and the impact it has on people. What Johnny and his friend go through was realistic. Actually, everything about his situation was realistic from his transition to a new school, to him having to deal with his little brother and a recent death. You could feel the emotions on the page, you could see the situation and it was all just handled so well!
-In short, I really think this book should be read. Again, Swan Boy SHOWED what it’s like to be bullied. -
I read Swan Boy in a couple of sittings and really enjoyed it. The hero Johnny and his five-year old brother Mojo are such likable characters, and their love for each other is awkward and touching. Johnny is doing his best to look after Mojo and his mum and to muddle through at school, where he has become a particular target for school bully Liam. Nikki Sheehan has written Johnny and Liam really well - her characters display all the insecurities, posturing and gruffness of teenage boys, and their potential, too.
Swan Boy contains echoes of About a Boy, The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, and (of course) Billy Elliot. But ballet is Billy Elliot’s natural talent and passion, whereas for Johnny it is initially just a way to avoid litter-picking in detention. We do get a sense early on though that it could become more than that - perhaps even a route to to the freedom and self-confidence that Johnny so desperately needs.
To call Swan Boy a coming of age story is too trite. This is magical realism at its best, with the ordinary and the extraordinary deftly and inseparably interwoven. Watch out for the swan in the lift - so well written!
I wish I had read this book when I was fourteen. I would have taken strange courage from it. -
Swan Boy follows thirteen-year-old Johnny as he starts a new school. Johnny has a lot to deal with — the recent death of his father, a new house, a troublesome little brother he often has to take care of — and doesn’t need to be bullied on top of everything else. At the same time, there’s something going on in his life that he can’t share with anyone; something set in motion by an encounter with a swan.
I love magic realism, and the fantasy elements in Swan Boy were some of my favourite scenes. Nikki Sheehan uses those scenes skilfully, illuminating Johnny’s response to the real-life issues he’s facing without distracting from them. The fantasy elements add a lightness and hope, and I finished Swan Boy feeling like I’d been entertained, but had also read something important.
Swan Boy is a story about the various faces of bullying, about the importance of trying to understand why people act the way they do, about being yourself. Highly recommended! -
This book is so good!!!!!!!! In this day and age most authors are writing books on real subjects like bullying and the way Nikki Sheehan has portrayed the message that you can beat the bully if you have the courage to spread your wings and fly. Normally, the books i read about bullying are written as if you shouldnt stand up to the bully and let your life become a misery but with Swan Boy, Sheehan has told the reader that if they are being bullied like Johnny was they should stand up and have the courage to tell the bully they arent scared any more. I finished this book with a tear in my eye because of the message throughout the book. If you are looking for an amazing book to read or you are being bullied yourself, pick up this book and smile as we go on Johnny's journey with him!
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I just finished this book and I quite enjoyed it. It's a really sweet book that's all about finding your place and understanding that changing something in your life takes an incredible amount of bravery. It's about how change is most definitely worth it when the change is inspired by being your authentic self, as opposed to self hate and a need to fit in.
I was really impressed with how Nikki Sheehan had managed to take a huge amount of story and emotion and convey it so neatly. I definitely appreciated this book and it's message.
Sidenote: I think swans are a lot cooler now, probably not to the same extent as Johnny though. -
I'd heard amazing things about Nikki Sheehan's second book and they are all completely true. SWAN BOY is a really special book. Beautifully written, it follows the story of Johnny, as he comes to terms with losing his father, whilst facing bullies in a new school. His brother, Mojo, is one of the most memorable characters I've ever read. And there are scenes throughout that really lift your heart. It's brilliant. I just want to read it all over again.
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Swan Boy is one of those rare books that keeping calling to you until it's finished. You get immersed into Swan Boy's challenging urban life and root for him throughout his exciting dealings with aggressive teenagers and London's feathered wildlife. This is a must read Young Adult book that adult's can enjoy too. I was instantly caught up in the characters, plot and personalties,and it doesn't let you go until the very last page, and not even then!
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Actual rating: 3.5
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's quirky, it's important and it's just adorable. Full review coming soon!
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SWAN BOY is brilliant, beautiful, uplifting and utterly the best thing I have read all year
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A young adult book about taking off from the lowest point in your life
and learning to fly from there. -
A strange book. Johnny has just started at a new school following a move after the death of his father, and has managed to get on the wrong side of school bully Liam, until a chance encounter with a swan changes everything.
