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Paul, Big, and Small
Paul Adams has always been short, but he's an excellent rock climber. And his small size means he can hide from the bullies that prowl the halls of his high school.
Top on his list of “People to Avoid” are Conor, from his Language Arts class, Hunter, who hangs around the climbing gym, and Lily Small, who happens to be the tallest girl in school. But he might be able to be friends with a new kid from Hawaii who insists that everyone call him “Big.” He’s got a way of bringing everyone into his circle and finding the beauty in even the worst of situations.
When the three of them—Paul, Big, and Small—are assigned to the same group project, they form an unlikely friendship. And Paul realizes that maybe Lily isn’t so bad after all. He might even actually like her. And maybe even more than like her.
Paul and Lily team up for a rock-climbing competition, but when Lily is diagnosed with leukemia, Paul ends up with Conor on his team. And when Paul learns that Conor is dealing with bullies of his own—as well as some deep emotional pain—he realizes that the bullying in his school has got to stop.
Paul, Big, and Small is about the turbulent, emotional lives of young adults who are struggling with life’s challenges openly and sometimes in secret.
Top on his list of “People to Avoid” are Conor, from his Language Arts class, Hunter, who hangs around the climbing gym, and Lily Small, who happens to be the tallest girl in school. But he might be able to be friends with a new kid from Hawaii who insists that everyone call him “Big.” He’s got a way of bringing everyone into his circle and finding the beauty in even the worst of situations.
When the three of them—Paul, Big, and Small—are assigned to the same group project, they form an unlikely friendship. And Paul realizes that maybe Lily isn’t so bad after all. He might even actually like her. And maybe even more than like her.
Paul and Lily team up for a rock-climbing competition, but when Lily is diagnosed with leukemia, Paul ends up with Conor on his team. And when Paul learns that Conor is dealing with bullies of his own—as well as some deep emotional pain—he realizes that the bullying in his school has got to stop.
Paul, Big, and Small is about the turbulent, emotional lives of young adults who are struggling with life’s challenges openly and sometimes in secret.
247 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2019
3 people are currently reading
1901 people want to read
About the author
David Glen Robb
1 book42 followersDavid Glen Robb lives in the Rocky Mountain West with his wife, two sons, and two dogs and is an avid rock climber who also coaches youth rock climbing teams. He taught high school English, art, and creative writing for eleven years before deciding to pursue writing full time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
October 5, 2019
PAUL, BIG, AND SMALL is a heartfelt, genuine story about a boy who has been teased and bullied his whole life because of how small he is. It's about finding surprising friendship and connection, and learning that not everyone is who we perceive them to be. Highly recommended!
I can't tell you guys how much I loved this story! I loved the frankness, matter-of-fact way that Paul's voice resonates as I read this. He's a boy who is skinny and short and has learned to try to disappear to prevent being bullied. It's about his own misconceptions about those around him and a new kid who helps change his world a little. It's about family as well, those found in our own homes and those that can be found at school.
There were lots of cringe-worthy moments dealing with kids and teens. Moments that made me sad and angry (I hate bullying so much!). Then there were sweet and funny moments as well. It made for a read that pulled on my emotions, while being fun and rewarding to read. I love it when a book can make me feel good at the end and care for its characters like this. I also have to note that I loved how rock climbing was weaved in this story. Just so well done!
In the end, was it what I wished for? This is a highly recommended read for middle-school aged kids on up! An entertaining story full of heart and lovable characters.
Content: Some instances of bullying, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a positive review nor affect it in any way.
I can't tell you guys how much I loved this story! I loved the frankness, matter-of-fact way that Paul's voice resonates as I read this. He's a boy who is skinny and short and has learned to try to disappear to prevent being bullied. It's about his own misconceptions about those around him and a new kid who helps change his world a little. It's about family as well, those found in our own homes and those that can be found at school.
There were lots of cringe-worthy moments dealing with kids and teens. Moments that made me sad and angry (I hate bullying so much!). Then there were sweet and funny moments as well. It made for a read that pulled on my emotions, while being fun and rewarding to read. I love it when a book can make me feel good at the end and care for its characters like this. I also have to note that I loved how rock climbing was weaved in this story. Just so well done!
In the end, was it what I wished for? This is a highly recommended read for middle-school aged kids on up! An entertaining story full of heart and lovable characters.
Content: Some instances of bullying, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a positive review nor affect it in any way.
May 15, 2020
If the first half had been as gripping as the second I would have upped the star count considerably. This really did take a while to get underway. The incredibly likeable characters notwithstanding this needed a stronger hand with a red pen. We meet the really short Paul, the really large and aptly named Big and Small, who is not small, she is long and thin but her family name is Small. These three become friends and allies, fighting against the bullies and becoming involved in rock climbing. There is a lot in this book. From the terrible plight of those who are mercilessly given a hard time at school to dealing with terrible and life-threatening illness and on to dealing with suicide. It is A LOT! It is all handled with sensitivity by the author which is really good.
This is one of those books which covers a bunch of issues that young people may face in their lives. It just has a slight touch of the unrealistic about it. Everything is just a little bit too tidy. The school stuff is done very well, the way the teachers speak to the kids is great but I think it tries to do just a bit too much in the second half.
This is one of those books which covers a bunch of issues that young people may face in their lives. It just has a slight touch of the unrealistic about it. Everything is just a little bit too tidy. The school stuff is done very well, the way the teachers speak to the kids is great but I think it tries to do just a bit too much in the second half.
September 10, 2019
This book was sent to my dad after I interviewed at the publishing company and told them that he is a high school principal and often gives his teachers books. The author was himself a high school teacher and you can tell he knows teenagers and a lot of what they go through. I loved this book so much! When I was picking which characters I loved the most, I listed almost every single one (but especially Big). This is a story of friendship, loss, bullying, acceptance, mental health, illness, and self-esteem ... but it still feels light and full of love. I felt like Robb wrote this with an understanding of the teenage experience and all that you do and don’t know at that age. It’s a really beautiful book that kept me entertained and engaged throughout.
—
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rated: PG (for all of the heavy topics)
—
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rated: PG (for all of the heavy topics)
October 9, 2019
It’s not very often that I read a young adult book that affects me the way this one did. I loved the characters, the setting, and the way the author wrote some very hard things in this one.
The main character in this one is Paul. Paul is short. He doesn’t see himself as much. He probably actually sees himself the way the other kids at school see him, as a punching bag, basically. But Paul is able to grow in this book. In fact, he grows so much that by the end he’s just amazing.
While Paul is the character that the reader is able to “know” there are a couple of other characters that really stood out. There’s Lily. I loved her. She has such a tough act, that I know is covering up hurts of her own that she’s hiding. I loved her crazy family and the way she taught Paul how to be a better version of himself.
And then there’s Big. Everyone needs someone like Big in their life! He’s the kind of person that always has something good to say. The kind of person who wants to bring someone cookies, or dinner, or just be kind. And the kind of person who knows everyone and wants to hug them. I loved the sunshine he brought to the story.
There were several parts in this one that made my heart hurt. And sadly, those parts are just things we see in the world we live in every day. But Paul, Big, and Small were able to get through those hard things and bloom in spite of them.
I loved everything about this book. It’s a book that everyone in high school should read. Probably every parent who has a kid in high school or even jr high should read it as well.
The main character in this one is Paul. Paul is short. He doesn’t see himself as much. He probably actually sees himself the way the other kids at school see him, as a punching bag, basically. But Paul is able to grow in this book. In fact, he grows so much that by the end he’s just amazing.
While Paul is the character that the reader is able to “know” there are a couple of other characters that really stood out. There’s Lily. I loved her. She has such a tough act, that I know is covering up hurts of her own that she’s hiding. I loved her crazy family and the way she taught Paul how to be a better version of himself.
And then there’s Big. Everyone needs someone like Big in their life! He’s the kind of person that always has something good to say. The kind of person who wants to bring someone cookies, or dinner, or just be kind. And the kind of person who knows everyone and wants to hug them. I loved the sunshine he brought to the story.
There were several parts in this one that made my heart hurt. And sadly, those parts are just things we see in the world we live in every day. But Paul, Big, and Small were able to get through those hard things and bloom in spite of them.
I loved everything about this book. It’s a book that everyone in high school should read. Probably every parent who has a kid in high school or even jr high should read it as well.
