Books Reviews

Playground – Book Review

By Angela Youngman Oct 29, 2012, 17:10 GMT

A hard-hitting and inspirational novel about the redemption of a bully from international icon 50 CentThirteen-year-old Butterball takes readers on a journey through the moments that made him into the playground bully he is today. Loosely inspired by 50 Cent\'s own adolescence and written with his teenage son in mind, Playground received wide critical praise--and is now poised to become a perennial classic. ...more

Bullying is a problem in virtually every school and for those bullied it can be a nightmare.  This story is written from the point of view of someone who snapped and suddenly became a bully. 

Scared about his weight, suffering severe home problems, and in a new school he feels he is being picked on. 

He attacks another boy in the playground. As a result, he is required to visit a therapist on a regular basis. Slowly over the next few months, his attitudes begin to change as he tells his story. 

Even his father's views come under scrutiny.  This is the story of a boy undergoing major change and it makes fascinating reading.  Written in a style and format accessible to any teenager it does make you think about the world of a bully or a bullied child. 

Interesting reading, in a story format which is outwardly non challenging yet succeeds in getting an anti-bullying message across effectively.