FernFolio

From the moment he sets eyes on Will Reid, Shane has him in his sights.  With his old-man clothes, his preoccupation with ants, and his secret writing of poetry, Will is an obvious target for Shane’s bullying.  Though he was accepted, or, at least, tolerated, in elementary school, Will finds himself on his own in Grade 9.  When he is taunted, and humiliated by Shane and his gang, no one steps up to defend him, except his old friend Katie McGillvary.
Katie, a straight-A student, is fond of Will and takes his occasional tantrums in stride.  She is horrified by Shane’s behaviour toward Will, and begs her friend to report what’s going on to the school principal.  But Will knows that you don’t rat on a bully, and, despite her pleas, Katie does, too, so the bullying escalates until Will is being physically assaulted.
Devan, one of Shane’s gang, has always liked hanging out with Shane.  He sees his behaviour as harmless good fun, something that the majority of their fellow classmates enjoy.  He immediately identifies Will as a geek, and an egghead, but finds himself attracted to Will’s friend and supporter, Katie McGillvary.  As Shane’s bullying becomes more threatening, Devan finds himself unwilling to participate, and begins to see how harmful Shane’s actions really are.
When Shane’s taunting and threats lead, finally, to near tragedy, Will, Katie, Devan and Shane must come to terms with the consequences of their actions, and inactions, and accept the changes that come with maturity.
Told from three points of view, that of Will, Katie, and Dev, Egghead is a sympathetic and thoughtful story about bullying that examines the issue from the perspectives of the victim, the bystanders and the bully.  Well worth the read!
FernFolio Editor