Buddies, Bullies and Baseball

Jack doesn’t have many friends, mostly just C.J. and Lizabeth. They have started fifth grade, and it is not starting out well. Two boys, Steve and Cliff, have been bullying Jack his friends. The two bullies do all kinds of mean things to Jack, like stealing his lunch. Jack is always trying to find ways to escape the bullying, but the bullies usually find him. There is a new student in Jack’s fifth-grade class; the student’s name is Hans, and he has come from Germany. Hans doesn’t know much English, but he is a pretty happy person. At first Jack worries that Hans is going to be just another bully at the school, but as he gets to know Hans better they become friends. The friends bond over their love of baseball.

If you have ever experienced bullying this is a great book to read because it shows how your strong friendships can overcome the bullies and that you are not alone. The story and characters are relatable to any student that is around the same age as Jack and his friends. It also shows that even when someone is different from you, you can find a way to bond with them.