December 8, 2019
I got an ARC of Paul, Big and Small for free at a conference, and finally read it.
Everything free isn't good. This is one of those things.
The basic story is that 15-year-old, short (self described) high school student, Paul, begins the school year as an underdog. He has low self esteem because of his height and is bullied by, well, almost everyone. Paul is also a talented rope climber, where his size is a feature, not a bug. Paul, who is white, gets paired up for a class project with Lily, who is Black and a transfer Hawaiian student, Big, who is so fat he can't fit in a desk. Why would these three misfits be friends? Well, in a typical narrative fashion, the three of them face hardships (including bullying, cancer and suicide) during the school year that brings them closer together, despite their differences.
Besides the fact that the writing is pedestrian, semantically weak and syntactically boring (it really is; the writer needs a better editor) and that the story is really overwritten (the book tackles bullying, mental illness, cancer and suicide), the story itself perpetuates incredibly damaging and dangerous stereotypes about Black girls, relying on the tired tropes of Sapphire, the unreasonably angry and mean Black woman; "hysterical" women with mental illness; incredibly juvenile comments about homosexuality; and very, very dangerous advice about how to understand students who have committed suicide (in the end, the main character blames himself for another character's suicide. That is NEVER EVER EVER the message. EVER). I could overlook the writing itself because Robb is a new novelist and I think it's ok to cut a new novelist some slack you wouldn't give a veteran; it's ok to give a participation prize for even taking the challenge and writing book. But, writing aside, the tropes and stereotypes are so pervasive and damaging that they outweigh any slack I would have given. This book reads like Robb has only ever heard about Black women from Future's music videos or seen them on an episode of Real Housewives, and his only experience with mental illness in women is from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Next.
I say this as honestly as I can: This is one of the most insidiously racist books I've read in a long time. And that makes me sad.
This book is so awful, that halfway through the review I realized I'd only be able to write about one damaging stereotype at a time. This review focuses on the character Lily, the only Black character in the novel. If I have the energy, I'll write two more reviews about the book's treatment of female mental illness and bullying.
In order to understand just how literally awful and racist the book's portrayal of Lily is, one has to know about tropes she amplifies. I won't write about them here, but check out https://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/news/jim..., https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/popul..., and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_b...
Now, on to Lily. Lily is the only black character in the novel, which is set in small town Utah. Lily is adopted from Kenya (more on that later), the main character has been afraid of her--wait for it--since first grade. They're now 15. He's been afraid of her because she punched him in the face. Now, they're in small town Utah, where she's one of the few Black girls, and you want me to believe that 9 YEARS later he's still afraid of her and they've NEVER been in class together or worked on a project?
Lily is consistently dehumanized (as in described by being subhuman) consistently throughout the book. I'll spare you the lecture on how awful, damaging, and dangerous it is to perpetuate this stereotype.
The first thing the reader gets is that Lily is Black. Like really, really Black. Whereas the other characters get to exist despite their race, Lily's existence is this book is defined by it. Lily is extended inclusion; she's othered. "I was also intrigued by the fact that she was Black." "I had to step over these long, smooth black legs. Very long, smooth black legs."
Not only is she extra, extra, really, really black, she's also described as subhuman to the point of being mythological while at the same time reducing her femininity "...but this guy was way over six feet tall. He stood like a tree in the middle of the stampeding students. Sprawled in the shadow of his towering form, I somehow managed not to be crushed.
'Sorry, man,' I said.
'Man?' a distinctly female voice said....
I just assumed she was a guy due to her height. When I finally looked up, I saw that the lamppost sized person standing me was definitely a girl. A black girl. She loomed over me, looking down with an expression of disgust, her hands on her hips,..." (By the way, all the quotes so far are in the first 5 pages of the book).
So, in small town Utah, where there is one high school, there is one black girl who is so tall that she's the size of a lamppost and the main character AFTER 9 YEARS still mistakes her for a boy?
Here are some of the other (and this is really just a sample) of quotes about Lily:
"The intensity in her eyes was scary."
"Let out a fierce growl"
"Lily steadied herself and then looked down at him with eyes narrowed in anger"
"I confirmed that she was really quite pretty despite her ridiculous height and frightening presence"
"She was beautiful in the way a Bengal tiger is beautiful even though it's basically a killing machine"
"She was a predator without a pack."
"And that black girl...She isn't normal either, is she?"
"She was attractive for sure, but in a stalking tiger sort of way."
"I decided that having a girl whisper in your ear is one of the finer pleasures in life, even if the girl has been known to punch you in the face and order hits on people" . (Lily punched him in the face 9 YEARS prior, and has NOT ordered hits on anyone. Also, a few pages ago, the main character didn't even realize she was a girl)
A white parent sees Lily at an extra curricular event, and here is the description:
"Mrs Dolores gave Lily a nervous glance, like she thought Lily was going to mug her or something."
In terms of narrative, there is nothing--literally NOTHING--to make Lily so angry. Nothing has happened to her. In fact, she often tries to be a friend, which Paul still equates with anger. "Then she laughed again. I'd never heard her laugh so much. It was nice. Too nice. I had to remind myself she was a vicious predator." Even when she's happy, she's described as being a predator.
If you've made it this far (congrats, first of all), but I had to save the best for last:
The runner up prize for "But this isn't racist!" goes to this line: "As dumb as it sounds, a lot of the white kids looked nervous to be around her. Not because they were racist, just because they hadn't met many black people." (Again, in small town Utah where Lily has been around at least since she was 6. )
The first place prize for "Racism in YA lit" goes to this: "I could totally see Lily standing on a hill overlooking a vast African plain, leaning on her spear."
Well, I'll be. He MADE HER A LITERAL SPEAR CHUCKER. A LITERAL SPEAR CHUCKER.
Now, in order to understand that line, you have to remember that Lily was adopted. At some point, the reader finds out that her parents adopted her from Kenya (let's not discuss how they took an adopted Kenya baby and named her Lily, lmao, after the Madonna Lily). In Lily's bedroom she has a flag of the Maasai people on the wall. Lily's dad calls her "his little Maasai warrior."
Then--and this is where Robb really should fire his editor--the following dialogue takes place:
" 'Lily, the Maasai princess. I can totally see it' [said by Big, the Hawaiian character]
'Warrior,' Lily corrected. 'Not princess. My parents adopted me when I was a baby so I don't remember anything about Kenya...'
It was quiet again. Not an awkward quiet, but kind of a nice quiet. We stared at the Maasai flag together. I didn't know anything about the Maasai or even Kenya, really, but Big was right. I could totally see Lily standing on a hill overlooking a vast African plain, leaning on her spear. Beautiful and fierce at the same time."
Besides the fact that these folks went all the way to KENYA from Utah to adopt a baby, but then bothered not to teach her ANYTHING about her culture so she's 15 and completely ignorant (even though we know that the community looks at her differently BECAUSE she's Black) why is this dialogue important? Why is this the dialogue where Robb should fire his editor?
Because, dear reader, Maasai warriors ARE NEVER WOMEN. A quick google search and a phone call to a friend who is Kenyan cleared that up. The Maasai culture is very traditional: women raise children; MEN (and only men) are warriors.
This is one of the few books I should have left at the free table, but at least now I can write a review about it.
Recommendation: I cannot recommend this book.
Writing this wore me out. I'll tackle the other problematic features of this book another day.
Everything free isn't good. This is one of those things.
The basic story is that 15-year-old, short (self described) high school student, Paul, begins the school year as an underdog. He has low self esteem because of his height and is bullied by, well, almost everyone. Paul is also a talented rope climber, where his size is a feature, not a bug. Paul, who is white, gets paired up for a class project with Lily, who is Black and a transfer Hawaiian student, Big, who is so fat he can't fit in a desk. Why would these three misfits be friends? Well, in a typical narrative fashion, the three of them face hardships (including bullying, cancer and suicide) during the school year that brings them closer together, despite their differences.
Besides the fact that the writing is pedestrian, semantically weak and syntactically boring (it really is; the writer needs a better editor) and that the story is really overwritten (the book tackles bullying, mental illness, cancer and suicide), the story itself perpetuates incredibly damaging and dangerous stereotypes about Black girls, relying on the tired tropes of Sapphire, the unreasonably angry and mean Black woman; "hysterical" women with mental illness; incredibly juvenile comments about homosexuality; and very, very dangerous advice about how to understand students who have committed suicide (in the end, the main character blames himself for another character's suicide. That is NEVER EVER EVER the message. EVER). I could overlook the writing itself because Robb is a new novelist and I think it's ok to cut a new novelist some slack you wouldn't give a veteran; it's ok to give a participation prize for even taking the challenge and writing book. But, writing aside, the tropes and stereotypes are so pervasive and damaging that they outweigh any slack I would have given. This book reads like Robb has only ever heard about Black women from Future's music videos or seen them on an episode of Real Housewives, and his only experience with mental illness in women is from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Next.
I say this as honestly as I can: This is one of the most insidiously racist books I've read in a long time. And that makes me sad.
This book is so awful, that halfway through the review I realized I'd only be able to write about one damaging stereotype at a time. This review focuses on the character Lily, the only Black character in the novel. If I have the energy, I'll write two more reviews about the book's treatment of female mental illness and bullying.
In order to understand just how literally awful and racist the book's portrayal of Lily is, one has to know about tropes she amplifies. I won't write about them here, but check out https://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/news/jim..., https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/popul..., and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_b...
Now, on to Lily. Lily is the only black character in the novel, which is set in small town Utah. Lily is adopted from Kenya (more on that later), the main character has been afraid of her--wait for it--since first grade. They're now 15. He's been afraid of her because she punched him in the face. Now, they're in small town Utah, where she's one of the few Black girls, and you want me to believe that 9 YEARS later he's still afraid of her and they've NEVER been in class together or worked on a project?
Lily is consistently dehumanized (as in described by being subhuman) consistently throughout the book. I'll spare you the lecture on how awful, damaging, and dangerous it is to perpetuate this stereotype.
The first thing the reader gets is that Lily is Black. Like really, really Black. Whereas the other characters get to exist despite their race, Lily's existence is this book is defined by it. Lily is extended inclusion; she's othered. "I was also intrigued by the fact that she was Black." "I had to step over these long, smooth black legs. Very long, smooth black legs."
Not only is she extra, extra, really, really black, she's also described as subhuman to the point of being mythological while at the same time reducing her femininity "...but this guy was way over six feet tall. He stood like a tree in the middle of the stampeding students. Sprawled in the shadow of his towering form, I somehow managed not to be crushed.
'Sorry, man,' I said.
'Man?' a distinctly female voice said....
I just assumed she was a guy due to her height. When I finally looked up, I saw that the lamppost sized person standing me was definitely a girl. A black girl. She loomed over me, looking down with an expression of disgust, her hands on her hips,..." (By the way, all the quotes so far are in the first 5 pages of the book).
So, in small town Utah, where there is one high school, there is one black girl who is so tall that she's the size of a lamppost and the main character AFTER 9 YEARS still mistakes her for a boy?
Here are some of the other (and this is really just a sample) of quotes about Lily:
"The intensity in her eyes was scary."
"Let out a fierce growl"
"Lily steadied herself and then looked down at him with eyes narrowed in anger"
"I confirmed that she was really quite pretty despite her ridiculous height and frightening presence"
"She was beautiful in the way a Bengal tiger is beautiful even though it's basically a killing machine"
"She was a predator without a pack."
"And that black girl...She isn't normal either, is she?"
"She was attractive for sure, but in a stalking tiger sort of way."
"I decided that having a girl whisper in your ear is one of the finer pleasures in life, even if the girl has been known to punch you in the face and order hits on people" . (Lily punched him in the face 9 YEARS prior, and has NOT ordered hits on anyone. Also, a few pages ago, the main character didn't even realize she was a girl)
A white parent sees Lily at an extra curricular event, and here is the description:
"Mrs Dolores gave Lily a nervous glance, like she thought Lily was going to mug her or something."
In terms of narrative, there is nothing--literally NOTHING--to make Lily so angry. Nothing has happened to her. In fact, she often tries to be a friend, which Paul still equates with anger. "Then she laughed again. I'd never heard her laugh so much. It was nice. Too nice. I had to remind myself she was a vicious predator." Even when she's happy, she's described as being a predator.
If you've made it this far (congrats, first of all), but I had to save the best for last:
The runner up prize for "But this isn't racist!" goes to this line: "As dumb as it sounds, a lot of the white kids looked nervous to be around her. Not because they were racist, just because they hadn't met many black people." (Again, in small town Utah where Lily has been around at least since she was 6. )
The first place prize for "Racism in YA lit" goes to this: "I could totally see Lily standing on a hill overlooking a vast African plain, leaning on her spear."
Well, I'll be. He MADE HER A LITERAL SPEAR CHUCKER. A LITERAL SPEAR CHUCKER.
Now, in order to understand that line, you have to remember that Lily was adopted. At some point, the reader finds out that her parents adopted her from Kenya (let's not discuss how they took an adopted Kenya baby and named her Lily, lmao, after the Madonna Lily). In Lily's bedroom she has a flag of the Maasai people on the wall. Lily's dad calls her "his little Maasai warrior."
Then--and this is where Robb really should fire his editor--the following dialogue takes place:
" 'Lily, the Maasai princess. I can totally see it' [said by Big, the Hawaiian character]
'Warrior,' Lily corrected. 'Not princess. My parents adopted me when I was a baby so I don't remember anything about Kenya...'
It was quiet again. Not an awkward quiet, but kind of a nice quiet. We stared at the Maasai flag together. I didn't know anything about the Maasai or even Kenya, really, but Big was right. I could totally see Lily standing on a hill overlooking a vast African plain, leaning on her spear. Beautiful and fierce at the same time."
Besides the fact that these folks went all the way to KENYA from Utah to adopt a baby, but then bothered not to teach her ANYTHING about her culture so she's 15 and completely ignorant (even though we know that the community looks at her differently BECAUSE she's Black) why is this dialogue important? Why is this the dialogue where Robb should fire his editor?
Because, dear reader, Maasai warriors ARE NEVER WOMEN. A quick google search and a phone call to a friend who is Kenyan cleared that up. The Maasai culture is very traditional: women raise children; MEN (and only men) are warriors.
This is one of the few books I should have left at the free table, but at least now I can write a review about it.
Recommendation: I cannot recommend this book.
Writing this wore me out. I'll tackle the other problematic features of this book another day.
October 30, 2020
One of those books that surprised me. I don't usually like or read YA contemporary books, especially when they deal with heavy themes, but something about this book just grabbed me.
I think it was the MC, Paul. You just found yourself instantly rooting for him. I loved how there were little bits of humor scattered throughout. That's why, even though there were many difficult things going on, I found this book had an overall good feel to it.
“I imagined it would be like some kind of sci-fi battle where Lily's eyes shot a red death ray at Big, and Big's smile shot out a shining yellow happiness ray at Lily, and they'd meet in the middle with an orange explosion, and it'd become a force of will to see whose power would win.”
Paul is a short guy. Barely 5 feet. That has led to some significant bullying and fear. His mother died of cancer when he was younger and it's just him and his dad, now. His dad is kind and wonderful, but Paul doesn't really have any friends. The one place he feels comfortable is at the local climbing studio. He finds freedom in scaling the walls.
Paul's life change when he is thrown into the path of Big, and Lily. Both are completely opposite from Paul. Big is a big Hawaiian guy that just moved in and has a happy disposition. Paul, used to living in fear, is not sure what there is to be so happy about, but he can't help but feel good around Big.
“What does that mean?"
"What does what mean?" Big asked.
"Brah," I said.
"Brah? You know, it's short for brother."
"Oh," I said and sat there between the two of them, feeling like a piece of me I hadn't known was missing had been put into place.”
I really loved Big, because I've known people like that. People that seem to just spread happiness wherever they go. I always admire those who can see the beauty all around them and pass it on to others.
Paul and Big are assigned a group project with Lily, a tall black girl who definitely stands out around their Utah high school. (I can attest to this, as I grew up in Utah. There were only 2 black students in my entire high school. It's a bit more diverse now, but not much.) Paul has always been afraid of Lily, ever since she hit him once in 1st grade. (That is a really long time to hold a "grudge," and I found it a bit ridiculous. It's one of the small points of the book that I think could've been edited out.)
Despite Paul's efforts to stay out of sight and remain invisible, Lily and Big are increasingly pulling him out. Turns out Lily likes climbing too. (Nearly everyone in this book climbs, which I guess makes sense since you usually hang out with people who have similar interests.) Lily asks Paul to be on her team for a climbing competition but then Lily gets sick and Paul is forced to climb with one of the worst bullies at school.
It's hard to write too much more without giving away massive spoilers. As I mentioned, there are a lot of difficult things that happen. Many of the characters suffer in one way or another. Usually I would say that the author was trying too hard to approach too many subjects, but for some reason it didn't bother me. I think because it was so easy to read and I didn't feel that the author was trying to lecture. I could tell that he genuinely cares about kids and the things they suffer.
It was the kind of beauty that you sometimes see in people who are suffering, if there is such a thing. There had to be beauty in that, right? Is it beautiful when someone is still fighting even though it could be futile?
The part I liked best was watching Paul grow. He didn't undergo any massive transformations, basically, he finally got a friend and blossomed. I think that is a beautiful story to tell. It shows how important it can be just finding those one or two people who are your tribe. The ones that stand by and believe in you no matter what. The ones who love you for you.
“I wondered it these people had been there all along. People willing to be friendly and helpful. Why had I never noticed them before?”
This was the author's first novel and I applaud him for it. I would definitely read other books by him.
I think it was the MC, Paul. You just found yourself instantly rooting for him. I loved how there were little bits of humor scattered throughout. That's why, even though there were many difficult things going on, I found this book had an overall good feel to it.
“I imagined it would be like some kind of sci-fi battle where Lily's eyes shot a red death ray at Big, and Big's smile shot out a shining yellow happiness ray at Lily, and they'd meet in the middle with an orange explosion, and it'd become a force of will to see whose power would win.”
Paul is a short guy. Barely 5 feet. That has led to some significant bullying and fear. His mother died of cancer when he was younger and it's just him and his dad, now. His dad is kind and wonderful, but Paul doesn't really have any friends. The one place he feels comfortable is at the local climbing studio. He finds freedom in scaling the walls.
Paul's life change when he is thrown into the path of Big, and Lily. Both are completely opposite from Paul. Big is a big Hawaiian guy that just moved in and has a happy disposition. Paul, used to living in fear, is not sure what there is to be so happy about, but he can't help but feel good around Big.
“What does that mean?"
"What does what mean?" Big asked.
"Brah," I said.
"Brah? You know, it's short for brother."
"Oh," I said and sat there between the two of them, feeling like a piece of me I hadn't known was missing had been put into place.”
I really loved Big, because I've known people like that. People that seem to just spread happiness wherever they go. I always admire those who can see the beauty all around them and pass it on to others.
Paul and Big are assigned a group project with Lily, a tall black girl who definitely stands out around their Utah high school. (I can attest to this, as I grew up in Utah. There were only 2 black students in my entire high school. It's a bit more diverse now, but not much.) Paul has always been afraid of Lily, ever since she hit him once in 1st grade. (That is a really long time to hold a "grudge," and I found it a bit ridiculous. It's one of the small points of the book that I think could've been edited out.)
Despite Paul's efforts to stay out of sight and remain invisible, Lily and Big are increasingly pulling him out. Turns out Lily likes climbing too. (Nearly everyone in this book climbs, which I guess makes sense since you usually hang out with people who have similar interests.) Lily asks Paul to be on her team for a climbing competition but then Lily gets sick and Paul is forced to climb with one of the worst bullies at school.
It's hard to write too much more without giving away massive spoilers. As I mentioned, there are a lot of difficult things that happen. Many of the characters suffer in one way or another. Usually I would say that the author was trying too hard to approach too many subjects, but for some reason it didn't bother me. I think because it was so easy to read and I didn't feel that the author was trying to lecture. I could tell that he genuinely cares about kids and the things they suffer.
It was the kind of beauty that you sometimes see in people who are suffering, if there is such a thing. There had to be beauty in that, right? Is it beautiful when someone is still fighting even though it could be futile?
The part I liked best was watching Paul grow. He didn't undergo any massive transformations, basically, he finally got a friend and blossomed. I think that is a beautiful story to tell. It shows how important it can be just finding those one or two people who are your tribe. The ones that stand by and believe in you no matter what. The ones who love you for you.
“I wondered it these people had been there all along. People willing to be friendly and helpful. Why had I never noticed them before?”
This was the author's first novel and I applaud him for it. I would definitely read other books by him.
April 11, 2022
Oh my goodness, this book was so good! It was deep, meaningful, and inspirational. I had my doubts when I first started reading, but I soon realized that there is so much more to the book than meets the eye. If you haven't read it, you most definitely should!!!
April 9, 2022
I really enjoyed this book a lot. While reading, I also listened to the audiobook and the reader was very enjoyable to listen to. I really enjoyed the way rock climbing was used to channel the confidence in the narrator (Paul) of the book. I never really thought of rock climbing to be soothing to someone before. Another thing I really liked was the way Paul compared people at his school to predators and prey. Since he is so short, he was considered the prey that always gets bullied and the bullies were the predators.
One thing I didn't like in the book was how many times Big was made fun of for being fat. It didn't seem to bother him, but I just thought those things were too childish and didn't fit this book. After reading this book, I would give it five stars. I would do this because I love the story and love how the author shows different struggles of life like people committing suicide and people being bipolar. I would definitely recommend this book to authors of many ages from about 14 and older.
One thing I didn't like in the book was how many times Big was made fun of for being fat. It didn't seem to bother him, but I just thought those things were too childish and didn't fit this book. After reading this book, I would give it five stars. I would do this because I love the story and love how the author shows different struggles of life like people committing suicide and people being bipolar. I would definitely recommend this book to authors of many ages from about 14 and older.
July 22, 2021
“It was the kind of beauty that you sometimes see in people who are suffering if there is such a thing. There had to be beauty in that, right? Is it beautiful when someone is still fighting even though it could be futile?”
― David Glen Robb, Paul, Big, and Small
The heavy influence of racial stereotypes, the almost incredible amount of middle-level award book stereotypes, and just overall lack of likeability in the main character led me to a one-star rating for poor Paul, poor Big, and poor Small. I am curious to hear how others view the use of Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck in this novel because it left me feeling like I should read that again instead of this. It frustrated me that the author used the nuance of the ending of the classic novel to justify (?) the decision that Paul makes to "support" his friend Lily through Leukemia. I would give this two stars if it meant another student read Of Mice and Men though. So there's something.
I can't say that I liked very much of this book at all. I will perhaps recommend this book to my middle school students who love rock climbing? But I don't think any of them do. So probably not.
― David Glen Robb, Paul, Big, and Small
The heavy influence of racial stereotypes, the almost incredible amount of middle-level award book stereotypes, and just overall lack of likeability in the main character led me to a one-star rating for poor Paul, poor Big, and poor Small. I am curious to hear how others view the use of Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck in this novel because it left me feeling like I should read that again instead of this. It frustrated me that the author used the nuance of the ending of the classic novel to justify (?) the decision that Paul makes to "support" his friend Lily through Leukemia. I would give this two stars if it meant another student read Of Mice and Men though. So there's something.
I can't say that I liked very much of this book at all. I will perhaps recommend this book to my middle school students who love rock climbing? But I don't think any of them do. So probably not.
December 27, 2020
Cute book that handles hot button topics in a sensitive way.
July 30, 2020
Paul is starting high school and is barely 5 foot tall. He spends his time trying to hide in the shadows to avoid bullies. An unlikely pairing for a group project with Lily Small and a boy nicknamed “Big” in Language Arts completely changes Paul’s life along with his rock climbing hobby. I loved this novel and the antibullying message and acceptance of individuals no matter what their outward appearance shows. A Restart type of novel for 6th grade on up.
August 17, 2019
This is probably my new favorite book. It has some sad parts but still leaves you with a wonderful feeling. The two main topics that run through the book are bullying and rock-climbing. If you liked Wonder, One of Us is Lying, Tangerine and Holes then you will like this book. DEFINITELY a must read!
January 21, 2022
***This title is a 2021-2022 Golden Sower nominee in the Novels category.***
I have been putting off reading this book for months. MONTHS. I knew it was going to be on our state award list, I have had multiple copies in my building, and I brought one home for summer break. The days are dwindling down and I finally opened it up since a colleague said it would be a good recommendation for kids after they read Orbiting Jupiter which is one of my all-time faves.
I kind of see the comparison, but I also don't. While this book isn't hard to get through, it still felt like it had maybe 75 too many pages. The main character was, in my opinion, very hard to like. He was constantly complaining about his lot in life and how everyone was so mean to him, but then he was also cruel to others. And he very rarely gave me a reason to root for him until the very end.
That, plus the fact that are issues that come up (mental health, self-harm, cancer) that aren't really hinted at early on in the book mean it could be a blind hit for some readers. And, while rock climbing is a HUGE part of this book, I would still categorize it as realistic fiction, and not in sports when contemplating genre location.
Overall, it was OK. Not the worst, but no my favorite either.
I have been putting off reading this book for months. MONTHS. I knew it was going to be on our state award list, I have had multiple copies in my building, and I brought one home for summer break. The days are dwindling down and I finally opened it up since a colleague said it would be a good recommendation for kids after they read Orbiting Jupiter which is one of my all-time faves.
I kind of see the comparison, but I also don't. While this book isn't hard to get through, it still felt like it had maybe 75 too many pages. The main character was, in my opinion, very hard to like. He was constantly complaining about his lot in life and how everyone was so mean to him, but then he was also cruel to others. And he very rarely gave me a reason to root for him until the very end.
That, plus the fact that are issues that come up (mental health, self-harm, cancer) that aren't really hinted at early on in the book mean it could be a blind hit for some readers. And, while rock climbing is a HUGE part of this book, I would still categorize it as realistic fiction, and not in sports when contemplating genre location.
Overall, it was OK. Not the worst, but no my favorite either.
October 23, 2019
DNF’d. This was a mess in regards to race/ethnicity. I think it could’ve been a book I enjoyed, plot-wise, but I hit my limit after a few chapters. More later or on instagram.
October 1, 2019
4.5 rounded to 5
A breathtaking and engaging from start to finish, Paul, Big, and Small by David Glen Robb is a beautifully touching story about acceptance, compassion, friendship, and hope. It's heartfelt, relatable, and gripping and I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. I smiled, I laughed, I cried, and felt so many wonderful emotions.
High school is not easy… even more when you’re a little different and unique. But, having friends who understand just what you’re feeling and going through definitely makes a difference. Paul Adams is an amazing rock-climber, but has been bullied for being short. Lily Small is the tallest girl in high school. And Big, the new kid from Hawaii, has a big heart and always finds the beauty in every situation. After being assigned to the same group project, Paul, Lily and Big realize that they have plenty in common, become really good friends, and ultimately learn important life lessons from each other.
I adore this book and enjoyed so many things about it. While the story is sad at times, there’s so much realness, honesty, and love in the narrative that I could not stop reading. David Glen Robb’s writing is sincere, riveting, and just so beautiful. I think he does a fantastic job capturing how it feels to experience and struggle with life’s many challenges as a teenager or young adult. From feeling alone and different, being bullied, dealing with insecurities and mental health issues, going through something devastating or life-changing, and everything else in between, I think readers can find a connection with parts of this story and/or the characters. And that’s what I truly love about this book. I was able to relate and see my younger self in the story in some way and also in some of the characters which made this novel more interesting and enjoyable. I also really like the rock climbing parts and thought that was really exciting. I like the conflict, the drama, and most importantly, the many thought-provoking and important themes about friendships and just life in general.
The characters are believable, realistic and charming. Paul, Big, and Lily are wonderful characters. Getting to know them was fun and a piece of my heart that will always belong to them. I really like Paul and Lily and enjoyed many of their sweet and endearing moments together. Big is definitely my favorite and I will protect him with my heart and soul. I love that he always tries to see the goodness and beauty in everything. Big brought so much warmth and joy to the story and I love him for that. The friendship that develops between these three amazing characters is so precious.
David Glen Robb has created a wonderfully realistic and intriguing story that is incredibly meaningful, compelling and moving. Paul, Big, and Small made me feel so many emotions and I loved it all. Some parts are heart-wrenching and sad, but there are also so many happy moments that made me smile. The characters are relatable, loveable, and seem so real that you can't help but care and root for them. I really enjoyed reading this novel and loved that I walked away with so much more than I expected. This is definitely a must read for anyone and I honestly can’t recommend it enough.
I received a physical ARC copy of this book from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A breathtaking and engaging from start to finish, Paul, Big, and Small by David Glen Robb is a beautifully touching story about acceptance, compassion, friendship, and hope. It's heartfelt, relatable, and gripping and I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. I smiled, I laughed, I cried, and felt so many wonderful emotions.
High school is not easy… even more when you’re a little different and unique. But, having friends who understand just what you’re feeling and going through definitely makes a difference. Paul Adams is an amazing rock-climber, but has been bullied for being short. Lily Small is the tallest girl in high school. And Big, the new kid from Hawaii, has a big heart and always finds the beauty in every situation. After being assigned to the same group project, Paul, Lily and Big realize that they have plenty in common, become really good friends, and ultimately learn important life lessons from each other.
I adore this book and enjoyed so many things about it. While the story is sad at times, there’s so much realness, honesty, and love in the narrative that I could not stop reading. David Glen Robb’s writing is sincere, riveting, and just so beautiful. I think he does a fantastic job capturing how it feels to experience and struggle with life’s many challenges as a teenager or young adult. From feeling alone and different, being bullied, dealing with insecurities and mental health issues, going through something devastating or life-changing, and everything else in between, I think readers can find a connection with parts of this story and/or the characters. And that’s what I truly love about this book. I was able to relate and see my younger self in the story in some way and also in some of the characters which made this novel more interesting and enjoyable. I also really like the rock climbing parts and thought that was really exciting. I like the conflict, the drama, and most importantly, the many thought-provoking and important themes about friendships and just life in general.
The characters are believable, realistic and charming. Paul, Big, and Lily are wonderful characters. Getting to know them was fun and a piece of my heart that will always belong to them. I really like Paul and Lily and enjoyed many of their sweet and endearing moments together. Big is definitely my favorite and I will protect him with my heart and soul. I love that he always tries to see the goodness and beauty in everything. Big brought so much warmth and joy to the story and I love him for that. The friendship that develops between these three amazing characters is so precious.
David Glen Robb has created a wonderfully realistic and intriguing story that is incredibly meaningful, compelling and moving. Paul, Big, and Small made me feel so many emotions and I loved it all. Some parts are heart-wrenching and sad, but there are also so many happy moments that made me smile. The characters are relatable, loveable, and seem so real that you can't help but care and root for them. I really enjoyed reading this novel and loved that I walked away with so much more than I expected. This is definitely a must read for anyone and I honestly can’t recommend it enough.
I received a physical ARC copy of this book from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 30, 2019
C O N T E N T W A R N I N G : S U I C I D E
Navigating through the public high school system is harrowing when the institution you rely on cares more about law suits rather than caring for you. It's understandable for Paul Adams to devised coping mechanisms to avoid harassment. Unfortunately, Paul is quite frankly an appalling character. He's dislikable to the nth degree. It's difficult at times to root for his well being when he is a bully himself and constantly criticizes others to boost his own low self esteem. The ways in which he regards others is disturbing. It also solidifies the misconception that young people have yet to develop empathy and meaningful identities.In truth, following Paul's first person narrative is exhausting and suffocating to read. The unrelenting stream of paranoia and misunderstandings lead me to believe Paul needs actual therapy. I'm not joking. There's this unsettling vibe Paul gives off that resembles incels or what we regard as internet misogynists. I don't expect Paul to be the wokest person in the world being this book is set in Utah but it's uncanny how much Paul gets wrong. I would be embarrassed to utter anything he says when I was 15 not so long ago. In fact, there are many examples where he has a big brain and does some big thinks. Let me intercept with why this is not okay.
"And, as dumb as it sounds, it seemed like a lot of the white kids looked nervous to be around her. Not because they were racist, just because they hadn't met many black people."
So racist is an adjatiave not a noun. There are practices we subscribe to that perpetuates certain stereotypes. Being afraid of the "angry black girl" is exactly that. Yes these students are being racist because they have prejudices. They can change their behavior but let's call it for what it is instead of being a racist apologist.
