A class of seventh graders deal with verbal bullying in this thought-provoking novel (with cautions).
Posted by John David Anderson. Walden Pond (HarperCollins), 2017, 365 pages.
Reading level: 10-12
Recommended for: 12-15
They are a tribe, those four: Eric (aka Frost), Avik, Morgan, and JJ, though when he transferred to Branton Middle School after his parents broke up, Eric didn’t think he would ever belong. Then he fell in with JJ (nicknamed Bench, because even though he joined every possible sports team he seldom got to play) and those two clicked with musical prodigy Morgan (Wolf) and nerdy Avik (DeeDee). They had each other’s backs until the new girl barged in—but even before that came the cell phone confiscation, when the school authorities cracked down on cruel texts. Bereft of electronics, the kids find a way: there’s always pencil and paper, and a few Post-It notes become a flood of words—funny, dumb, stupid, mean, actionable.
Words are ghosts that can haunt us forever. That’s Wolf’s aphorism, and after the random heat-seeking missiles of the class bullies have targeted DeeDee, they seek out Wolf, who not only has problems with fighting parents at home but is also targeted as gay. This is a very common middle-school taunt, but Wolf may actually be gay; that part of the story is handled with ambiguity and restraint. Eric, a budding poet and wordsmith has to figure out his own part in this drama: what to think, what to do, and especially what to say. The story is told with great sympathy and restraint, drawing the reader into these characters’ lives to such an extent that it’s a great relief when nobody dies. These kids will probably survive middle school but they all have some growing up to do.
In spite of some questionable content (see cautions), Posted raises some valuable questions about the weight of words and how we treat each other. There’s a growing consensus on college campuses today that words are equal to violence: What should a Christian think about that (see Proverbs 2:12, 12:6, 12:18, 17:27, 18:8)? What would a crackdown on words mean for freedom of speech? Can we effectively police speech for other people, or should we even try?
Cautions: Language (some omg, a few “hells,” common vulgarities like pissed and turd); Sexuality (one of the characters is accused of being gay)
Overall rating: 4 (out of 5, with cautions)
- Worldview/moral value: 3.5
- Artistic value: 4.5
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I’ve seen this book on amazon and have been intrigued. Will probably read it.
I always have difficulty knowing when to speak and when not to. With all the pressure nowadays to “live and let live,” you don’t always know the best way to raise sensitive issues. People seem more uninhibited than ever lately, and I’m appalled by the hate that’s being blatantly displayed in this country.
As someone who endured bullying, I know that words are violent, and they leave lasting impressions. But, Jesus was not afraid to speak the truth to others. I think we should examine ourselves first and then we will be better able to examine others. A spirit of humility and love is so very important. God bless you all.
Actually, this review wasn’t supposed to post yet! I was in too much of a hurry this morning. It’ll go up on Thursday, I think. But thanks as always for your comments! My problem with the “words as violence” characterization is that some have used it to shut down ALL speech they disagree with. It’s just another topic we’ll have to discuss with our kids.
Oh! I just read over this and certainly hope I didn’t imply that Jesus bullied anyone! He spoke the truth in love, and that’s what I need to not be afraid to do. Thanks.
Don’t worry! I don’t think you came across as implying Jesus bullied anyone.
I think this book is great! I even did a report on it but there’s a small issue… I’ve been looking online, in the book, and even on the back for a moral, and there’s nothing about it. Usually, every book has a moral but I just don’t see this book with a moral. That’s the only issue about this book.
Cali, I wouldn’t call it a “moral,” exactly–more of a theme. If I remember correctly, and it’s been a long time since I read it, Posted is about how gossip and unfair judgment of other people can get out of hand and end up causing harm. I think the author just wanted to illustrate the situation, not teach a lesson.
I have a book report due soon and I need a quick summary of the book (what mainly happens in each stage and how it ends) could anyone do that for me that would he incredible!
Sorry! We only provide the brief summary in our review. 😉