Mac, C. (2007). The Beckoners. Victoria: Orca Book Publishers.
Teachers have their thumbs on the heartbeat of the school? Think again.
In Carrie Mac’s The Beckoners, new student Zoe finds herself part of the Beckoners, a group of bullies of her school. Think the 2004 film Mean Girls, but on steroids. The Beckoners are vicious to the point of encouraging their favourite target, a girl they call “Dog,” to commit suicide.
The teachers are aware of the bullying that goes on, but not its extent. It’s tough to pin the blame on the adults in this novel for the extent of the bullying. The tormentors act when adults aren’t present and students keep silent — even when asked — out of fear of retribution by their tormenters. The characters aren’t clear-cut. The tormented Dog, or April, is homophobic and makes the reader wonder if brings the bullying upon herself. Meanwhile, Zoe flips between blaming April for her fate and her own desire to be accepted in her new school. Even Beck, the leader of the bullies, makes the reader question whether she is truly to blame for her bullying actions.
If you are looking to use this book as part of an anti-bullying campaign, there are plenty of resources available online. This book would be worth book talking alongside Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery,” and The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, which provides a similar story with male characters.
Teachers have their thumbs on the heartbeat of the school? Think again.
In Carrie Mac’s The Beckoners, new student Zoe finds herself part of the Beckoners, a group of bullies of her school. Think the 2004 film Mean Girls, but on steroids. The Beckoners are vicious to the point of encouraging their favourite target, a girl they call “Dog,” to commit suicide.
The teachers are aware of the bullying that goes on, but not its extent. It’s tough to pin the blame on the adults in this novel for the extent of the bullying. The tormentors act when adults aren’t present and students keep silent — even when asked — out of fear of retribution by their tormenters. The characters aren’t clear-cut. The tormented Dog, or April, is homophobic and makes the reader wonder if brings the bullying upon herself. Meanwhile, Zoe flips between blaming April for her fate and her own desire to be accepted in her new school. Even Beck, the leader of the bullies, makes the reader question whether she is truly to blame for her bullying actions.
If you are looking to use this book as part of an anti-bullying campaign, there are plenty of resources available online. This book would be worth book talking alongside Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery,” and The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, which provides a similar story with male characters.