"What? Lily's dad? He was tall enough, sure, but he was, well, awfully white."
Here we go again making gross assumptions about the way family and race should be constructed. Try not to be so surprised especially when you want an interracial relationship with her, Paul? There are also too many times when Paul just doesn't get that racism still exists. It's almost laughable how ignorant he is to anyone other than himself.
"Physical contact with a female was primarily a theoretical, abstract concept for me."
So if anyone is familiar with incels, they may notice how these young men refuse to call women and girls those terms. Feeeeemalles denotes to a strict sex assigned at birth term and disregards different journeys into becoming a woman. This type of language strips the humanization from girls and women as well. In turn the statement is more about how Paul doesn't treat girls as an equal but as this weird species to be wary. It's not a good look.
"It didn't seem like it should be coming out of someone who was clearly producing excessive amounts of testosterone."
Here we have a beautiful example of Paul mocking someone, albeit who harasses him, for not conforming to gender normative roles. It's like he has no self awareness to see the hypocrisy of his words. When he himself doesn't align to gender expectations, why would you be cruel to someone else?
"Lily was talking about the skinny girl, but that couldn't be right. Sam was a boy's name."
It just never ends with him. When I think he couldn't be more frustrating he finds a way to prove me wrong.
Literally, there are dozens of examples where Paul exercises his big brain thinks. Whether it involves unfairly stereotyping others (calling names), turning a blind eye to others' pain, choosing the easy way out, and generally being the worst it's not wonder he has a hard time making friends. Who would want to deal with all this baggage? The romance is gross because Paul is involved. Just because Lily is nice to him doesn't mean she loves him but that doesn't matter because Paul is the main character. Judging by the story and how "nice guys get the girl" I fear that this narrative would just validate someone emotionally immature, hateful, and judgmental.
Sure, Paul gets a character arc, but really, he started at the bottom of the barrel and has evolved to being a semi-decent person. You shouldn't get a pat on the back for not doing the wrong thing. Just because you don't bully others, you shouldn't get a medal for running away or doing nothing. There were many chances for Paul to help but he made a choice not to and gets upset when he had chances to step in. I know it's hard when you're in a compromised position. I'm not asking for more than a "hey look out!" or telling a teacher so they can make it harder for bullies to bully. Maybe I have more faith in teachers and peers, but he didn't even try and assumed it wouldn't work.
The rockclimbing as a metaphor is clever but then why dedicate so much time in school and homework. There's a lot going on and Paul is not equipped to handle it. I'm not sure where we're going with the story sometimes since there's a ton of elements but it's not cohesive. I can't seem to piece a common theme so it feels like a string of unrelated events with Paul's awful opinions interjected. To be fair this book is almost as bad as the 13 reasons why Netflix show but just barely better and doesn't romanticize suicide. It's just Paul is painfully stupid and is the single most frustrating hinderance. I recommend this book for fans of young adult drama and figuring out how to find control during a time that doesn't offer much.
Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this advanced copy in exchange of a fair review.
The dark red title contrasts too much and doesn't look appealing from afar. I would lighten up the photography on the upper right corner so the darkest focal point is the title. It looks more ominous than it needs to. The orange sky is too exposed giving the light a blinding quality. The poorly photoshopped rope is distracting and I wouldn't mind a vector or illustrated version. It's an important element in the cover to signify the main theme of rock climbing. I think a white chalk title would have been better but it is what it is.
October 1, 2019
Paul, Big, and Small is a book I want to put into the hands of every kid between the ages of 10-20...and everyone else that can read. This book is full of so many emotional moments and unique characters. Anyone that has ever been a teenager will be able to relate to one of the main characters found in this novel. Author David Glenn Robb doesn't hold back on showing the turbulent happenings inside of a high school involving bullying, acceptance, and social awkwardness. Other topics in this book that involves one or more characters are mental illness, loss, grief, cancer, and suicide. Everything is written without being showy or preachy. It will open up the eyes of teens that think no one else has any problems except them.
The characters of Paul, "Big", and Lily are written so well and you grow to love them. "Big" the new kid from Hawaii has to be my favorite character. He always looks for the beauty in everything and everyone. I actually learned a lot from this character and want to be more like him. The biggest character development shown is by Paul and Lily, bringing about many heart-warming moments and tears to the reader. As I was reading this book, I couldn't help but think about how this novel could change the lives of real teens. This book read at school or home could bring about great discussions on hard topics.
I also wanted to add how there is a lot of information about rock climbing that was very interesting. Much of the story revolves around this sport.
The thing I absolutely loved most about this book is how the story flows so easily. Once you are immersed in the story it's hard to pull yourself away. Readers' emotions are pulled up and down continually throughout this novel. I'm very impressed that this is the author's first published novel. This book has the potential of becoming a classic like the Outsiders. So, Paul, Big, and Small gets 5 stars from me!
The characters of Paul, "Big", and Lily are written so well and you grow to love them. "Big" the new kid from Hawaii has to be my favorite character. He always looks for the beauty in everything and everyone. I actually learned a lot from this character and want to be more like him. The biggest character development shown is by Paul and Lily, bringing about many heart-warming moments and tears to the reader. As I was reading this book, I couldn't help but think about how this novel could change the lives of real teens. This book read at school or home could bring about great discussions on hard topics.
I also wanted to add how there is a lot of information about rock climbing that was very interesting. Much of the story revolves around this sport.
The thing I absolutely loved most about this book is how the story flows so easily. Once you are immersed in the story it's hard to pull yourself away. Readers' emotions are pulled up and down continually throughout this novel. I'm very impressed that this is the author's first published novel. This book has the potential of becoming a classic like the Outsiders. So, Paul, Big, and Small gets 5 stars from me!
November 18, 2019
4.5/5
This was a refreshing read. There are so many books in the YA genre, but none as needed as this one. I highly, highly recommend it to all teens out there. Take a moment to just absorb the story after you read it. This story is truly, as Big would say, “beautiful.”
The characters were brilliantly developed. The plot was nicely put together and everything flowed really well. All of the various themes brought up were tied together deftly with the element of rock climbing. The writing was both realistic and expressive, which is something I value a lot in a YA book.
This novel did a great job capturing many of the emotions teens undergo, and presenting ways to look at life as a teen. From family struggles, mental health, and bullying, to looking at the simple things that make life beautiful, we are reminded of the complexity of life and the importance of coming together and building relationships in order to appreciate the most out of life.
This book most definitely has 5 star potential. If there was a little bit more of an emotional kick to tug at my heartstrings and spill some tears, it could definitely level up to a 5. I would have liked to see more tension built up, so the reader would be holding on to their seat as they read through certain scenes. Although there were some instances that tipped a little to the “cliche” side, I think the writing was executed in a way that made it seem unique to the story and way beyond a plain cliche.
Full review available on the blog!
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This was a refreshing read. There are so many books in the YA genre, but none as needed as this one. I highly, highly recommend it to all teens out there. Take a moment to just absorb the story after you read it. This story is truly, as Big would say, “beautiful.”
The characters were brilliantly developed. The plot was nicely put together and everything flowed really well. All of the various themes brought up were tied together deftly with the element of rock climbing. The writing was both realistic and expressive, which is something I value a lot in a YA book.
This novel did a great job capturing many of the emotions teens undergo, and presenting ways to look at life as a teen. From family struggles, mental health, and bullying, to looking at the simple things that make life beautiful, we are reminded of the complexity of life and the importance of coming together and building relationships in order to appreciate the most out of life.
This book most definitely has 5 star potential. If there was a little bit more of an emotional kick to tug at my heartstrings and spill some tears, it could definitely level up to a 5. I would have liked to see more tension built up, so the reader would be holding on to their seat as they read through certain scenes. Although there were some instances that tipped a little to the “cliche” side, I think the writing was executed in a way that made it seem unique to the story and way beyond a plain cliche.
Full review available on the blog!
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September 19, 2019
David Glen Robb weaves a heartfelt, real-life look at bullying in high school. The characters in this book are people you can relate too, no matter who you are I'm sure you can find something in common with the people introduced in this book.
Paul Adams is the main character and the voice of the story. He is 15, 4' 10", and weighs 90 lbs.
Lily Small is a classmate of Pauls, but he remembers meeting her when they were 7, right before she punched him in the nose. She is very tall, black, and adopted.
