THE BRAMBLE

In this heartfelt tale, a boy’s encounter with a fantasy world allows him to find acceptance in the real one.

When Cameron tries to join in a game of tag, he’s bullied and teased. The illustrations, done in a comic-book format with multiple panels, heartbreakingly display the boy’s feelings of rejection and loneliness. But when a creature from the bramble leaves an amulet behind, Cameron—like Alice with the White Rabbit—follows the creature through a dark hole. He emerges into a world where an ominous wave brings terror to all the creatures. Despite this, they welcome and befriend him, and when the wave reappears, Cameron bravely faces it. A game of tag defeats the wave, releasing long-lost creatures back to beloved family and friends. Nordling and Zick’s metaphor becomes clear as Cameron returns to reality and finds the courage to challenge the bully to another game of tag. The wave and the bully are one and the same, striking fear into those around, overpowering—even distorting and removing—people’s kindness and friendship. But this time, Cameron is victorious, and the boy accepts him into the group. The artist’s energetic pencil illustrations skillfully create atmospheric environments and intriguing creatures. Different tints are used to indicate the two sides of the bramble, but both worlds are filled with texture and detail.

This nearly wordless tale offers much for readers to discuss and interpret, as the power of the individual to make a negative or positive impact in the world is explored. A good addition to the overcoming-bullies bookshelf