Jake's Secret

by Teddy Slater, Marilee Harrald-Pilz (Illustrator)

This book is about how anyone can be a bully – even a child who is smaller or younger than another child. Jake is ashamed because he is being bullied by someone younger and he doesn't want to tell anyone. In this book we ask the question: What would you do if a younger kid was bullying you?

Hardcover

First published September 30, 2007

Reviews

[SBC · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out well, with a character who loves school except for the bully, who took Jake's lunch, stole his favourite dinosaur book, and tripped him over in the schoolyard. Jake's mother asks caring questions and, when she learns that Jake is being bullied, goes to talk to the principal. Then the book just ends, with Jake looking embarrassed when asked why he hadn't said anything, and a question for the reader: What would you do if a younger kid was bullying you?

At first I wondered if some pages were missing at the end! It was a very abrupt ending and I wasn't sure what year level Jake was meant to be in as it is only at the end that his mother says the bully is a second-grade boy and the teacher says the bully is at the kindergarten. From that are we meant to assume that Jake is in first grade?

I guess the book is intended as a discussion starter, and not as a story with resolution.

[Madison Hurlbut · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short book from Scholastic about a boy who is getting bullied. With bullying being such a problem in todays society I think this would be a very good education tool that can tie in a good writing lesson as well. Jake is being bullied by someone younger than him and does not want to tell his mom. The book ends with a question that says, "what would you do if a younger kid was bullying you?". I think this is important to come right out and have an honest discussion about at all ages and this book does it well.