The Tornado

July 15, 2019
What do you do when the school bully is also the principal's son? For fifth grader Bell Kirby, the answer involves devising many systems and routes to help him avoid crossing paths with the bully, Parker Hellickson. He keeps them all in the notebook that's never far from his arms. And he's had plenty of time to work these systems out--Parker has been bullying him since the beginning of fourth grade, ever since Bell accidentally broke Parker's toe and kept him out of a soccer tournament. Bell's systems mostly work--until Daelynn Gower, a former home-schooler with multicolored hair, moves to town. Daelynn refuses to change herself to avoid trouble, and she soon becomes a target. But when Parker expects Bell to join in on the torment, Bell has a choice to make. Does he play it safe, or does he join with his real friends in standing up to Parker and proving to everyone, even the principal, that Parker is a bully? Gracefully folded into this tale are themes of friendship, accountability, engineering, and cooperation, and there is even a discussion on what life was like for Leonardo da Vinci. Even with a wide range of topics, Burt keeps the plot lively and focused as the very believable kids work to solve their own problems through both empathy and logic. The book adheres to the white default, with one of Bell's friends described as having dark skin and another with an Asian name. A satisfying tale of bullying redemption with a STEM twist. (Fiction. 10-14)

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September 27, 2019

Gr 4-6-Fifth grader Bell Kirby is phenomenal at designing and understanding systems like machines, projects for his Creator Club, and a habitat for his guinea pig-but none are more important than his systems to avoid Parker. Parker started bullying Bell two years ago. Bell told his teachers and his parents, but none of the usual things work when the bully is the principal's son. What finally takes the heat off Bell is the arrival of Daelynn, the new girl with rainbow-colored hair and a love of horses. At first, Daelynn thinks Bell is her friend. Then Parker begins to bully Daelynn, and Bell doesn't stop him. With gentle but persistent coaching from his father, Bell finally does the right thing. Or the wrong thing, but for the right reason. This story is based on events from the author's life. Burt deftly captures Bell's conflict: the relief of finally not being bullied alongside the understanding that it's because the bully is hurting someone else. Burt also makes it clear that sometimes children will still get bullied, even if they do all of the things people say they should. VERDICT The adults are present and engaged in Bell's life, and he does not have to face this alone, a point that is sometimes absent in books like this. One of the best stories about bullying for middle grades. Highly recommended.-Julie Overpeck, Gardner Park Elementary School, Gastonia, NC

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from December 1, 2019
Grades 4-7 *Starred Review* Having been mercilessly bullied for three years by Parker, the son of his school's indulgent principal, fifth-grader Bell is at first so relieved when his tormentor switches focus to flamboyantly dressed new girl Daelynn that he actually goes along with a mean prank on her. So sharp is his guilt, though?particularly after Daelynn justly berates him for being a coward?that after a few false starts he screws his courage to the sticking place and discovers that forming a mutual support group with her and other victims effectively keeps the bully at bay. But this is only partly about coping with a bully, and the rest of the story may well prove more engaging to young readers. Displaying a rare gift for nuanced characters, Burt captures the heady sense of accomplishment that comes with working together and exploring not just problems but creative interests and challenges. Bell is a lover of systems, plans, and diagrams (as are his mother and deployed dad, who are both construction engineers), Daelynn is a talented artist, and, along with a sometimes comically lively set of fellow students, they throw themselves into making floats for the upcoming Spring Festival, and for a Creative Club project, a full-size (weapon free) tank modeled on a design by Leonardo Da Vinci. The latter takes a major role in a spectacularly destructive climax that leaves all with their appropriately just desserts.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)