The one thing they have in common is rock climbing.
Big is the nickname of a kind Polynesian classmate who is a big guy. He is infectiously happy and looks for the good in every situation.
Paul, Big, and Small are paired together for a group project and realize that they have more in common than they thought. They become friends and start to look out for each other at school. Lily and Paul team up for a rock climbing competition and discover that they work well together. Over the course of the story, the three of them discover some important things about life, relationships, and what friendship should look like.
While this story has a fun side to it with rock climbing and making new friends, there is also a much deeper side that addresses bullying head-on. All three main characters have experienced bullying and have developed coping mechanisms for it. There are some very sad parts and some over-the-moon happy parts. I loved this book and couldn't put it down. I think this is a book that EVERY middle and high schooler should read. It encourages people to look outside themselves and helps them see that we don't fully know what anyone else is going through.
Paul Adams is the main character and the voice of the story. He is 15, 4' 10", and weighs 90 lbs.
Lily Small is a classmate of Pauls, but he remembers meeting her when they were 7, right before she punched him in the nose. She is very tall, black, and adopted.
The one thing they have in common is rock climbing.
Big is the nickname of a kind Polynesian classmate who is a big guy. He is infectiously happy and looks for the good in every situation.
Paul, Big, and Small are paired together for a group project and realize that they have more in common than they thought. They become friends and start to look out for each other at school. Lily and Paul team up for a rock climbing competition and discover that they work well together. Over the course of the story, the three of them discover some important things about life, relationships, and what friendship should look like.
While this story has a fun side to it with rock climbing and making new friends, there is also a much deeper side that addresses bullying head-on. All three main characters have experienced bullying and have developed coping mechanisms for it. There are some very sad parts and some over-the-moon happy parts. I loved this book and couldn't put it down. I think this is a book that EVERY middle and high schooler should read. It encourages people to look outside themselves and helps them see that we don't fully know what anyone else is going through.
December 21, 2019
“Paul, Big, and Small” is an amazing book about a young high schooler named Paul. Paul was afraid of his new high school because he was very short. Outside of high school, he was an amazing rock wall climber. The book is mostly about how Paul used to be afraid, but with his friends, he believed he could achieve anything.
I really enjoyed the way Paul’s personality evolved throughout the book. At the start of the book, he seemed to be very shy and not confident in his abilities. However, throughout the book, thanks to the friendships he made, he became a confident and very determined young man. I feel like this transformation helped the reader to realize that friendships are very valuable. This helped the reader to realize how similar they are to Paul.
Rock climbing was one of the main topics throughout the book. This book used rock climbing as a metaphor for Paul’s life experiences. As Paul became a better climber, he realized that he had a lot more friends. As Paul made more friends, he became more confident in his abilities. As Paul became more confident in his abilities, he became a better person. This metaphor is important to this book because it helps the reader to realize that life can be hard. However, much like the rock wall Paul was having a hard time clearing, life’s challenges can be overcome.
This book talks about many tough issues. It mainly talks about our relationships with others, suicide, cancer, and bullying. This book is a great way to realize that even if struggles come, we can still stand strong.
I really enjoyed the way Paul’s personality evolved throughout the book. At the start of the book, he seemed to be very shy and not confident in his abilities. However, throughout the book, thanks to the friendships he made, he became a confident and very determined young man. I feel like this transformation helped the reader to realize that friendships are very valuable. This helped the reader to realize how similar they are to Paul.
Rock climbing was one of the main topics throughout the book. This book used rock climbing as a metaphor for Paul’s life experiences. As Paul became a better climber, he realized that he had a lot more friends. As Paul made more friends, he became more confident in his abilities. As Paul became more confident in his abilities, he became a better person. This metaphor is important to this book because it helps the reader to realize that life can be hard. However, much like the rock wall Paul was having a hard time clearing, life’s challenges can be overcome.
This book talks about many tough issues. It mainly talks about our relationships with others, suicide, cancer, and bullying. This book is a great way to realize that even if struggles come, we can still stand strong.
November 1, 2019
Wow. This book is incredible. I’m not the target audience but I really enjoyed it and recommend it to everyone middle school age and up. I especially hope all teens read it. Paul, Big, and Small tackles heavy topics like bullying, mental and physical illness, and suicide but it isn’t depressing. The characters are very likeable and a lot of the interactions are funny. I talked with someone who had recently lived in the area the book takes place in and he said it was very realistic and he knows people just like the characters in the book.
The story starts out when Paul is 7 years old and introduces a couple of the characters, then jumps to the first day of high school. Paul is very small and tries to be socially invisible to avoid being bullied. After being out in the rain he said he “probably looked like a red-nosed Chihuahua after being dunked in the bath.” Physically Lily is the opposite of Paul and he thinks she’s “a predator without a pack.” Big is “huge, and he just owned it. His bright Hawaiian shirt, his jokes, his contagious smile.” He makes people happy everywhere he goes. I love his attitude. He says, “I wasn’t pretending. They really are my friends…they just don’t know it yet.” I think everyone needs someone like Big in their life.
I received an ARC so I could write this review, but that didn’t influence my opinion of this book.
The story starts out when Paul is 7 years old and introduces a couple of the characters, then jumps to the first day of high school. Paul is very small and tries to be socially invisible to avoid being bullied. After being out in the rain he said he “probably looked like a red-nosed Chihuahua after being dunked in the bath.” Physically Lily is the opposite of Paul and he thinks she’s “a predator without a pack.” Big is “huge, and he just owned it. His bright Hawaiian shirt, his jokes, his contagious smile.” He makes people happy everywhere he goes. I love his attitude. He says, “I wasn’t pretending. They really are my friends…they just don’t know it yet.” I think everyone needs someone like Big in their life.
I received an ARC so I could write this review, but that didn’t influence my opinion of this book.
February 19, 2021
I might have given this 5 stars but I felt there was some unfinished business. It was a really sweet book though. It is geared toward teenagers but there is a lot of deeper stuff that I feel is important for any age. I had a hard time relating to Paul as his personality is so different than mine. I absolutely loved Big's character... I want to be him when I grown up ;) There is humor, drama, tragedy, and victory throughout the book. It was very entertaining. I really liked the audio version, esp Big's accent. It also helped that I have actually been rock climbing before and can picture a lot of the moves and types of rocks he is talking about. (a big chunk of the book deals with rock climbing). Anyway, spoiler, I wish Hunter got a little more of a dose of humble pie but at least he got some. (that was some of the unfinished business I referred to at the beginning...) Maybe an epilogue would have been good after Lilly was finished with her stuff... I plan to make my kids read it and I think it would make a great book club book. I would highly recommend it, but remember, it is a kids book and it can get pretty sappy at times. Maybe since I have teenagers that age it made it more interesting, I don't know. Oh, I also am thinking about trying out reading Of Mice and Men, it is referred to a few times through the book. (fyi, it was available on audio on DB+)
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May 8, 2023The book overall was a great read and if i could give in 6 stars I would. Some of the things I liked when the author gave Paul a memory of his mother, since Paul's mom died of cancer he was very fearful for Lily. The characters'personalities were so different but at the same time they are all perfect for each other. The author did a great job at developing the plot through certain events that lifted the story up from a spot where the story got boring. Another thing I liked was when Paul was able to prove to others that just because hes small doesn't mean he is a bad climber. The fact that Paul earned the respect of people triple his size just shows how great of a character he is. One thing I did dislike about the book was the fact that you didn't know what was happening on the inside of other characters. For example when Connor was getting bullied, he didn't seem to care all that much and then i guess something just snapped and he killed himself? That felt random considering it was nothing he hadn't dealt with before. The ending was amazing because it came back to a topic that was a good theme word "beautiful" and that made the story end on a happy note. Overall the story was great and there was only one thing that i felt needed a fix, but the good things outweighed the bad and this is a great book and I do recommend.
March 5, 2024
Paul, Big, and Small is such a real and authentic book. It is funny, exciting and connects to everyday life. This book truly deserves 5 stars. This is a book that has a dynamic blend of hills and valleys, friends and failure, fears and dreams. Many obstacles are presented, but when you work together and lean on those around you, they are easier to overcome.
This is a great read for middle school and high school students. It provides great imagery and relates to real life in the stinky hallways of school. Your insides will tingle in the situations where bravery is necessary, and your gut will want Paul to choose the right thing.
