The Bully (Bluford High Series #5) (Book 5) [Paperback]

Anne E. Schraff (Author), Paul Langan (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2007

Welcome to Bluford High. This widely acclaimed teen series set in an urban high school features engaging, accessible writing and appealing, contemporary storylines.

A new life. An new school. A new bully. That's what Darrell Mercer faces when he and his mother move from Philadelphia to California. After spending months living in fear, Darrell is faced with a big decision. He can either keep running from this bully--or find some way to fight back.

Editorial Reviews

Review

An enjoyable read. The author weaves all the realistic details of daily life that make readers forget this is fiction -- James Blasingame, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, September 2002

The suspense got to be so great that I could feel the blood pounding in my ears! --Terrance W., a 10th grade student

The second book (used with the class) was The Bully by Paul Langan, and it took the next six periods of eighth-grade classes by storm. I was no more than 2 paragraphs into reading my chosen chapter when I could tell from the absolute silence that the audience was hookedSilence gave way to choral groans and laughter before a tense moment resulted in silence again and finally cheers when the protagonist, a small bullied ninth grader named Darrell, confronted the school bully Tyray, unexpectedly in the school cafeteria and sent him sprawling in a pool of spilled spaghetti. --James Blasingame from Books That Don't Bore 'Em, Scholastic, New York, NY. 2007

The second book (used with the class) was The Bully by Paul Langan, and it took the next six periods of eighth-grade classes by storm. I was no more than 2 paragraphs into reading my chosen chapter when I could tell from the absolute silence that the audience was hookedSilence gave way to choral groans and laughter before a tense moment resulted in silence again and finally cheers when the protagonist, a small bullied ninth grader named Darrell, confronted the school bully Tyray, unexpectedly in the school cafeteria and sent him sprawling in a pool of spilled spaghetti. --James Blasingame from Books That Don't Bore 'Em, Scholastic, New York, NY. 2007 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks; Repack edition (June 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439865468
• ISBN-13: 978-0439865463
• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 0.6 x 6.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,634 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Langan has taught reading and writing at Atlantic Cape Community College near Atlantic City, New Jersey, for over twenty-five years. The author of a popular series of college textbooks on both writing and reading, John enjoys the challenge of developing materials that teach skills in an especially clear and lively way. Before teaching, he earned advanced degrees in writing at Rutgers University and in reading at Rowan University. He also spent a year writing fiction that, he says, "is now at the back of a drawer waiting to be discovered and acclaimed posthumously."

While in school, he supported himself by working as a truck driver, a machinist, a battery assembler, a hospital attendant, and an apple packer. John now lives with his wife, Judith Nadell, near Philadelphia. In addition to his wife and Philly sports teams, his passions include reading and turning on nonreaders to the pleasure and power of books. Through Townsend Press, his educational publishing company, he has developed the nonprofit "Townsend Library"--a collection more than thirty new and classic stories that appeal to readers of any age.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Bully March 8, 2006

A Kid's Review

Format:Paperback

Ever had to deal with a bully? Darrell has to deal with a new home, a new school, and a new bully named Tyray. Tyray forces Darrell to pay him every friday. Tyray complains how he doesn't like collecting it everyday so he decides to just collect $10.00 every friday at the end of the week. Tyray has threatened Darrell that if he doesn't pay Tyray that Tyrary would hurt Darrell..... bad! Everywhere Darrell goes Tyray goes to follow Darrell around and bully him. Along with bullies at school Darrell is also trying to help his little cousin when he faces a bully, and his bully is in his own family! The book The Bully by Paul Langan is a book of growing confidence and trust. Once you start this book you can't put it down until it is finished. This is a long book, but don't let that hold you off, it will seem like it took you two days to read it!!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Action Of The Bully January 23, 2006

By Sylvester

Format:Paperback

My name is Darrell Mercer. My mom and I live in A small town we don't have a lot of money. My uncle want us to come stay wit him and his kids because there is a good job waiting for his mom so they have to move. And I have to go to a school called Bluford High.

I have to find a way to survive in high school. Knowing that I am one of the little kids in school I have to survive a school full of bullies. There is a boy named Taray and he is one of one of the biggest students in the school and think I am the perfect target to bully.

Here I am in front of Bluford High firs day no friends yet. I I meet Taray and he is bullying be already. My uncle is always getting on me because how little I am for my age .I really like this girl in my class I am scared to tell her but there is only one problem Taray like her to. I got to find a way to defeat him. There is all kind of sports I can join to gain weight, strength, and self confidence. I will will show him whose boss and join a club and get stronger and beat him up. I think knows a lot of people now that I am in a really cool club. I and the girl I like is going to go to the school dance together but we can not be seen together or else I will get beat up. But we are caught dancing in the middle of the dance floor and I have to hide. But I guess it is too late now I am stuck in the trash in the restroom. I know I just have to get him back

I feel that this story remind me of my little sister because she use to get bullied at school but not anymore because my sister and brother go to school wit her now.

My option on this book is never try to get back at someone for something they did the time will come when that person will get something coming there way when the time is right.

I recommend this book to teens that like books like this .

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Popular Hi/Lo December 8, 2009

By Richard A. Steele

Format:Paperback

The Bully proved very popular among my middle school students (remedial reading). Most were really into the book, and most finished it although many had never read a book before this school year. I'm sure they were drawn in by the threat of violence and by the gritty realism that related to their own lives. I was disappointed by a couple of things - e.g. the bully was bested through a reciprocation of violence. But the things that disappointed me seemed to make the novel even more fulfilling for the students, and their positive response was what kept them reading. Recommended!