Noni Speaks Up

June 1, 2016

K-Gr 2-Noni tries to display proper manners at all times; she gives up her seat to the elderly, holds open the door for an expecting mother, and assists a gentleman when his loose change hits the floor. Her well-intentioned actions stop short, however, when she struggles to defend a bullied child at school. Noni reflects on how growing up has caused her to lose her way, as she now values others' opinions more than her own. The narrative sways slightly off track in its earnest message when the girl finally addresses the bullying directly: "Finito! Kaput! She is done with standing by and doing nothing. D-O-N-E. DONE!" The child-centric story line displays Noni's feelings with realism: "But Noni is so afraid of making enemies that she just stands there. Speechless." Digital illustrations depict the protagonist growing in confidence, with bright red circles on her rosy cheeks against her otherwise pale complexion. Shifting perspective conveys the bully's diminishing power; the taunting child's jeering mouth initially expresses defiance but is starkly contrasted when the bully shrinks in size after Noni asserts herself. This title effectively captures a child's internal struggle as she takes responsibility for her actions, making this one of the stronger selections available to tackle bullying behavior for a young audience. VERDICT A strong selection for one-on-one reading or for starting a classroom discussion.-Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.