I learned that it is important to be a friend no matter what. You never know what people are going through on the inside, you can hurt those around you deeper than you realize. Let’s fight for what is right and change the world by spreading the good. Let’s be big with good intentions, with courage, and with guts. Let’s be small in our ego and have humility. Paul learns that if we do this, it will be a much better world.
This book is one full of ups and downs, as well as good morals and life lessons. This inviting story will capture your heart and entertain you, wanting to know what comes next. Paul, Big and Small is a captivating story. Enjoy these characters and the joy they instill. Face your fears in order to help each other.
This is a great read for middle school and high school students. It provides great imagery and relates to real life in the stinky hallways of school. Your insides will tingle in the situations where bravery is necessary, and your gut will want Paul to choose the right thing.
I learned that it is important to be a friend no matter what. You never know what people are going through on the inside, you can hurt those around you deeper than you realize. Let’s fight for what is right and change the world by spreading the good. Let’s be big with good intentions, with courage, and with guts. Let’s be small in our ego and have humility. Paul learns that if we do this, it will be a much better world.
This book is one full of ups and downs, as well as good morals and life lessons. This inviting story will capture your heart and entertain you, wanting to know what comes next. Paul, Big and Small is a captivating story. Enjoy these characters and the joy they instill. Face your fears in order to help each other.
October 13, 2019
Paul has always been made fun of for being short, but since he discovered rock climbing he's gained a little confidence. Still, when six-foot tall Lily Small shows up at the climbing gym, Paul is a little intimidated - and a little in love. Then a new student, a big smiling dude from Hawaii nicknamed "Big" arrives at school, and suddenly Paul, Big, and Small are friends. Big has a different way of dealing with bullies like Colin and Hunter, and so does Lily. Can Paul learn how to deal with his bullies, too?
I really loved the characters in this story, how even the bullies aren't all bad. Colin especially has a family secret that explains a lot about his character. Paul has learned to avoid bullies and the things that scare him, and has in turn put himself in a box thinking he can't climb the way taller people can and being afraid to depend on anyone or care about them. Lily was pretty cool (even if I wished there was more resolution for her at the end of the story). I absolutely loved Big. He's a big ray of sunshine, and it was realistic that the toughest bullies still weren't swayed by his constant happiness. The rock climbing stuff was cool to learn about as well. The cover doesn't really do this story justice!
Content advisory: Suicide, bullying, cancer.
I really loved the characters in this story, how even the bullies aren't all bad. Colin especially has a family secret that explains a lot about his character. Paul has learned to avoid bullies and the things that scare him, and has in turn put himself in a box thinking he can't climb the way taller people can and being afraid to depend on anyone or care about them. Lily was pretty cool (even if I wished there was more resolution for her at the end of the story). I absolutely loved Big. He's a big ray of sunshine, and it was realistic that the toughest bullies still weren't swayed by his constant happiness. The rock climbing stuff was cool to learn about as well. The cover doesn't really do this story justice!
Content advisory: Suicide, bullying, cancer.
October 28, 2019
Once I dove into this story it was really hard to put it down and focus on other things. It's very insightful and thought-provoking. It broke my heart how Paul felt he had to be invisible, and being noticed made everything worse. I loved how the author brought in the aspect of putting people in boxes and judging them before knowing them at all. I think we all tend to do this to some extent and really, we should all be like Big and look for the beauty around us. I'm intensely curious as to Big's backstory. I appreciated Paul's dad, and his insights. I was shocked when he told Paul he needed to apologize to Small. What a wonderful way to handle that situation. Which brings up the point that none of us are perfect, and even if, in our mind, we think we are right, we should still think about our impact on other people.
It also hit home to me how much of a difference good friends can make in a life. My kids have dealt with this, and it was a part of the story that I could really relate too. After reading this it made me really recommit to being nice to others, and thinking before I speak to or about others. This is definitely a book I want my children to read and really act on.
*I received a copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.
It also hit home to me how much of a difference good friends can make in a life. My kids have dealt with this, and it was a part of the story that I could really relate too. After reading this it made me really recommit to being nice to others, and thinking before I speak to or about others. This is definitely a book I want my children to read and really act on.
*I received a copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.
October 12, 2019
I am not an avid “for fun” reader, so it takes something special for me to pick up a fictional story. I am also not the likely target audience for this book. All of that being said, this book was ABSOLUTELY fantastic.
There is a great storyline and the author, David Glen Robb, did a fantastic job of creating a flowing narrative that is filled with relatable characters. Paul, Big, and Small are three of many characters that you are introduced to in this book. Besides being a very entertaining read, there is a great message about friendship, bullying, and ways to cope with the world around you. Even though it is seemingly geared toward the young adult age group, I was loving being able to relate to different characters personally. The ones that I couldn’t relate to personally, I was able to identify others in my life that they reminded me of.
It was nice to read a book that had such great flow to the story. It was a “family friendly” read as well, which was an added bonus for me. The book is full of emotion and is worth every penny of the purchase price and every minute of my time spent to read it. You won’t be disappointed giving this book a chance.
There is a great storyline and the author, David Glen Robb, did a fantastic job of creating a flowing narrative that is filled with relatable characters. Paul, Big, and Small are three of many characters that you are introduced to in this book. Besides being a very entertaining read, there is a great message about friendship, bullying, and ways to cope with the world around you. Even though it is seemingly geared toward the young adult age group, I was loving being able to relate to different characters personally. The ones that I couldn’t relate to personally, I was able to identify others in my life that they reminded me of.
It was nice to read a book that had such great flow to the story. It was a “family friendly” read as well, which was an added bonus for me. The book is full of emotion and is worth every penny of the purchase price and every minute of my time spent to read it. You won’t be disappointed giving this book a chance.
October 28, 2019
I really enjoyed Paul, Big, and Small, and encouraged my kids to read it. Not only is it well-written, but the messages are important for all ages. The bullying aspect was hard to read, but it's so important to know that everyone is fighting their own battles. We don't know what most people are going through and kindness goes a long way.
My favorite character was Big. I loved his cheerful, friendly attitude, and aspire to be more like him. He truly was the sunshine to those around him.
I liked the rock climbing aspect of the story. I've done a little climbing, and have friends and loved ones who are really into it. It was heartwarming to see the confidence it gave Paul. We each have something we are good at, and it was wonderful to read about how Paul didn't need to be tall or strong to succeed at climbing.
I also have friends and loved ones who are very short, and was able to connect to Paul and understand some his struggles.
I saw the other day that the audio book is available and I started listening to it. It's a great book to re-read or listen to multiple times. I highly recommend this book.
My favorite character was Big. I loved his cheerful, friendly attitude, and aspire to be more like him. He truly was the sunshine to those around him.
I liked the rock climbing aspect of the story. I've done a little climbing, and have friends and loved ones who are really into it. It was heartwarming to see the confidence it gave Paul. We each have something we are good at, and it was wonderful to read about how Paul didn't need to be tall or strong to succeed at climbing.
I also have friends and loved ones who are very short, and was able to connect to Paul and understand some his struggles.
I saw the other day that the audio book is available and I started listening to it. It's a great book to re-read or listen to multiple times. I highly recommend this book.
December 8, 2019
Paul, Big and Small empezó muy bien ya que me suelen gustar las historias en las que el protagonista se enfrenta a sus propios prejuicios y aprende que la vida no es como él quiere que sea y que no todo el mundo va a actuar como él quiere. Además, que metieran la escalada como un deporte que une a los tres personajes principales me encantó porque es un deporte que no suele aparecer en la literatura y, aún menos, aquí. Toda la trama de la amistad y del deporte me encantó. Pero sí, hay un pero y uno bastante grande al menos para mí. En la historia se trata el tema de acoso escolar y de una forma que me estaba gustando mucho porque no es la habitual tampoco, pero lde repente el autor decidió meter otro tema y para mí ya fue demasiado. Sé que a la gente le pasan cosas y que no todo es bonito, pero aquí pasan demasiadas cosas malas y el chico es testigo de demasiadas desgracias para la edad que tiene y eso me ha sacado completamente del libro. Además, al querer tratar tantos temas peliagudos me da la sensación de que no ha tratado de manera adecuada ninguno de los dos. Una pena, porque de verdad creía que me iba a gustar.
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