I thought the plot overall was interesting but I feel like it could have gone further than it did, make it a true contemporary/fantasy mash-up. The characters were interesting. I liked Johnny and his inner conflicts. Mojo was very cute, reading I wondered if maybe he was on the autistic spectrum what with his obsession with his drawing and his deeply involved animal impersonations. Or I could be wrong and it's just normal 5 year old behaviour with added grief.
Stefan was a decent character but the mentioned girls, Lola and Phoebe, have barely any defined personalities. I liked Mrs Cray but her dance idea was very out there and most schools probably wouldn't allow it to be run in that way. Also the swan thing was a little forced and overall everything was a bit disjointed and it didn't actually end, it just stopped.
Also I know it's wrong to judge covers but that one makes no sense, there were no fire breathing horses or ninja cats mentioned at all. Or birthday cakes for that matter. The other images of a bus, tower block, football and swan make more sense.
2/5 stars -
It sucks that the mom has to move to get a better job of overseas and then have to live in London where this kid is bullied daily and now the school is putting on a production of swan 🦢 because the kids that were bullied him they got in trouble and so the main character has to you know do the protection too and it's only between rehearsals the main kid gets beaten up and then has to teach his little brother why is dad never coming home and why his dad's dead and why his mom didn't get a lot from the life insurance it is hard to move and accept the fact that you're just going to be one less parent to raise two other kids in the family heartwarming sad understanding and this is a ya novel 228 pages 17 chapters well read more from this author kikk Sheehan
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My son (9) read this for his book club and he asked me to read it too so we could talk about it (I love when he does this!) It's noteworthy that the books he's asked me to read have dealt with big issues, like depression (
Brilliant), Hitler and betrayal (
The Boy at the Top of the Mountain) and death (
The Honest Truth) although we both opted out of the last one. This one does have some big issues, like bullying and death of a parent, but I think it was the magical realism element of the story that threw my son. Magical stories, sure. But magical realism was new to him. I enjoyed this book and like the main character. I thought it was going to be a bit too simplistic at times, but it mostly pulled it off. It didn't rock my world but I'm not the target audience. It gets 3 stars not least because it was interesting enough for my son to ask me to share it with him. -
This reads like a horrible 1980s after-school special, as if there’s any other kind.
I liked the premise.
The dialogue was unrealistic. Some of the situations were ridiculous. The author was trying way too hard to make us feel a certain way.
The whole plot of putting this show together. Very little rehearsal. Rehearsals during school time. Worst of all though are the two leads don’t show up for final dress rehearsal and STILL haven’t shown up the day of the performance even as the audience has started being seated.
How this book got published is an enigma.
And yes, I’m aware a 54-year-old isn’t the intended target but I’ve read many YA novels I’ve enjoyed. This was not one of them. -
"No one ever fits in, Johnny. Not really. Don't you know that? It's just that some people are better at pretending than others."
A story about a boy who learns how to stand up for himself, to be himself, to heal, and to fly. -
A great magical realist text, nice to see a YA book which deals with friendship with a boy as the main character. I’ll be recommending to the pupils I teach and taking my copy in for them to read.
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I enjoyed this young adult novel. It was well written and speaks to the person who has suffered loss,who has been bullied. It helps people overcome and become themselves and soar.
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This is a quirky, original and uplifting story about Johnny and how he learns to overcome bullying at school.
13 year old Johnny has to look after his little brother, Mojo, while his mum is at work and they adapt to life as a single parent family following the death of their father. They live in London and when he starts his new school, Johnny is troubled by Liam and the "Populars". In an attempt to get out of the punishment of litter duty following another altercation between himself and Liam, Johnny opts to attend a dance lesson instead and is introduced to the world of ballet. In his complicated, difficult life, dance suddenly offers Johnny some space, clarity and empowerment in a way he could never have imagined.
This is an unusual story. At first it reads like many other contemporary Young Adult novels and creates an authentic situation, with a likeable character who is trying to cope with all the usual teenage issues as well as dealing with the added pressure of his grieving family. Johnny does his best, but there are times when the responsibility of looking after Mojo, helping out around the house and trying to help Mojo negotiate his way through his grief, take their toll. Then on top of this, he is bullied at school by the unpleasant Liam and his crew.
