This is a book my second child brought home several years ago from a school library booksale, and I've been wanting to read it as it involves a child who is labeled as a "behavioral problem".

Without giving too much away, Bradley is a kid who's clearly on the autism spectrum who much like many who go without support, act out in ways that cause some to simply give up on him.

The moment someone (a young school counselor) SEE'S HIM for the amazing kid he is, his life and behavior start to turn around and he starts to thrive.

Unfortunately in this book there is a political parent group who sound exactly as ridiculous as the right-wing parent groups of today, and cause this young school counselor to have to change jobs, which puts Bradley at risk of losing all of his progress.

This is a great book for students to read as it involves bullying, lying and other social issues that occur daily in most schools.

It's a great book for adults to read because it gives a quick read example of a kiddo who is mentally different, how that kiddo may think, and what sort of skills may work to get a similar child to open up and become the best version of themselves they can be.

Definitely worth a read.

- CJ

واقعا عجیب بود.
چونکه من از سه نفر، کلی تعریف ازش شنیده بودم و ازش خیلی انتظار داشتم...
با تمام این ها، عاشقش بودم.
و پنج ستاره، حلالش :دی
در ضمن... با اینکه فکر می‌کردم که گریه نمی‌کنم، وسطش آنقدر گریه کردم که نمی‌توانستم دیگر بقیه‌ی کتاب رو بخونم و جدن دلم داشت می‌لرزید... با اینکه شاید اصلا احتیاجی به گریه نبود... یا کلا کتاب خیلی غم انگیز نبود...
بنظرم کارلا...(شاید نه خیلی! نمی‌دونم!) شبیه دخترستاره‌ای بود! اگر نبود هم... من رو یادش می‌انداخت.
ممنون از همه‌ی کسایی که بم پیشنهادش کردن و از حانیه، که بم دادش :)
و لیلی، که هی اصرار کرد که بخونمش...
و یاسی، که پیشنهادِ اولیه رو داد :>
و حتی میتونم از خانم توکلی که به یاسی معرفی‌ش کردن هم تشکر کنم :-" :))))
در کل، از همه ممنون!
خب بذار از نویسنده‌ش هم تشکر کنم که اینقد کتابِ خوبی نوشته بود :))
وای خدا...
جدن حس و حالش هنوز باهامه....
و وقتی شروعش کردم، اینقدر خوندم تا تموم شد! یعنی زمینش نگذاشتم!
برادلی >><<
تیکه‌ای از کتاب:

- در درون همه خوبی هست. همه، شادی، غم و تنهایی را احساس می‌کنند. اما گاهی مردم خیال می‌کنند که کسی، هیولاست، به خاطر اینکه نمی‌توانند خوبی‌ای را که در درونش هست، ببینند... بعد، اتفاق وحشتناکی می‌افتد.
-می‌کشندش؟
-نه، چیزی بدتر ار آن! یکی بهش لقب هیولا می‌دهد و بقیه، کم‌کم به همین اسم صداش می‌زنند و با او مانند یک هیولا برخورد می‌کنند. پس از مدتی، خودش هم باورش می‌شود! فکر می‌کند که واقعا هیولاست! بنابراین، عین هیولا رفتار می‌کند. با وجود همه‌ی این‌ها، او هیولا نیست و خوبی‌های زیادی در عمقِ وجودش نهفته است.

تمومش می‌کنم این ریوویوی مسخره رو :دی (درک کنید خب! هیجان زده‌م...)

year 4 reading mems

read this to my year 5 class over the course of seven weeks and as a teacher with a bradley chalkers this was a hell of an impactful read

Louis Sachar was one of my favourite authors when I was a tween

Read this one with one of my small groups and hasn't read it since elementary school. I was so infuriated with how Bradley was treated by his teacher - especially in front of the whole class and Jeff when he first arrived. Carla was good for him mostly, but understand why she was moved to a different position. That dates the book a bit - especially now when counselors are so badly needed in our schools, more than one if we are lucky. Not terrible, but I personally enjoy the Wayside kids most if all Sacher's work.

I was struggling with whether to give this three or four stars, until I finally realized that I'm just being biased because I'm an elementary school counselor like Carla. I had a few issues with the way that she interacted with students (e.g. referring to them as her "friends," trading lunches, etc.). It forced me to take a second to think of when this was published (1987), and how much had changed in regards to laws and all that wonderful education stuff nowadays. I also cringed a number of times when the teacher Mrs. Ebbel participated in bullying Bradley. I had to think about how this can be true too. :/ What makes this a four star is he overall message that even the "troubled" kids need (and DESERVE) love and attention too. In fact, this is exactly why my heart followed the career path that I'm in. I'd definitely recommend this book to others. In fact, I'm hoping to start a book club of sorts with my upper grade students and just might use this book!

Cute story that somehow I missed as a kid.