pop cultured

One of my favorite reads even today, this book by Newberry winner Mary Stolz is still a childhood favorite.

Martin Hastings is frustrated. He’s overweight, has no friends and resorts to bullying the pesky kids in his neighborhood. But you feel for him, because he often gets teased and provoked .  Oh, Martin also back-talks his teachers, something I can’t defend him on.

Still, the only joy in Martin’s life is his dog, Rufus. Rufus is his only real friend.  Martin is a loner who  enjoys playing the saxophone, something he’s been practicing at. But when Martin gets into trouble, something has to give—or go.

His nemesis is next door neighbor Edward Frost, the skinny boy who has everything. But after he and Edward go at it, Martin begins to understand that it’s hard to live down his bad reputation, and he make some important changes in his life.

The Bully of Barkham Street was first published in 1963, but its message is timeless.