...based on the preview, I think this is an interesting book. I'm not sure why this author is getting all the bad reviews. It seems as if Tim Brown is a "bully magnet" and is still fighting the fight that never ends.

******

John Albrecht Jr

Up until now Tim Brown has been best known for combining politics, anger, and humor in his controversial newsletter, but this book takes him in a different direction. Yes, he is still angry, and definitely still funny, but the focus here is on the bizarre cast of miscreants who surround the author as he struggles to survive as a student in a broken educational system. There are bullies who schedule their lives around tormenting Tim, even changing their bus routes to follow him home from school. There are teachers who overreact to the mildest suggestion of nonconformity, such as Tim's creation of a poster bearing the slogan "Green beans are lethal." The worst offenders, though, are the school principals who preside over these absurdities with a mixture of arrogance and incompetence. This book is certain to provoke controversy with some of its suggestions, not all of which I agree with, but it is an enjoyable read nonetheless.

This book is a well written account of the author's school years. It should be of help to older teens and adults alike who have been subjected to bullying and uncaring school systems. Also parents of children who have been picked on by schoolmates and school officials alike will find the book hard to put down. It is sometimes sad and sometimes humorous, and it held my interest from beginning to end.