The Fall

August 31, 2015
Preller returns to themes addressed in his 2009 novel, Bystander, in an equally painful story about the aftermath of a teenager's suicide. After relentless bullying online, high school outcast Morgan Mallen throws herself off a water tower, leaving her tormentors to grapple with guilt over how they treated her. The narrative is composed of confessional journal entries written by one of Morgan's classmates, Sam Proctor. "I'm a follower, if you want to know the truth," he writes. "What can I say?" One year earlier, manipulative classmate Athena dragged Sam and others into a game of making mean, anonymous posts on Morgan's social media page. Simultaneously, Sam began an awkward friendship with Morgan, but she discovered his betrayal. Now, Sam views his writing, a mix of essays and poems, as a sort of solitary confinement, a space in which he can reflect on his behavior. The journal format closely chronicles Sam's transformation from follower to leader, yet Preller avoids sermonizing, instead focusing on one individual's complicated process of grieving, accepting responsibility, and moving forward. Ages 9â14. Agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio.

July 1, 2015
When Morgan Mallen throws herself off of a water tower after being "terrorized on social media," classmate Sam Proctor starts a journal to sort out his role in the tragedy. Sam might have typed a message on Morgan's social media page saying, "Just die! Die! Die! No one cares about you anyway!" It could have been Sam, but it also might not have been: it was part of an anonymous game played by many students taking turns posting secret comments. Sam admits to being "a follower, if you want to know the truth....Leave the decisions to somebody else. I'm happy going along for the ride." Sam's writing is simple and literate (he won an essay-writing contest last year, after all), and in dissecting the events that led to Morgan's suicide, like a lawyer pleading a case before a jury, Sam becomes a writer, liking the person he becomes when he writes if not the person who went along, who didn't stand up to Morgan's tormentors. Toward the end of his self-analysis in his journal, Sam occasionally sounds more therapist than student, but his voice rings mostly true throughout, earnest and honest. With its timely, important message and engaging prose style, Sam's journal ought to find a large readership. (Fiction. 10-16)

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July 1, 2015

Gr 6-9-A compelling look at the aftermath of bullying, from the bully's perspective. Sam Proctor thought it was funny the first time he posted a hateful comment on Morgan Mallen's social media page. It was just a game, after all, and superpopular Athena Luiken said it was his turn to play. Even after Sam befriends Morgan and starts hanging with her outside of school, he continues to post anonymous trash on her page. When Morgan jumps off of a water tower and kills herself, Sam is forced to confront his actions and wonder if a bully can every truly be forgiven. Told through journal entries, Preller's latest novel expertly captures the protagonist's voice, complete with all of its sarcasm, indifference, and, at the same time, genuine remorse. Readers will relate to the teen, who's less a bully than an average guy who gives in to peer pressure and inaction. This fast-paced story will spark discussion on cyberbullying, depression, and how to deal with tragic events. However, the ending introduces an element of magical realism that dampens the impact of an otherwise persuasive realistic tale. VERDICT While the conclusion falls short of the strong setup, this book stands alongside other well-crafted titles on bullying, such as Dori Hillestad Butler's The Truth About Truman School (Albert Whitman, 2008) and Preller's Bystander (Feiwel & Friends, 2009).-Kimberly Ventrella, Southwest Oklahoma City Library

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
Grades 5-8 Sam Proctor is just an ordinary guy, neither an athlete nor a scholar. He goes with the flow, which is why he was part of the gang who piled on a girl named Morgan. A few comments on her home page, some name callingit was harmless, right? But the taunts and posts grew uglier until Morgan stepped off the town's water tower and killed herself. Sam now wonders about his culpability. At first, he rationalizes: he wasn't the worst of the bullies, and it's not like he pushed her off the edge. In short, episodic chapters, Preller provides readers with a rare glimpse into the mind of a bully (though Sam would never admit he is one). The pace is fast, yet the story unfolds slowly, one piece at a time. Readers will put this puzzle together, eager to see both whether Sam ultimately accepts his role in Morgan's death, and the whole story of what one person could have, and should have, done for Morgan. Pair this with Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why (2007).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)