Diary of a Witness

by Catherine Ryan Hyde

One day, something’s going to snap. . . .Ernie doesn't have a lot of friends at school. Just Will. They have stuff in common—like fishing. But more important, they have common the school jocks, who seem to find bullying just another sport. For the most part, Ernie and Will take life at high school in stride. Until Will has one very bad day. Now nothing is remotely funny. Ernie finds himself a witness—to loss, to humiliation, and to Will’s anger—an anger that’s building each and every moment. Ernie doesn’t want to believe his best friend is changing, but he can’t deny the truth. Soon he has a join or die. Or can he find another way? Praise for The Day I Killed “Teens who have experienced crushing rejection or who have laughed at the ardent feelings of a classmate will devour this original, gripping story.”—Kirkus ReviewsFrom the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Friendship, Coming Of Age, Contemporary, Survival

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of more than 50 published and forthcoming books.

She is co-author, with publishing industry blogger Anne R. Allen, of How to be a Writer in the E-Age: a Self-Help Guide.

Her bestselling 1999 novel Pay It Forward was made into a major Warner Brothers motion picture. It was chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than two dozen languages for distribution in over 30 countries. Simon & Schuster released a special 15th anniversary edition in December of ’14.

Pay It Forward: Young Readers Edition, an age-appropriate edited edition of the original novel, was released by Simon & Schuster in August of ‘14. It is suitable for children as young as eight.

You can learn much more about Catherine at www.catherineryanhyde.com

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A haunting and heartbreaking YA story about high school bullying. Hyde has become one of my favorite authors and her YA Fiction books are really good too. I think the author did an accurate portrayal of the fear and anguish bullied students feel. Although it has been 40 years, this story brought back how I felt in Junior High. In no way was I bullied to the extent the characters in this book, but any form of bullying is unacceptable and can leave a lasting effect on the victims. I remember the fear of running into certain people in the halls, gym class, the embarrassment of being tripped in the halls and faking sick to stay home and avoid situations at school. This ended up being an emotional read for me and made me think back on that time in my life. I wish I would have told my parents or a friend about my situation, but I think the early 80's were a different time and I feel that it was just thought of as something that kids had to deal with. Fortunately, it never got to the point where I wanted to commit violence against classmates. This is definitely a book that should be required reading for classrooms.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book is absolutely gripping, gut wrenching, and horrific. I've read bully stories, but this one is heartrending. It's different in the way its written, in that it isn't just Ernie, the character telling the story, who is being bullied and it isn't just him having to deal with it. Ernie is watching his best friend- his only friend and ally- slowly waste away with every torment thrown on them. Coupled with a horrible home life, Will deteriorates. Not only does Ernie have to deal with everything thrown at him, he has Will's issues as well.

There have been worse cases of bullying in books, but this one got to me because even when things in Will's home life became public knowledge, it didn't stop. If anything, those events seemed to spark his tormentors and neither boy could really stand up for themselves or the other without bigger consequences. That particular aspect is one I found a little unique to the bully story- their decisions to stand up for the other, knowing it would be worse them but because it meant the friend didn't have to suffer, it was better, right?

Ernie was caught between a rock and a hard place more than once in this book and it was rough to watch him go through this. His home life wasn't great but compared to Will's it was kind of like paradise- and he recognized that. This was another aspect I really enjoyed because despite everything, in the right circumstances, Ernie could see the good things. But that means Will still didn't have it and that was even harder to read.

As the book progressed, I had the same growing sense of trepidation Ernie did but because I got to know Will so well also, I didn't want to see what was clear. Hyde did a magnificent job showing that- showing how Ernie could not see what was right there, and vouch for his friend. It happens- and as an outsider, it is so easy to point fingers and place blame but Hyde shows the impossibility of it when it's your best friend.

Anyone who has ever been bullied will relate to this book- and should read it. Because everyone has a breaking point- and consequences they might not be able to see because they are too blinded by hurt and hate. This book doesn't shy away from that- Hyde went in with tormented characters and she carried it all the way through until the spark hit the powder. And anyone who is doing the bullying also needs to read this because it doesn't hold back on just how much even the smallest things can tear a person apart.

