Synopsis: Rich is terrified when he was confronted by Toxon, the hardest boy in the school. Can he get his revenge?

Review: Rich and Lee are used to being the big kids in the playground, and enjoying a bit of harmless fun scaring the little kids. But no longer. Now they’re the little kids – and it’s Toxon they have to avoid. No harmless scaring this time, Toxon and his blade are dangerous. At first Rich and Lee manage to blend in and avoid Toxon. Then one day Rich makes a fatal mistake. Late for a lesson, he takes a short cut. There he is discovered by Toxon and his minders.Toxon plays a game with him and luckily this time Rich gets away with it. But now he is petrified.Toxon will be looking for him, he will find him, and Rich knows he won’t get away with it again.

Lee is angry – he refuses to live in fear of the big bully. He is sure that Toxon is bluffing. After all everyone knows bullies are cowards really, don’t they? So he hatches a plan.

This is a book that is sure to appeal to even the most reluctant reader. From the chilling picture on the front cover and the hinted at gruesomeness lurking just below the surface to the thrilling victory of the under-dog, boys will love this story. Another Barrington Stoke masterpiece, written in simple, straightforward language with illustrations which skilfully add to the story, reluctant readers can enjoy this book without feeling patronised or talked down to. The subject matter is totally appropriate for secondary students. The book raises issues such as how to deal with bullies appropriately without sacrificing the story to the message.

Blade is definitely a book to recommend for independent reading for those students you always struggle to find something enticing for. It could also be used for the lowest attaining group in a guided reading session.

2006-11-14