The Tornado: A Novel

by Jake Burt

Overview

Jake Burt's The Tornado is "One of the best stories about bullying for middle grades. Highly recommended." —School Library Journal, starred review

Bell Kirby is an expert at systems, whether he’s designing the world’s most elaborate habitat for his pet chinchilla, re-creating Leonardo da Vinci’s greatest inventions in his garage, or avoiding Parker Hellickson, the most diabolical bully Village Green Elementary has ever seen.

Since third grade, Parker has tormented Bell, who’s spent two long years devising a finely tuned system that keeps him out of Parker’s way. Sure, it means that Bell can’t get a drink when he wants to, can’t play with his best friend on the playground, and can’t tell his parents about his day, but at least he’s safe.

Until Daelynn Gower touches down in his classroom like a tornado.

Bell’s not sure why the new girl, with her rainbow hair, wild clothes, and strange habits, is drawn to him, but he knows one thing—she means trouble. It’s bad enough that she disrupts Bell’s secret system, but when Daelynn becomes the bully’s new target, Bell is forced to make an impossible decision: Finally stand up to Parker. . .

Or join him.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250619792
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	10/06/2020
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	671,127
Product dimensions:	5.15(w) x 7.60(h) x 1.05(d)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Jake Burt is the author of the middle-grade novels Greetings from Witness Protection!, an Indie Next selection, and The Right Hook of Devin Velma, a Junior Library Guild selection. He teaches fifth grade, and lives in Hamden, CT, with his wife and their daughter.

Editorial Reviews

A Junior Library Guild Selection

"One of the best stories about bullying for middle grades. Highly recommended."—School Library Journal, starred review

"Having been mercilessly bullied for three years by Parker... fifth- grader Bell is at first so relieved when his tormentor switches focus to flamboyantly dressed new girl Daelynn that he actually goes along with a mean prank on her. So sharp is his guilt, though—particularly after Daelynn justly berates him for being a coward—that after a few false starts he screws his courage to the sticking place and discovers that forming a mutual support group with her and other victims effectively keeps the bully at bay. But this is only partly about coping with a bully, and the rest of the story may well prove more engaging to young readers."— Booklist, starred review

"Gracefully folded into [The Tornado] are themes of friendship, accountability, engineering, and cooperation, and even a discussion on what life was like for Leonardo da Vinci. Even with a wide range of topics, Burt keeps the plot lively and focused as the very believable kids work to solve their own problems through both empathy and logic. ...A satisfying tale of bullying redemption with a STEM twist." — Kirkus Reviews


Praise for The Right Hook of Devin Velma:

A Junior Library Guild Selection

"Spot-on sixth-grade humor and sympathetic characters will hook readers as he explores fame and friendship in the age of social media."--Publishers Weekly

"Fisticuffs ensue, but so in time do good and brave words in this goofy, affectionate tale of loyalty, family and fraternity."—Wall Street Journal

"A sweet, accessible comedy about two sixth grade boys. Short and punchy sentences get straight to the funny stuff and leave just enough unexplained to keep readers moving to the resolution. ... A wholesome, appealing, and fast-paced friendship tale."--School Library Journal

"Features a fantastic male friendship and a well-developed roster of characters. ...This is a novel fully rooted in the experiences of today’s tweens, certain that they’re one social media stunt away from fame but also still struggling with timeless concerns, whether it’s managing the expectations of adults or crushing on their BFF’s older sister. Hand to fans of basketball and friendship stories."—Booklist

"He may not be the best candidate for the job, but twelve-year-old narrator and introvert Addison is willing to step in as cameraman/sidekick/lookout for his friend Devin, who plans to pull off an epic stunt, record and post it, go viral, and monetize his millions of views to cover his ailing father’s medical bills. ... fast-moving... just the ticket for easy entertainment or middle-grade book reports."— Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Greetings from Witness Protection!:

"Jake Burt is a storytelling magician. Part coming of age tale and part spy thriller, Greetings from Witness Protection could be a collaboration between Judy Blume and Ian Fleming. Nicki relates her unusual experiences with humor and with a commitment that melted my heart and made me wish I’d known her when I was in seventh grade." —Ann M. Martin, New York Times-bestselling author of Rain Reign and the Baby-Sitters Club series

"This inventive, clever story has a lot of heart at its center. Jake Burt’s debut is utterly rewarding.” —Wendy Mass, New York Times-bestselling author of The Candymakers and Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life

"What do you get when you mix a snarky city girl with a shady past and lightning reflexes with a seemingly typical suburban family she's just met? A funny, action-packed novel about the trials of school, parental arguments, and sibling rivalry—all with a dash of high-stakes thrills and dramatic showdowns... [Readers] will relish the action and fast-paced plot as well as the engaging and competent Nicki, whose emotional strength and quick wits carry her through much of the narrative." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

09/27/2019

Gr 4–6-Fifth grader Bell Kirby is phenomenal at designing and understanding systems like machines, projects for his Creator Club, and a habitat for his guinea pig—but none are more important than his systems to avoid Parker. Parker started bullying Bell two years ago. Bell told his teachers and his parents, but none of the usual things work when the bully is the principal's son. What finally takes the heat off Bell is the arrival of Daelynn, the new girl with rainbow-colored hair and a love of horses. At first, Daelynn thinks Bell is her friend. Then Parker begins to bully Daelynn, and Bell doesn't stop him. With gentle but persistent coaching from his father, Bell finally does the right thing. Or the wrong thing, but for the right reason. This story is based on events from the author's life. Burt deftly captures Bell's conflict: the relief of finally not being bullied alongside the understanding that it's because the bully is hurting someone else. Burt also makes it clear that sometimes children will still get bullied, even if they do all of the things people say they should. VERDICT The adults are present and engaged in Bell's life, and he does not have to face this alone, a point that is sometimes absent in books like this. One of the best stories about bullying for middle grades. Highly recommended.-Julie Overpeck, Gardner Park Elementary School, Gastonia, NC

School Library Journal

2019-06-25
What do you do when the school bully is also the principal's son?

For fifth grader Bell Kirby, the answer involves devising many systems and routes to help him avoid crossing paths with the bully, Parker Hellickson. He keeps them all in the notebook that's never far from his arms. And he's had plenty of time to work these systems out—Parker has been bullying him since the beginning of fourth grade, ever since Bell accidentally broke Parker's toe and kept him out of a soccer tournament. Bell's systems mostly work—until Daelynn Gower, a former home-schooler with multicolored hair, moves to town. Daelynn refuses to change herself to avoid trouble, and she soon becomes a target. But when Parker expects Bell to join in on the torment, Bell has a choice to make. Does he play it safe, or does he join with his real friends in standing up to Parker and proving to everyone, even the principal, that Parker is a bully? Gracefully folded into this tale are themes of friendship, accountability, engineering, and cooperation, and there is even a discussion on what life was like for Leonardo da Vinci. Even with a wide range of topics, Burt keeps the plot lively and focused as the very believable kids work to solve their own problems through both empathy and logic. The book adheres to the white default, with one of Bell's friends described as having dark skin and another with an Asian name.

A satisfying tale of bullying redemption with a STEM twist. (Fiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews