Customer Reviews

A Bundle of Sticks

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Reprinting Pat Mauser McCord's "Bundle of Sticks" is appropriate for at least two reasons: First, it is a book that never should have been permitted to go out of print, and second, it is being reprinted at a time when its major theme-bullying in schools-has become an epidemic across the country. As this review was being written an 11-year-old boy was so tired of being bullied that he drove the family car almost all the way across Missouri, running from a stressful situation. It is a very serious problem that all schools and parents should investigate and take measures to stop. Reading and believing a book like this is a good start.
When "Bundle" was first published nearly 20 years ago it won numerous prestigious awards-the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, the Mark Twain Award not to mention the Washington State Governor's Award. It deserved them and more because of the gentle, often-humorous way it gave kids a way to stand up to bullies. On the surface, learning martial arts sounds as though violence is being advocated. Not true. As "Bundle" explains and shows through believable plotting, martial arts properly taught can give kids the self-confidence to deflect bullying without resorting to violence. This is emphasized throughout and shown convincingly in the novel's final scene.

This is a great book. My favorite book in 4th grade. It was so good that I still remember the book as an adult and bought it for my 2 boys that are now in the 4th grade. They both loved it and finished the book in record time.

This story really held my 8 year old son's attention. He loved the story.

I read this book when I was about 10 years old and I loved it. I read it at least 20 times before I turned 12. I have recently re-read it and it still a great book. I bought it so my 9 year old son could read it too. It will be a Christmas present for him, he is not big on reading, but like me, he loves the martial arts. This is a great book for any young boy,(or girl) who has been bullied and are too afraid to tell an adult.

An excellent story, I would like to see it released as a feature-length film.