Virtual Book Tour: "We're Done" by Judy Irwin Review/Giveaway

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What if it turns out that YOU'RE the bully - and you didn't know it? 

Up until now, life has been good for 13-year-old Luke. He's good at sports, attractive, and he's a big wheel at Heyworth Academy, his private school. He likes to tease, and poke fun at the other kids, but that's just because he likes having fun. But things start to fall apart, six weeks into eighth grade, when Luke commits an act of 'goofing around' that ends up costing him his best friend and his beloved private school.

After he's expelled, Luke transfers to his local school, Carlyle. Now, he's on the outside looking in. His looks, and background (not to mention his Heyworth hoodie), make him stand out, and the tough guys zero in on him right away.

The upside-down world that Luke finds himself in at Carlyle gives him a whole new way of looking at things. Can he recover from losing his school, and his best friend, and find new friends and a way to fit in at Carlyle?

Excerpt 

Luke looked at his mother. "So it's not — " He turned to look at Mr. Kennedy. "OK, now I get it." He pushed his hair behind his ears. "I was just trying to be funny," he said. "How can that be wrong? I mean, I'm sorry that Jill was upset. If you want, I'll apologize — "

"Luke, please let me continue," said Mr. Kennedy. "As you know, we introduced a new anti-bullying policy two years ago. We decided that, because we wanted Heyworth to be a safe, nurturing place for all students, that we'd have a zero-tolerance approach when it came to bullying."

"I know," said Luke. "You'd have to be a moron NOT to know about it. We hear about it all the time — zero tolerance, three strikes and you're out, yada yada, yada. I know all that. But having fun isn't the same thing as bullying — at least, not the last time I looked. I mean, we're kids. We're going to goof around. So I'm not sure what you're saying."

"Luke, this is what I'm saying," said Mr. Kennedy. "This is your third strike. I'm very sorry to do this, but I am asking you to leave Heyworth."

Luke's mom raised her handkerchief to her mouth, and she let out a muffled sob. "Luke, you see this is serious," she said.  

"This is nuts," said Luke. "I'm not going to leave Heyworth. This is my school. Mr. Kennedy, you can't do this. I'm on the swim team. I'm captain of the soccer team. And you know my parents are really involved in this school. Mom, don't you agree? This is not possible."

We're Done by Judy Irwin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bullying has become such an issue amongst youths today, and this is a book that addresses this young adult issue in a way that teens and preteens can understand. Yes, this is a book that I believe youth and adults alike should read and discuss. I say this because no matter what has been said about the dangers and intolerance of bullying in schools, it still happens on a regular basis.

Luke is one of those kids that is very likable, but he has a problem. Possibly, it is a problem of which he is not even aware. Sad to say, he is in good company when it comes to bullies in school. I am a teacher, and if you ask students if bullying is a problem, they say it is. But if you ask if they are bullying others, the answer is no. They are just kidding, or the object of their teasing is too sensitive.

This is a very quick read, and it packs a pretty hard punch. Through Luke's eyes, we examine bullying, depression, disconnected parents, facebook, private schools, public schools, loss or friendship, finding your niche, and so much more. And there is no sex nor profanity. How cool is that? I don't usually recommend that everyone reads a book, but I certainly do here! Oh, and just so you know, the book is very realistic--not all loose ends are solved. This only strengthens the message of the book.

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensation, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

View all my reviews

Judy Irwin writes books about kids dealing with everyday stuff, like parents and divorce, friendships and bullies, and figuring out how to handle different situations and circumstances. So far, she's written two books: We're Done, and What Did You Say? We're Done is about 13-year-old Luke and how he figures out what went wrong when he's kicked out of school for a bullying incident. In What Did You Say?, 12-year-old Tash tries to figure out what life will be like following her parents' divorce. In this book, which takes place at a trailer park up north, Tash first meets Luke, Jon and Polly.

Judy lives in Toronto, Canada, with a dog, a cat, and two hamsters, plus her husband and two children, ages 10 and 13. She studied English Literature at the University of Toronto. She always wanted to be a writer. She wrote her first book in fourth grade - it was about a boy called Japan, who lived in Japan. In addition to writing books, Judy is a freelance business writer.

For more info:

www.judyirwin.com

www.amazon.com/author/judyirwin

The author will be awarding a $50 Amazon gift certificate to one random commenter during the course of the tour.  So it is to your benefit to visit the entire tour here for more chances to win!