High school, in many ways, can make or break a person for their future. You either gain interpersonal skills and confidence or you don't- and more often than not, what pushes it one way or another, ultimately, is genetics and family status. What makes a person popular? It isn't who they are, it's how they look, how well they can play sports or jump up and down with pom poms, and how well off their parents are. The rest of the students? Ignored, pushed away, and sometimes even ridiculed. And everyone knows it happens- even saying kids are cruel and that's high school for you- but it never stops. As parents and educators, it isn't seen- the tormented ones don't want to admit it and the parents of the tormentors never want to recognize their child is making the life of someone else hell. Books like this one really thrust that into light because there always will be students like Ernie- overweight, no matter what the reason and already embarrassed and unsure of them, only to have it preyed on and spotlighted. There will still be kids like Will with severe acne problems and ears that stick out with parents who aren't the greatest. And they are an easy and constant target- and it is a scenario that plays out over and over, happening in our high schools everywhere right now. I applaud Hyde for broaching this subject and not holding back on it because I firmly believe it needs far more attention.

This book easily deserves 5 stars. It is a very real, very rough subject from all sides, tackled strategically. This book left me with plenty of things to think about and I know it will stick with me for a long time. The characters are in depth and their growth and decisions are very realistic, even if hard to read. I most definitely recommend this book to everyone because it is eye opening, maybe even more so than some other bully books I have read because of the way it is presented and the way the plot plays out. In some ways, the ending was satisfying and perfect and beautiful- the kind that I love. Read it, because even though it is a fiction, it mirrors real events entirely too well and could easily become a biography or the next breaking news story.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young teen years, bullies, family

For me , this was a thought provoking book. If one of my son's was being bullied at school, how would I handle it? If my son had one good friend who didn't have much, if any, home life, how would I handle it.? This book is very well written and the characters believable ~ so believable that I could honestly be Ernie or Will's auntie or perhaps grandmother. The truth is that I am a huge fan of Catherine Ryan Hyde. I've been on somewhat of a small binge reading her books. I love reading a good story and 's. Hyde is a master at story telling. I 110% recommend this book and this author.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read many young adult books but this one is just as relevant now as it was when it was written ten years ago.
Two boys one is being bullied one has rough home life how they each try to handle things and what happens when one of them thinks violence is the answer to their problems.
I recommend this to teens and adults it will make you think and break your heart a little.

[Mary Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very haunting story of two teenage boys who are bullied by the jocks in their school. I think this book should be required reading by all middle school and high school students.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thought-provoking book about bullying in high school and its consequences, to the bullies, the bulliied and the one seeking to stop it....the dominoes fall effect it has on all sides.

Reading this book brought back a lot of memories and the accompanying emotions from school years and the cruelty suffered by some kids just for being different. I, for one, am glad to see this subject being addresed head on in books and discussed in classrooms and hopefully in himes with kids as young as possible. No name calling permitted @ hoe should be a rule in homes from a very early age. It starts there.

[Bailey Bohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick YA read about two boys who are going through it and one of them who decides he wants to put an end to it. This book is very simply written, in the form of journal entries from one of the boys, Ernie. Ernie's navigation through severe high school bullying and his best friend's reaction to the bullying broke my heart.


Similar reading: The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle, Birthday, Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock, The Female of the Species

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was surprised when this book came in for me- I usually avoid ya books about school violence and bullying- they just make me sad and they're always so predictable. But I guess I read a review of this and thought it sounded promising.

And it wasn't too bad- it was not as predictable as I thought, and the part that I thought the whole book was about was really only the last couple of chapters. It was mainly about being an outsider, being ridiculed, being in high school, and not knowing how to handle the things that accompany that. It was sad- how could it not be? But the ending was good.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading for every Junior and Senior High student.

I don't know if the kids that behave the way the 5 kids do in the boom have enough compassion to see themselves, but if reading this stopped one shooter, that would be enough.

Do parent still teach compassion to their kids? I remember being four or five and squeezing my kitten too hard. My mom said 'How would you like it if someone did that to you?'. Of course as the youngest of four I didn't like it, and I learned to consider how other people think and feel.

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ernie and Will are friends as they have the bond of both being outcasts at their school. This is a light easy read that tackles so many difficult topics.

Hyde is such a gifted writer and I have enjoyed so many of her books and she didn't disappoint with this one. I didn’t see the twist at the end but absolutely loved it. Highly recommend as I do all of Ms Hyde’s books.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a young adult book about two boys who are friends and bullied by 5 boys at school. Both of the boys like fishing -- one does fishing in the sea, the other likes fly fishing in a river. Lessons in the book are about respect and doing the right thing, friendship, and understanding.

[Mary Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was a predictable. Will and Earnie are the kids that the popular kids pick on. Each one handles this in a very different way. It's a good book to teach about bullies.

