Customer Reviews

The Revealers

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I was browsing the book store when I came upon this book,after reading through a few pages and looking at the description on the back it seemed like a fairly predictable, boring, book that I would read the first few pages uninterested and move on to something else. Because, I must admit, I thought that it would be another cheesy story with dull,flat characters written by a adult who had no real idea of what kids were like.Although skeptical, I decided to buy it because the other book I was consindering was too expensive and I figured if I didn't like it, I didn't spend alot of money on it.After reading farther into the book I knew I had definetly understimated it.This book kept me reading from begining to end and just when I thought I knew what was going to happen next,it suprised me!

The story begins with the main character,telling his experience with another classmate who is constantly bothering him and giving him trouble.One day he tries to figure out how he can stop him and meets two kids,who are middle schoolers,and who are being teased, harassed, and overall humiliated by these bullies. Each of these kids are different but they all have one thing in common; they don't want to tolerate it any longer.Determined and united they try to stop them from taking over the school! Since they later find out,that other kids are dealing with this problem too.One of the main reasons I liked this book was because of the lessons it taught.

This story really showed that kids have the power to stand up to their peers.It also showed that kids don't have to let anyone treat them badly because they have a choice and they have the power to speak up.Not to mention that although some kids think they're better than you for some rason,they're not because in the end we're just people and no one deserves to be treated that way.One thing I liked about this was the characters as I said earlier they were all different but I felt I could relate to each one in some way or another.I think despite the qualities that made then individuals they all felt trapped in some way as does every person some time in their life.Another thing I liked, (which I also mentioned earlier) was how the plot was constantly changing.It was enough to keep the reader in suspense from cover to cover.This book had alot of elements combined to make it a good story,but I think this review is long enough as it is.

To sum up this review, really I think that despite the fact that this may seem like something worth passing by on the shelf,you should give it a chance.I won't say it's a classic,it's not perfect,but it's good book and definetly worth reading.

Before I end I was suprised to see only five reviews when I looked up the titled of the book. I thought more people would of been able to see parts of themselves in the character,or at least found the plot enjoyable.Whether it's one people look past as I did,not what most kids are interested in,or simply hasn't been discovered yet I thought it was certainly worthy of praise.Please,it's no Harry Potter or Artemis Fowl,but you should at least give it a try.

I'm so impressed with this book! As a school counselor of 30 years, I'm amazed at the sensitivity and accuracy of Wilhelm's portrayal of the pain of bullying! The story line is realistic and curiously suspensful as it portrays the childrens' struggle to extricate themselves from the victimization of the bully. There's no quick fix in this story; instead Wilhelm incorporates his hours of interviews with actual students to weave a theme of self-awareness from the vantage point of both bully and victim.
Excellent reading for students, teachers and parents!

As a high school teacher with twenty-eight years of experience, I have found myself drawn to young adult fiction as a way to engage reluctant readers. The most successful books I have found are those that deal with social issues directly affecting student lives: prejudice, racism, substance abuse, or domestic/ sexual abuse. I just finished teaching Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak to my seniors and every single student was successful because they all identified with at least one of the characters Ms. Anderson created--she was inside their world and they can spot a fraud in a minute.
The Revealers is just such a book. Every page and chapter rings true with the angst, isolation, drama, confusion, and humor of middle school kids trying to find their way through the cruel and complex social order of early puberty. Some bewildered kids are clueless as to how they fell out of favor; some "nerds" have simply accepted their fate and learned how to stay out of the crossfire; and the few and powerful "alpha males" and "queen bees" are already wielding their social power with diabolical and menacing accuracy.
Doug Wilhelm's extensive research and work with middle-schoolers has paid off in the authentic voice of this short and powerful work. Not only are the scenarios recognizable to anyone who has suffered through middle school (or suffered through raising middle-schoolers), but the technology that permeates the novel is realistic as kids post messages, use Kidnet (the school's local area network), and "instant message" each other in ways my generation still can't quite grasp. We watch in awe as three kids, empowered by their intelligence, use technology to "out" the bullies in their own backyard: Darkland (a.k.a. Parkland) Middle School. Some of the sequences are horrifying--yet kids will tell you they are not exaggerated.
Wilhelm artfully weaves lessons of history through his tale as students explore the story of Anne Frank in social studies class and realize that silence--even in the face of a formidable enemy--is wrong and can turn deadly. Like much of Walter Dean Myers's work, this book has a winning combination of realistic problems, ordinary kids, good values (without giving easy answers), and just enough grit to keep kids on the edge of their seats. Middle-schoolers have their own little world, their own rules, and their own ways of communicating. Although there are some well-meaning adults in the book, most of the time they orbit the perimeter of this strange world rather than engage in it--just like real life.

The Coalition I am the coordinator of, does prevention work for youth to addressing substance abuse and violence. As I was preparing for a summit addressing bullying amongst middle school students, a friend gave me Doug Wilhelm's new book to read.
I sat down one weekend and finished The Revealers in four hours, I couldn't (and wouldn't) put it down. It is so real as it shows the bullying kids do to each other, that it made me feel like I was back in school, which was over 25 years ago, and I could feel the pain the the victims in the book were feeling.
But the way the characters react to the bullying and make a difference was inspiring. They didn't do anything extradinary, they just worked together, reluctantly at first, to help each other out.
My teenage daughter and I highly recommend this book not only for middle school students, but for parents and teachers. A true "must read" book and one on my top 10 list.
My advice, after you read it, pass it on and share your feelings and thoughts with others!

