BFF

 Thirteen-year-old Abby and her father have just moved from a leaky old sailboat in California to an inherited mansion in South Carolina, and Abby does not fit in. This is the story of the summer adventures she shares with new best friend, Hollis, and two boys from their class rescuing an injured heron. But when school begins, Abby is shocked to learn that Hollis is a bullied outcast…who, pushed to the limit, takes her own life—a phenomenon known as bullycide. BFF attempts to portray the loss felt by those left behind.

 

This book deals with suicide, which may be triggering for some readers.

my review...

This is a very difficult book to review. Don’t get me wrong. It’s both well written and well edited. It’s also important. Something absolutely every tweenager and young adult should read. It’s something every adult should read too. Not just parents, but also adults who see bullying occurring. Age doesn’t matter. Any disgusting person that feels the need to pick on a kid or an adult should be reported.

This story is about a young girl who moves to a new town and makes a BFF almost immediately. They both have their own difficulties in life. Missing a parent, maybe a little lonely, and yet have happiness in their lives. There is some humor here. Conversation and growing up things between friends and with the parent they do have. But there’s also one or two mean as a skunk kids in their school. If you told me you didn’t have even one kid like this in your school while growing up, I’d say you were lying.

I’ll summarize this story by saying something you already know if you’ve read this far. It’s a subject that makes me angry. It’s a shame that some people get their jollies by picking on others. And yet, this book and others like it need to be written and read. It’s an uncomfortable subject that needs to be recognized. If even one kid reads this and doesn’t make the mistakes made here, this book is worth everything.

  

read an excerpt... 

What I heard was that we had a week to catch the heron or else it was going to be totally up to Hollis and me to save it. I didn’t want that much responsibility and the thought of an animal living in pain made me blurt out, “Shouldn’t we be looking for the heron while we can?”

Hollis traded gear with Conner, who’d last been holding the box, sheet, and towel.

We traipsed around for a long time and saw a perfectly white egret, a brown otter, and lots of colorful little birds, but no blue heron.

“Well?” Hollis looked disappointed.

Conner nodded and took a deep breath. “Okay.”

On the way toward town, Hollis began singing Elton John’s “Rocket Man.” I was surprised she had such a pretty voice. I didn’t want to ruin it by joining in, but Conner started singing backup, so I tried to keep quiet pace with him.

Soon Conner and I were a step behind Hollis, and we were all dancing down the road, toting our birding gear, and singing at the top of our lungs. It was one of those times you wished could go on forever.

Suddenly, Conner stopped walking and whacked me in the stomach with the pail of fish.  “Hush!”

Something was going whoooosh, whoooosh, whoooosh, and both Hollis and Conner looked skyward.

“There it is!” Hollis said, as the heron flew overhead toward the pond we’d left fifteen minutes before.

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There is a book trailer on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPlDR3AQ4TM

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Lindsey G. P. Bell wrote BFF: A Story About Bullycide after seeing numerous articles online about kids aged 9 - 14 who’d taken their lives in the face of bullying. Bell was also bullied in elementary school and wanted to pen the book she would have benefitted from. BFF: A Story About Bullycide is her thirteenth book but the first one she’s published.

Website: www.lindseygpbell.com

Link to Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/BFF-Bullycide-Lindsey-G-Bell/dp/1733874801

BFF: A Story About Bullycide is available through wholesaler IngramSpark…so, should be findable through most large and small book sellers, including:

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bff-lindsey-g-p-bell/1137309506 

Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bff-A-Story-About-Bullycide-Paperback-9781733874809/968397596

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