Serving detention for delinquent behavior and assigned to keep a journal, Tod Munn reveals himself through his funny, edgy, and poignant entries.

Tod Munn is a bully and this is his story. Forced to keep a journal as punishment for school vandalism, Tod recounts one month of his life. The author is careful to show --never tell-- acute details of Tod's impoverished life: grinding povery, a distracted/neglectful mother, low self-esteem, and more. Tod reluctantly gets drawn into helping a school play behind the scenes and as he problem solves and makes things happen, he subtly begins to feel differently about himself and his world. The transformation is slow but believable. Kudos to author Shulman for a tale seldom told and even less frequently heeded. Other benes: sympathetic teachers, an endorsement for being smart, and no romance. ( )

A great quick read, even for adults. ( )

I hope to add more to this later but for now there was a lot more in Tod's story, in terms of human nature and society than Tod recognized. The combination of cynicism and optimism really struck me. ( )

A bully reveals himself through daily journal entries. Interesting and perceptive. ( )