The Pact by Mitchell S. Karnes Review and Giveaway

 

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The Pact by Mitchell S. Karnes has a timely message about bullying.   Bullying is defined by Stopbullying.gov as, "unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose."  Middle School is a breeding ground for this type of behavior and parents are often unaware of the ramifications of this serious issue.   Karnes takes this topic and makes it accessible to both teens and adults.  Yes, this is a book for both audiences.  Karnes allows this issue come to life with his likable protagonist, Scott Addison.  When Scott's mother, a single parent, moves her family to the small Southern Illinois town of Meadowbrook all Scott wants to do is to blend in, but life has a way of forcing people to stand up for what they believe; in so doing, Scott must face the attention of a pack of bullies at his new school, which is the last thing he wants.  Hey, are you hooked yet?

Within the story Karnes addresses such questions as why children bully, how bullies pick their victims, and how standing up to a bully alone might not be the best way to address bullying due to the unforeseen repercussions.  The Pact is a cautionary tale, which educates and entertains at the same time.  Give the book some breathing room.  The more you read the more intriguing the story becomes.  In my opinion, a must read for teens, parents, and educators alike. 

As an educator, I have strong feelings about this topic and its long-term effects on bullied children; I feel the sensitive subject matter was deftly handled by the author.  I often worry that bulling is a silent threat in our schools, which often goes unreported.  I plan on donating my copy of The Pact to my school library in hopes that the book will speak to the students at my middle school.

I'd like to thank TLC Book Tours and the author, Mitchell S. Karnes, for allowing me the opportunity to review this book.



Others blogs on the tour this week include:

Monday, February 17th:  Seaside Book Nook

Wednesday, February 19th:  Shelf Full of Books

Thursday, February 20th:  Savings in Seconds

Summary Courtesy:  Goodreads

The Pact by Mitchell S Karnes

Scott Addison never set out to be a hero. But sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you can't run away from destiny. On the heels of his father's death, Scott and his mother move from Iowa City, Iowa to the small Southern Illinois town of Meadowbrook. Scott just wanted to blend in...to observe quietly...to be one of the kids. Unfortunately for Scott, his instincts, heart, and integrity took over on his first day at his new middle school. Scott stood up to and faced down three larger boys torturing a wiry little boy named Paul. This simple act of kindness and chivalry put Scott in the midst of the conflict and on the receiving end of the bullies' antics. Paul introduces Scott to two high school friends who just happen to play Warriors & Thieves, Scott's favorite role-playing fantasy game. The game and his new friends provide a much needed escape from both his past and his present troubles...at least for a while. But no matter how hard Scott tries to blend in at school, his pet peeve of bullying and his overwhelming sense of right and wrong continue to push him into the limelight, bringing praises from many, but more opposition from the bullies. When the hazing goes too far Scott decides it is time to take a stand...no matter the cost. Of course, sometimes, that's the price heroes must pay.

I have two copies of The Pact to giveaway.  Here's what to do...

1	FOLLOW The Things You Can Read on Google Friends Connect (GFC), by Email, or Bloglovin.  If you already follow us, let us know in your official comment.
2	To enter, write a comment on the official February 18th Review Post
3	The winners will be chosen by using the RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR. The winners will be contacted by email on February 23, 2014.  I will post the winners name and blog(s), with their permission.  However, you don't have to have a blog to participate.
4	The winners names will be posted the week of February 24, 2014.  Again, you don't have to have a blog to participate.
	Do you have any thoughts on bullying?  Does a book that grapples with this social issue interests you?  If so, let us know here at The Things You Can Read! Happy reading to all! ☮ Happy Reading☮ The Things You Can Read! Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!