978-1-939547-62-0
Hardcover
275pp, B&W
5.5in x 7.5in
Juvenile Fiction
8 to 13
April 2020
$17.99
ISBN:
Format:
Pages:
Size:
Category:
Age Range:
Publication:
Price:
“Provides wisdom that can guide readers with their own challenges. Stepping into the lives of these characters reminded me of the importance of friendship, the power of wishes, and that heroes are all around us.”
— Darlene Andre, 5th-grade Teacher, Kenosha Unified School District, Wisconsin
“A lovely lyrical tale of friendship, courage, hope, and a one-eyed fish.”
— Marina Cohen, author of A Box of Bones
Wishes, Dares, & How to Stand Up to a Bully
By Darlene Beck Jacobson
This poignant novel in verse crystallizes a boy's worries about his father, MIA in Vietnam. His family, new best friend, and a bully unexpectedly all help Jack find the courage to do the right thing, not the easy thing.
NCTE 2021 Notable Verse Novel
"Jack is a young boy who is worried about his father, missing in action in Vietnam. His family, new best friend, and a bully unexpectedly all help Jack find the courage to do the right thing, not the easy thing. "Wishes, Dares, and How to Stand Up to a Bully" by Darlene Beck-Jacobson (who has worked as a Speech Language Specialist for 20 year) is a poignant novel told entirely in verse. Uniquely original and with an important underlying social message for children ages 8-12, "Wishes, Dares, and How to Stand Up to a Bully" is especially and unreservedly recommended for elementary school, middle school, and community library General Fiction collections."
— Midwest Book Review
“A beautiful story about love, loss, courage, and hope. I was hooked from page one.”
— Trudy Ludwig, bestselling author of The Invisible Boy
"A big-hearted tale about the need for family, friends, magic, and the courage to wish for what you really need."
— Laurie Calkhoven, author of Roosevelt Banks, Good-Kid-In-Training
"Its free verse lines crafted with care and concision, the book captures Jack’s emotions, and his 1960s small town setting, because of its sharp attention to detail. References to John F. Kennedy, John Glenn, and Joe DiMaggio round out the period, and the shadow of the war hangs over everything. Still, the children roam unsupervised—fishing, biking, and camping—in a world that is otherwise familiar and safe. They’re dealing with serious issues all the while, from Jill and Cody’s abusive stepfather to Jack and Katy missing their father. By the end, they have all developed the courage and strength to deal with their struggles. A historical childhood fantasy in verse, Wishes, Dares, and How to Stand Up to a Bully blends light summer fun withdeep emotional challenges."
— Catherine Thureson, Foreword Review
