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Diary of a Witness

(2009, Fiction - School, Written by Catherine Ryan Hyde)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Intense tale of school bullying, loss, and isolation.

Themes in this book include:   emotional abuse, physical abuse, revenge
updated 09.23.09

Why We Rated This on for Ages 14 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Readers who may be interested in fishing will learn something, and everyone else will see the hurtful consequences of bullying.

  • Role models:

    Most of the kids featured in the novel are not kids parents would want their kids emulating, however there are positive aspects to two of the kids' personality - loyalty and a keen awareness of what is right.
 

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    There are negative, self-destructive, and hurtful messages here; however, the negatives are balanced somewhat by the positive outcome and a few responsible adult influences. There are examples of intense bullying, adult irresponsibility, and self-medicating through overeating.

     

  • Violence:

    Some bullying, including a boy getting pushed down stairs. A boy gets a hook caught in his scalp and bleeds. A boy takes a gun to school, but is apprehended before anything happens. A character drowns in the ocean; another boy imagines how it happens. A teen tries to commit suicide. A deer is killed during a hunt.

  • Sex:

    Standard teenage crushes. A kid tells his gym teacher he's gay to get out of gym class.

  • Language:

    Minor name-calling like "stupid" and "fat." One kid says he's "in hell."

  • Consumerism:

    Not much except for different types of fishing rods and one leather jacket with an NFL team and autograph (Terrell Owens) on it.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    An adult has a drinking problem, which leads to irresponsible behavior that lands him in jail.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Diary of a Witness

Parents need to know that there's a lot of bullying here. There are adults who are alcoholic, absent, uninvolved, or enablers. Also, a child dies in an accident, a teen tries to commit suicide, and someone takes a gun to school.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about bullying. We see the harmful effects of bullying on Ernie and Will; what ideas do you have to help other kids deal will bullies? Have you ever been bullied? Have you ever bullied someone else?
  • Talk about school violence. What would you do if you ever heard about someone threatening to harm others in school? What do you think parents and school leaders can do to help prevent school violence? How would your ideas have helped Will and Ernie?
  • Ernie's Uncle Max was one of the few adults Ernie could talk to and trust; how would having someone to talk to have helped Will? Is there someone in your life you can go to when you need to talk? What qualities make them a good sounding board?
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