OBaaT (One Bully at a Time) by Alice Vachss
Description
“Tia gave OBaaT its first poem: Red danger, black terror, yellow caution, blue sadness … what are the colors of kindness and courage?”
Fiction speaks the truth in acclaimed sex crimes prosecutor Alice Vachss’ debut novel of high school friends who take on One Bully at a Time. A beautiful story of empathy, courage, reaching beyond ourselves. Hard realities of betrayal, bullying, domestic violence, stalking. Vachss brings a carefully crafted balance, with the aid of a bunch of shelter dogs and a character who speaks only in old rock and roll lyrics.
Anna, Rae-Rae, Piper, Sunny, Dareen, Jade, Charity – these teenage women could be your own friends. The difficulties they face are hauntingly familiar. With the shared strength that true family of choice gift each other, they set out to take on bullies … only reluctantly recognizing that the worst bully of all is their teacher. Ultimately, fighting him means squaring up against the bullies in their own lives. This is their story of coming of age, of learning not to be powerless, and of healing each other’s hearts.
In a time when we desperately need it, One Bully at a Time reminds us that we can all be heroes.
Reviews
OBaaT is a novel, but it also serves as a dramatized guide to self-advocacy and allyship. The story explores the importance of believing victims, meeting them where they are, seeking help from trusted adults, and navigating legal proceedings. Vachss, a longtime legal advocate for abuse survivors, writes with a mission: to show that what feels like helplessness can, with courage and community, become heroism.
What a wonderful book! As a librarian, I often struggle to find books for teens that explore family situations differently than a nuclear family or a single parent. The main protagonist is a foster child. That dynamic is explored as well as her friends’ family situations, but the book’s main focus is bullying. I think this book will appeal to teens, as it discusses many of the experiences they are confronting daily. I’ve already ordered a copy for my library, and I’ll be proud to recommend it to teens and adults alike.
OBaat (One Bully at a Time). This young adult novel uses a narrative about a group of high school friends to impart to the reader insightful, expert advice on how to respond to abusers of power. Its intended audience may be young adults, but any reader who take notes as they read will finish this beautiful story (of friendship, courage, connection and justice) armed with clear and powerful understanding and expert advice from the former Chief of the Special Victims Bureau of the Queens DA’s Office. OBaaT is the first work of “fiction” from the author of Sex Crimes: Then and Now: My Years on the Front Lines. OBaaT was a joy to read! I took my own notes as I read it, and feel empowered to do so. Highly recommended for any reader.
This book was recommended by one of my favourite authors so I thought I’d have a look at it. I was unexpectedly drawn in so deeply that I couldn’t stop reading it. Such an eye opener about the subject of bullies, such a huge part of life now, and how a group of teens, with problems of their own, can rise up and make a difference. Such a fantastic lesson in kindness and humanity. The characters made you care about each of them. Congratulations to Alice Vachss on OBaaT.