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| What makes someone repeatedly harass and intimidate those weaker than
himself? Are there kids who really enjoy being labeled thug, ruffian,
hoodlum or tough guy? Do employers delight in browbeating or being
hectors? Do parents and teachers intimidate? And is it done
consciously? How does this play a role in our world leaders?
Where does it start and at what age?
We hear the word bully used time and time again, but let’s be honest. Bully is a polite term for violator and abuser. Abuse comes in many forms, and to put it simply, if one is treated in any way other than with kindness, love and respect, it is abuse. Drive-by shootings and physical abuse leave wounds and even death. Emotional and verbal abuse leave a devastating wound, one that is difficult to heal. For instance, if you hear "That shows you how stupid you are," you eventually get angry, and might stay angry. You are hurt, you begin to believe that you are stupid and you loose self-esteem and confidence. It is devastating to feel insignificant and unimportant. What powers the actions of a bully? Is it the unconscious pursuit of empowerment and freedom? Do victims ultimately become violators? “Forgotten Fire” and “Touching Spirit Bear” are our books for this week. Each book powerfully illustrates the devastation caused by different forms of abuse. “Forgotten Fire” tells of the atrocities committed in Armenia during the genocide of WWI. “Touching Spirit Bear” is about a teenage boy filled with rage and hate. Both books are impeccably well written, riveting and hauntingly compelling. ________________________________________________________
FORGOTTON FIRE by Adam Bagdasarian (Ages 12 Up) Forgotten Fire is an unforgettable and moving novel based on the amazing true story of an Armenian boy who survived the near-extermination of his race in Turkey in 1915. Vahan Kenderian, the youngest son of one of the most influential Armenian families in Turkey, enjoys a privileged life complete with a house he loves, servants, the best school, and the love and closeness of his family. But when his uncle disappears, his father is taken away, and two brothers are shot right in front of him in the family garden, Vahan's world shatters. In the coming weeks, he loses his home, knows real hunger and thirst for the first time, and struggles to cope with the loss of his family as he watches helplessly while they are brutally murdered or left to die without food or water. Over the next three years, he will become an orphan, a prisoner, a beggar, a shepherd, a servant, and a stowaway. All in the name of survival! Compelling, uplifting, and even at times, humorous, “Forgotten Fire” tells the forgotten history of the Armenian Holocaust (1.5 million killed) as seen through the eyes of a child forced to become a man at twelve. Adam Bagdasarian was inspired to write “Forgotten Fire” after hearing a recording his great-uncle made about his experiences during the Armenian genocide of 1915. --DK Ink ___________________________________________________
TOUCHING SPIRIT BEAR by Ben Mikaelsen (Ages 12 Up) A gripping survival story from an award-winning writer, TOUCHING SPIRIT BEAR paints an unsparing picture of one violent teen and the power of pain that can destroy-or lead to healing. Within Cole Matthews lie anger, rage, and hatred. He has been stealing, fighting, and lying for years, and his attack on Alex Driscal has left the boy with permanent physical damage. Add to that the deep psychological scarring, and you find Cole in a whole lot of trouble. To almost everyone, Cole is a lost cause. But one man believes there is a way out of the spiral of rage in which Cole is trapped. Based on Native American tradition, Circle Justice is an alternative path of rehabilitation that attempts to replace punishment with healing for the offender, victim, and community. For Cole's Circle Justice, he is sentenced to one year on a remote Alaskan island where his rage and isolation lead him to another brazen attack. This time his intended victim is the Spirit Bear of Native American legend: A white phase black bear few have seen and whose existence many doubt. The clumsy assault ends with Cole clinging to the life he has tried desperately to throw away. Cole's rescue is only the beginning of his transforming journey. In a dramatic turnaround Booklist calls "convincingly painful and slow," he will heal the soul of the classmate he so brutally attacked, and possibly his own. TOUCHING SPIRIT BEAR examines the roots and damage of anger, while never absolving Cole of responsibility for his actions. A vivid tale of survival of both body and spirit, it teaches readers that everyone is part of the circle. --HarperCollins Publishers ORDER@AMAZON
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed
by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened.
But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.
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