[Rilee P · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Diary of a Witness" is a book about this boy Ernie who is very generous and respectfull and is just a great person. He is just trying to survive another year of high school (literally). His best friend Will had been having some problems threw out the school year. He had a tragic accident that made him have some thoughts about hurting himself and or maybe other people too. Threw out the school year Enie and will have been getting bullied by five school jocks. It wasn't just any bullying. They were hurting the boy at school, Stealing or taking things from the boys, and showing up at there houses before school just to hurt them. One time in school when the boys were trying to stand up for themselves the five boys tried to beat them up AGAIN. But the boys tried to fight back but they were sadly too weak. When one of the teachers saw the seven boys fighting in the hallway it looked different in his perspective. So six of them got suspended because Ernie told the teacher what was really going on so he didn't get suspended. Then one of the jocks (bullies) showed up at Ernie's door. Since Ernie was too scared to face the bully he acted like he was sick and stayed home from school. Then once the boys could both go back to school together they walked together. They walked to Will's house first so they could drop some stuff off. Once they were on there way to school there they were all five jocks (bullies) so Ernie and will started to run. But Ernie slowed down and Will noticed and turned back around and tried to help him run faster but it didn't work. The bullies caught them and hurt both of them. Then the next day Will didn't show up at Ernie's door. He thought it was a little weird. So he just walked over to Wills's house. He was there wearing baggy jeans with a gun in them. Will told Ernie not got to school for another fiveish minutes and to make up a good excuse so he didn't get in trouble for being late. Ernie knew what was going on so he called the police and ran/walked to school as fast as he could. Once he got to school there were police cars and a crowd of people. Ernie pushed his was threw the crowd and saw Will laying there on the ground with the gun next to him and his hands behind his back handcuffed. The policemen took Will away and took Ernie into the police station ask him some questions. Then once Ernie went back to school he had a different lock on his locker and once he opened his locker there was the coat the jocks (bullies) stole from him. He never really got to say goodbye too Will but Ernie never got to see his best friend ever again.

[Karissa ₊˚⊹ ᰔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4/5 stars for Diary of a Witness by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Okayyy so this book surprised me! I honestly wasn’t sure what I was getting into at first, but Diary of a Witness ended up being a really emotional, quiet kind of read that stuck with me more than I expected. It’s definitely a slower paced story, but one that means something if you give it the time to sink in.

Tropes you’ll find:
📓 coming of age
🧍‍♂️ unlikely friendship
📖 journaling to cope
🎒 bullied teen redemption arc
💔 grief + trauma healing
🌧️ boy deals with mental health struggles
🚣‍♂️ symbolism and quiet reflection

The story follows Ernie, who’s kind of an awkward, shy kid and honestly, very relatable. He’s stuck between wanting to stay invisible and realizing he needs to stand up when his best friend Will starts falling apart. Will’s being horribly bullied and going through a huge personal loss, and it all starts weighing on him really heavily. The story is told through Ernie’s POV, almost like a diary (hence the title), and that format makes it feel super personal and real.

What I loved most was how honest this book was about grief, depression, and the way people sometimes don’t know how to help so they just witness it. It made me think about how being there for someone doesn’t always mean having the right words. Sometimes it’s just not looking away.

There were moments where the pacing felt a little slow 🥱 and the emotional tone didn’t always shift as much as I hoped. It kind of stayed on the same sad note for a while. But by the end, I realized that was kind of the point. The story’s not about quick fixes or huge dramatic moments, it’s about quiet resilience, loyalty, and healing in your own way and time.

The friendship between Ernie and Will felt very real like messy and complicated and awkward in the best way. I also thought the scenes involving the boat and water were so metaphorical and peaceful 🛶💭 It really brought this calm energy that contrasted with all the tension and sadness, which I appreciated.

And even though some of the dialogue did feel a bit stiff or overexplained, the themes were so important that I didn’t mind too much. The message is what counts here.

Final thoughts:
If you’re into fast paced thrillers or drama heavy books, this might feel a little slow. But if you’re looking for a thoughtful, emotional story about friendship, mental health, and showing up for someone when it’s hard then this book delivers. It’s quiet, powerful, and filled with heart. 💔📘

[Lydia Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chilling

Another great book by Hyde. It is a disturbing look at the merciless bullying of two high school boys. Narrator Ernie is overweight, but he's got the benefit of a support system at home. And he's got his best friend, Will, a fellow victim. But Will Manson doesn't have anyone but Ernie to lean on when his already difficult home life bottoms out. Will's steadily burning anger turns to rage as the bullying escalates, and Ernie becomes increasingly alarmed for both his friend and the five boys bullying them. Hyde's conclusion is matter-of-fact, almost numb. But that's fitting given the circumstances. I only wish Hyde's books were in never-ending supply. I haven't met one yet that wasn't irresistibly, you-need-to-get-to-sleep good.

