Scrawl

“Scrawl is the rare novel written from the bully's point of view...It's useful to point out that much can hide under a hardened exterior.” —Los Angeles Times

“There's something special about this book…it's all put together so pleasingly, with punch and wit and smarts, and in such a way that the events and characters stay with you.” —PW.com "Shelf Talker" blog

“A memorable debut.” —Kirkus Reviews

“With the potential to occupy the rarified air of titles like S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders and Chris Crutcher's Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes (Greenwillow Books, 1993/VOYA October 1993), Scrawl paints the stereotypical school bully in a different, poignant light.” —VOYA

“Readers seeking an unflinching look at high-school politics from the perspective of the disenfranchised will find in Tod an illuminating guide.” —BCCB

“Tod has a real way with words (the way he crashes, then dominates the spelling bee is priceless)…Shulman establishes a nice voice for him, as Tod rips jokes so dry they can float away and shows some real heart dealing with his less-than-desirable lot in life… An unusual sort of bully redemption story.” —Booklist

“In a unique version of a story told in journal format, the writing Tod does in detention becomes this book… Through his own words, the reader grows to love this hard-edged character… Tod's voice is natural and consistent. Shulman captures the viewpoint of a believable eighth-grader, while conveying Tod's maturity and sharp sense of humor. Tod's back story is seamlessly woven into his narrative. This book will engage a wide audience, but it will appeal most strongly to junior high school boys, particularly those who may be bored by schoolwork or have trouble finding books that interest them.” —Children's Literature

“This is a different take on the bully story. It lets the readers inside the mind of a bully and see the reasoning for his actions. The story is true to life, funny, and shows that people who are seen as troublemakers can change… Highly recommended.” —Library Media Connection