Recommended Age:
10
+
Best for independent readers who enjoy character-driven stories about a bully's gradual change told with honesty, humor, and emotional insight.
About the Book
Seventh-grader John 'Crash' Coogan has spent his life bullying Penn Webb, a gentle, Quaker kid who refuses to fight back, until Crash's grandfather's stroke forces him to reconsider what really matters. A novel about empathy, cruelty, and the slow process of change.
Content Ratings
💡
Mild Themes
The novel explores the psychology of a bully, the impact of peer pressure and family dynamics on behavior, and the courage required to change; themes are handled with honesty and empathy.
⚔️
Mild Violence
Crash physically and emotionally bullies Penn throughout the novel; the bullying is sustained and significant but not graphically violent; Crash's eventual recognition of his cruelty is central to the story's arc.
Engagement:
Genre:
Adventure
Published:
1996
Page Count:
162
