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A review by librarianpeter
Alan Cole Is Not a Coward by Eric Bell
4.0
This was not only a quick read but also a really good book. Quick is a relative term in this case because I stayed up until 2:30AM to finish this book just because I could not put it down.
Alan Cole's home life is not a good one. His father is closed off, strict, demanding, shaming, and constantly berating his family. His mother is a meek, emotionally closed off, 50's era housewife who kowtows to her husband's every whim, and his brother is a bullying, jealous, conniving, and wretched human being. Alan is just trying to navigate middle school with his almost friends Zack and Madison all the while trying to hide his crush on fellow student Connor. Alan and his brother Nathan have a competition (mainly a way for Nathan to crush Alan and prove his superiority) but this time will back off if Alan finds some way to win. The game is that they give each other a list and by the deadline the brother that has completed the most things off of the list is the winner. But Alan's is impossible because not only does it include giving up his most prized possession and getting their first kiss but also to stand up against their father. Impossible! And the penalty for losing the game is dire because if he does Nathan will tell everyone about his crush on his male classmate and risk it all.
This book is an exercise in being true to yourself, standing up for what you believe in and standing up to the bullies in your life because you might just find out there are reasons for everything.
Alan Cole's home life is not a good one. His father is closed off, strict, demanding, shaming, and constantly berating his family. His mother is a meek, emotionally closed off, 50's era housewife who kowtows to her husband's every whim, and his brother is a bullying, jealous, conniving, and wretched human being. Alan is just trying to navigate middle school with his almost friends Zack and Madison all the while trying to hide his crush on fellow student Connor. Alan and his brother Nathan have a competition (mainly a way for Nathan to crush Alan and prove his superiority) but this time will back off if Alan finds some way to win. The game is that they give each other a list and by the deadline the brother that has completed the most things off of the list is the winner. But Alan's is impossible because not only does it include giving up his most prized possession and getting their first kiss but also to stand up against their father. Impossible! And the penalty for losing the game is dire because if he does Nathan will tell everyone about his crush on his male classmate and risk it all.
This book is an exercise in being true to yourself, standing up for what you believe in and standing up to the bullies in your life because you might just find out there are reasons for everything.