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A review by erine
If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric Gansworth
4.0
Takes place in recent history, but is not contemporary. Lewis lives on a reservation and he and his neighbors all go to school with the local white kids, but they are subdivided into sections based on ability (to a degree). Lewis has been placed with the gifted group, and is one of the only Native kids. So there's some typical friendlessness issues of the out-group character, which lead into some pretty typical bullying issues.
The bullying is bad, but I ultimately liked how the book approached it. There's no pretending that there's an easy solution or that the grownups are willing or able to help. Lewis largely relies on flying under the radar, and when that is no longer possible, when adults and friends and his own abilities fail him, he stays home. Lewis stands up for himself by refusing to go to school, by clearly articulating what's happening, and by persisting. Even that might have come to nothing had his friend not put his own body on the line and a guidance counselor not been willing to work with Lewis' protest instead of punishing him.
The friendships in this book are nicely painted as well. Lewis and George are both outsiders -- to a degree. Watching them both extend to each other a little bit of trust at a time is a realistic way of seeing their friendship grow. Not all at once, but in fits and starts.
The bullying is bad, but I ultimately liked how the book approached it. There's no pretending that there's an easy solution or that the grownups are willing or able to help. Lewis largely relies on flying under the radar, and when that is no longer possible, when adults and friends and his own abilities fail him, he stays home. Lewis stands up for himself by refusing to go to school, by clearly articulating what's happening, and by persisting. Even that might have come to nothing had his friend not put his own body on the line and a guidance counselor not been willing to work with Lewis' protest instead of punishing him.
The friendships in this book are nicely painted as well. Lewis and George are both outsiders -- to a degree. Watching them both extend to each other a little bit of trust at a time is a realistic way of seeing their friendship grow. Not all at once, but in fits and starts.