On a school outing to Regents Park there is a rather strange incident with a swan, leading everyone to call Johnny "Swan Boy". Reflecting on what happened, Johnny picks up a lone swan feather and takes it home. Mojo then loses it out of the window as they talk about flying. Johnny races out on to the street to recover it but it has disappeared. Mojo then draws it for him (something he's talented at even if it is often on the table top) so "he doesn't need to go out and look for it again." Both suddenly seem aware of the importance of this feather.
This incident with the swan and his need to keep the feather, plants a seed in Johnny's mind - he is convinced that he has some kind of understanding with the swan, that somehow it was protecting him, that they are somehow connected. This is felt more deeply when he realises the dance class are practising "Swan Lake".
The story continues with an element of magic. As his dancing skills develop, Johnny embraces the desire to fly. He immerses himself in the idea of becoming a swan. He imagines his neck lengthening, wings from his back, the sensation of pushing off into the sky. He practises leaping and leaping and leaping. He discovers tiny tufts of downy feathers appearing on his chest........
Although not really comparable, I was reminded a little of Natalie Portman's portrayal of the obsessive dancer in "Black Swan" (rated 15) but this is obviously much more heartwarming and gentle - much more similar to "Billy Elliot". Indeed Mrs Cray could be played by Julie Walters. This novel reminded me of David Almond's "Skellig", maybe a slight nod to Roald Dahl (maybe also slight similarities with Matilda's ability to make things happen with her mind), with elements of Melvin Burgess - but without the need for any rating or warning - it's not controversial in the way some of Burgess' books are sometimes perceived to be. It is also similar to stories by writers like Sarah Crossan and Sally Nichols or authors that scatter their images with ethereal references and the blurring between reality and dream.
This book is about self empowerment, self esteem, learning to overcome situations and learning to fly. It is well written and fluent. The main character is very likeable and his relationship with his brother is very affecting. The family dynamics are very touching and very credible. Young adults will relate to the frustration Johnny sometimes feel as he yearns for some freedom and flexibility instead of watching Mojo every evening. It deals with grief and death with sympathy and sensitivity; it's hard not to shed a slight tear when Johnny takes Mojo to "visit" their father - truly a kind of "coming of age" moment for both boys.
Sheehan clearly understands her audience and clearly understands how to write for Young Adults. Her dialogue is authentic and at times very poignant. It is a very good read. The reader does need to suspend belief a little at times but it still feels a very natural narrative and although not entirely believable, it does not feel overly far fetched. The symbolism and imagery is pertinent and reinforces the ideas Sheehan is exploring. The ending is so effective -very moving and resonant.
A great book about bullying, families, friendship and dance!
My thanks to Nikki Sheehan and One World Publications for the free copy in return for a fair review. I was delighted to get a chance to read this book and am intrigued by what other tales Sheehan might choose to tell! -
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
**Spoiler Alert**
After looking at some of the other early reviews for this book, I guess I’m in the minority with my opinion. I’ll start by saying that this is just that, my opinion, and this story might really be enjoyed by some young readers, but it was a little too disjointed for me. There were several great story lines, but their resolutions seemed rushed or out of place in a way. I thought the author did a great job of making Johnny’s “bullying” story line seem very realistic and his feelings relatable to kids. It was a great idea to have the students punishment for getting caught fighting in the library be a choice of having to pick up trash or dance in a production of Swan Lake. It was also very realistic how the main character Johnny and his younger brother Mojo (who was my favorite character) dealt with their father’s death, especially how Mojo thinks in his 5-year-old mind that he’s responsible for his father’s death because he told him he “wished he would die” in that way some kids do when they are angry at their parents. Where things got a little confusing to me was when Johnny apparently started turning into a swan. At first I thought it was the metaphorical “turning into a swan,” because he was gaining confidence dancing in Swan Lake and seeing at the park how powerful real swans are. Then he really started turning into a swan...he grows a white streak of hair...finds feathers growing on his chest...and then starts talking in a gravelly “swan-like” voice. What I found odd was that people in his real life saw these things happening and really weren’t concerned by it. Then he wasn’t concerned that he was growing actual feathers. Again, I’m still not sure if this was metaphorical and he was imagining it or supposed to be realistic and it left me wondering what this story was trying to be...is it realistic...is it fantasy? I don’t like to box books into being one genre or another, but we genre in our library and I would have a hard time figuring out where to put this story. So very realistic bullying story, but a hard sell to students I think.