[Debie Orrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for a light quick read and this was not it. Catherine Ryan Hyde wrote a very poignant book about bullying and friendship. Ernie and Will only have each other with five jocks always ready to trip and malign. Up until a tragic event happens which changes they’ve both just tried to keep a low profile though both want it to stop but not even the teachers ‘see’ anything happening. This event changes them both but in opposite directions. Both have big decisions to make and these decisions will determine their friendship. Is he the best friend ever or not?

[Melanie Wissel · Rating 5 out of 5]

YA

Gripping and heartrending story of two friends who are different enough to be outcasts and attract high school jocks who bully. When one boy, whose home life is neglectful at best, contributes to a horrific accident, things rapidly begin to spiral out of control. What happens when you are pushed to the brink of disaster and someone adds one more thing? How far does a best friend need to reach to save you from yourself?
I really thought this book gave a lot to ponder. Pretty much read it in one sitting, I was so engrossed.

[Gene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. And not as much ahead of its time as I thought. It’s amazing to me that kids still have to live with awful bullying that goes on so much, being terrified every day, tortured every day. Then one has had enough and brings a gun to school. This didn’t end with a shooting, though there’s tragedy through every stage of it. It’s not done, it’s 15 years later and it is still happening. This country is insane in not banning military grade weapons from civilian hands, for not doing more to make schools a safe place for every kid, in every way. We have failed two entire generations. What that means for America, we won’t know for decades. That’s scary and sad. Maybe those two generations fix it. I know none of the previous ones did.

[Julie A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another title in the emerging "school violence" genre... I liked Will and Ernie; they were real, funny, endearing. Witness illustrates the slow, painful process to the desperation caused by the berating of bullies, family dysfunction, and the disintegration of hope; it also shows the courage to do what's right, even when doing so means the possibility of losing everything that makes you feel safe.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book broke my heart. I know it's fiction but I have a feeling it's not. This book is about bullying in school and the extent one person will go to protect another or himself. This should be read by every person in school to understand what could happen when a person reaches the end of their rope. Again, Catherine Ryan Hyde wrote a wonderful teaching book!

[Robin Gurka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real life truly told

This is the third book written by Catherine Ryan Hyde in the last month. She has such accurate instincts about people and their feelings and behavior her characters are real people that you can see and know as well as a family member or best friend. I am relishing her writing and happy that there are more to read.

[carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should read

Every bully, every parent of a bully, every principal, every teacher, every student who sees bullying going on should be required to read this book. Bullying is under controlled in the schools? Far from it. Thank you, Catherine,

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

High school can be the best or the worst depending on your social circle.
This is the story, sadly all too familiar, about the torment, fear and helplessness bullies can cause as well as the out of control repercussions brought on by the desperation of the victims.

[Nancy Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant story of two boys. This summarizes it well for me:
"Ernie, an overweight high school student and long-time target of bullies relies on his best friend Will to watch his back until Will, overwhelmed by problems at home and guilt over his brother’s death, seeks a final solution."

[Gina Shupp · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was sad as to what these two young men endured. It sad the home life that Will had lost of his mother, his brother and then his father. He had no family life and only his best friend who was teased and abused do his weight problem.

[Sharon Hughson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A haunting account of what it means to be a true friend while still being true to yourself. In my opinion, this book should be read in every freshman literature classroom and the issues openly discussed.

[Pam Haan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful

This book, like all of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books, makes you feel like you’re right inside of the main character’s mind. She captures such powerful emotions and helps you feel the emotions, too. Love this book.

[Adelaide · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic

I feel this story is real and reflects the reality of some young people and it is so sad. We have to do something. Our country is in danger, our families and our youth are our treasure. We need to wake up.

[ML Couch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but Disturbing

Like all of Cathrine Ryan Hyde’s stories this one read quickly, great character development and an interesting storyline. Sadly true to life on the bullying front which is disturbing.

[Merla Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of 2 teenage best friends dealing with tragedy, depression, bullying, abandonment and how they follow different paths. Excellent story of how a troubled teen can feel so hemmed in, he feels the only way out is violence.