Bystanders by Jonathan McKee (Get your copy here) is an emotionally gripping, realistic fiction novel about a teenager who is relentlessly bullied. After seeking help through multiple avenues, he decides to take matters into his own hands. Behind his parents’ backs, he drains his college savings, purchases weapons, and studies school shootings to devise what he believes is the perfect plan. Without giving away too much, I can promise that you won’t want to put this book down.
This is a book that I truly believe every educator, psychologist, and psychiatrist should be required to read. The story feels so real that I questioned if it was fiction even after finishing it. My heart broke for every single character. The events in this book could happen in any school or community, making it a powerful and eye-opening read. From the teenager’s perspective, it’s painfully clear how, after being let down repeatedly, he sees no other way out.
This resonates deeply with me as an educator, as we all know students who could fit into each character role. We work every day to reach and support these students to prevent devastating outcomes, and this story reminds us of the urgency of that mission.
This isn’t a book to read in one sitting; its raw themes demand time to process. Even so, I highly recommend it.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
Pages: 257
Where to Buy: Amazon
If you have Kindle Unlimited, you can download this book for free! Get Kindle Unlimited here — No Kindle required; you can read on the Kindle app or Kindle Cloud Reader.