A powerful story about bullying and finding your own peace. ( )

There's something to be said for a book that can be started and finished in one long car trip. For an old lady it is easy to remember all the cast and how they are related to each other. On the other hand it means the author really has to pack a lot into a few words.

Buddha Boy tells the story of Justin and his relationship with the new, strange kid at school, Jinsen. When Justin is paired with Jinsen for a class project, he tries to get away from the boy with the shaved head who begs in the school lunchroom. He watches in silence as the "cool" kids bully Jinsen, but the more Justin is around him, and the more he learns about his talents and his beliefs, the more Justin begins to question and push back on the way things are.

I got this book as part of the Sync giveaway on Audiobooksync.com. Given that the Sync program is geared toward kids in school, the story seemed written at the right level, but I felt it seemed a bit trite at times. Jinsen's backstory, while an interesting one, didn't seem to jive with his physical description throughout most of the book.

All that being said, however, I think the message of the book is a good one and I did find myself being challenged in the same way that Justin found his own beliefs challenged. So this is a book that is recommended with reservations. ( )

A quick read (and listen) about a guy who was floating by in the social middle in high school who befriends a new kid, Ginsen, who is targeted by bullies because he is different. "Buddha Boy" has incredible talent as an artist and has a tough home life, but he has managed to get himself to a zen state of mind. Keeping to his promise of a peaceful, non-engagement existence with the bullies who try to torment him at every opportunity. The narrator has a much harder time seeing this treatment and moving himself from a bystander to a upstander. ( )

The new boy in school is strange and a target for bullying by the in-crowd. Justin gets to know and admire him. As the new boy showcases his artistic talent, the bullying intensifies, becoming unbearable. ( )

Justin is enduring social pressure from his friends and his enemies at his rich, suburban high school, while still trying to maintain a relationship with his divorced parents by doing everything right. The problem is when you know that the “right” thing to do is also the “wrong” thing to do. Justin is faced with deciding whether to turn his back on his pals by befriending the odd kid at school who shaves his head, or join the cool crowd by making fun of the new boy who also happens to be a fantastic artist. Peer pressure and bullying are major themes of this story. Not only does Justin contend with issues of social justice in the high school arena, he is also exposed to weighty matters of poverty, death, and religion through the growing development of his hesitant friendship with Jinsen. Middle school readers and up will relate to the main character’s sometimes frustrating and challenging personal experiences, always questioning how they might act if they were in Justin’s shoes. Ultimately, this fast-paced tale of enlightenment will entertain readers with its varied cast of thought-provoking characters and true-to-life situations. ( )