Publisher's blurb:
"There are two sides to every story
Dan is angry. Nothing has been the same since his big brother left, and he’s taking it out on the nearest and weakest target: Alex.
Alex is struggling. His severe OCD makes it hard for him to leave the house, especially when Dan and his gang are waiting for him at school . . .
Then the boys’ mums arrange for them to meet up and finish building the raft that Dan started with his brother. Two enemies stuck together for the whole of the school holidays – what could possibly go wrong? " (Booktopia)

My comments:
The author of Bubble Boy does it again; telling half the book through the eyes of the bully so we see his struggles and understand what is going on in his life to make him like he is. Foster handles the two stories very carefully and so we start to feel sympathy for the bully and want the the bullied boy to stand up for himself. Great setting, believable scenarios and settings and a very satisfying read. Highly recommended for boys in Years 7 -10. ( )

12 year old Alex worries about all the things that could go wrong, everything from touching bird poop to everyone dying. But the worst thing is everyday, coming head-to-head with school bullies who target him especially because of his obsessive-compulsive disorder. When he is forced to work on building a raft with Dan who has bullied him incessantly, Alex is sure it will be the worst holiday ever. Dan would much rather be building the raft with his brother Ben, but he is in juvenile detention and Dan is stuck with the weirdest kid in school instead. This story is told in alternating chapters from each boy's perspective and leads the reader to see how even hopeless situations can have a bright side. I'd recommend this 330 page book to grades 4-7. ( )

Please see my review posted on Amazon.com under C. Wong. Thank you. ( )