The characterization wasn't entirely convincing. I'm around kids that age a lot and sometimes, characters didn't sound or act like any 13 year olds I know. A few of the leaps of faith seemed sudden and without explanation.

That said, the plot was thoroughly compelling. It was a new twist on a common theme, but with a fairly unexpected ending. Definitely worth a read.

To Doug Wilhelm:

Today I checked The Revealers out from our school library. I thought it was going to be just another novel about the lives and troubles of kids. But it wasn't. I discovered a message. The book you wrote is powerful, and it made me think. About how better our world could be if we just said the truth. About how bullying is not just one kid picking on another.

Because bullying leaves scars. On your heart, and in your head. You begin to believe that just because this one person harasses you, your life will be miserable. And then you stop trying to stand up for yourself, to fight back.

I completely agree with what Turner said about isolation. Isolation started it all. Except that I understood it in a different sense. I believe that one of the most important keys to bullying is isolation. You keep them away from their friends, just for a few minutes and they're helpless. That's the way it is in modern society. I also agree with what Elliot said about traveling in a pack and how it's safer. You straggle away from your herd of pals, and *CHOMP* the bullies isolate and destroy you, just like what you would see in a video game.

Your book inspired me to try out the same project in my school. I wondered, will the results be higher or lower because it's an elementary school? Will the stories be different?

I think everyone should read your book. Because they will understand it, no matter what. Your book is so inspirational, so deep that I could cry. Thank you, for writing such a good book.

Doha, Qatar

I just entered the 7th grade and this kinda goes on in our school. I like this book because it tells about bullying. Also it gives the victims ways to stand up to the bully that is bullying them. Also it gives the bullies information by for them to stop bullying because even though they thing it is funny it isn't. People have killed theirselves because of it. But i liked it because it got me to think about standing up for the people that have been bullied and are being bullied right now. So i encourage all you people out there to read this book.

Russell , Catalina and Elliott , the main characters in The Revealer , are all victims of different bullying. Catalina gets bullied emotionally by the mean "popular" girls writing lies and rumors about her. Elliott gets bullied physically by the mean "jocks" and Russell gets bullied physically and emotionally by the tough guy in school. When they all get bullied they can't stand it so they decide to take a stand and stop it.

Catalina is a tall slinky skinny girl. She moved to the united states with her father from the phillipines. Because of what she looks like she gets bullied. The girls in her school bully her about her skin color , where she came from , and her mother , which they do not know at all. Elliott is basically a geek. He gets bullied by everyone and so therefor people think its alright to bully him. But its not. He obssessed about dionsuars , and he practically lives in the prehistoric age , and this couldn't possibly help him with his bullying situation. And finally theres Russell. He used to have friends. But that all changed in 7th grade. He now basically has no friends. Hes not geeky but hes not popular. When he starts getting bullied , and see's other people getting bullied also he decides to become friends with them and they try to stop bullying.

When Catalina tries to take a stand and stop the bullying in her school she decideds to publish a story telling about her life and disproving all the lies and rumors.This does make the mean girls stop bullying her as frequently and it makes her some friends. Elliott takes a different approach. He decides to fight back. This actually went wrong for him. It just made the bullying worse. And finally theres russel. He decides to try and stand up to the bullying. Although this doesnt work for him in the beginning it does eventually work out for him.

These are all kids that get bullied. They took a stand and tried to stop it and they do eventually slow down the bullying in their school.

The first few chapters of "The Revealers" really captures the fear that comes with being a victim of bullying. With a mix of humor and uncanny observation, I love reading the first few chapters to my 7th and 8th grade students.

Wilhelm really establishes his main characters right off the bat. Many of the supporting players are stereotypes, yet they serve the story well and have enough surprises and underlying truth that most of my students felt they could have been people they knew. His insights into bullying, empowering students to fight back, and the realities of middle school and our modern computer age make for good discussion.

That said, the book drags about half way through. After being jazzed up by the start, especially after we do read aloud, many of my students never finish it. Portions of the book are written as instant messaging, which confuses a number of students (even those who IM several hours a day). I found myself losing interest, too. I know many students and schools have been inspired by this book, which may say more about the widespread bullying problem in Vermont. At times, it feels like this is supposed to be good for you, more than a good book.

I recommend Wilhelm's latest, "Falling". About teen (9th grade) isolation in the face of the heroin use of a family member and set in Rutland, Vermont, it actually starts okay and only gets better. Also, if you have a chance to hear Wilhelm speak (he goes to schools to helps with writing), he's great. This book is also a great class book about bullying, especially if you student are not mature enough for the excellent "Speak" or "The Chocolate War" (my personal favorite YA titles).

Can you imagine a place where only the popular survive, and the weak and nerdy are constantly tortured? You should, because it's right under your nose, and it is called Middle School. Russell and his friends Catalina and Elliot, are the basementmain characters of Doug Wilhelm's The Revealers. Russell and friends are bullied badly, until they do something about it.

In Darkland (Parkland) Middle School there is a social pyramid. The higher your are the better. Russell, Elliot, and Catal, completely isolated. Russell wants help, so he teams up with Elliot and then Catalina.

Once in a team, they started standing up to bullies. The bullies didn't like that, so they tried to pull them down more. In response to this, Russell and friends made a newsletter called the Revealer. It let kids who have been bullied share their stories. That makes the authors of the Revealer, the Revealers.

Once the Revealer starts doing some good, it is used against Revealers. All of the good that was done started falling apart. Bullies rise up again and the Revealers are blamed. Now they must win it back...