Shane’s new novel in verse, Stickboy, is narrated by a boy who, after enduring years of bullying from his classmates, finally snaps and becomes a bully himself. The title is a reference to both the old “sticks and stones” saying, and the narrator’s feeling of being made of sticks of dynamite waiting to explode. This tale, based on Shane’s childhood experiences with bullying, is as beautiful as it is haunting. And it reminds us that although we can assume any role—bully, victim, or passive observer—ultimately, we must each choose where we stand...

With cyber-bullying on the rise, this is truly a timely and important book for all ages and backgrounds: students, parents, teachers, and more. It is sure to ignite lively debate and discussion about bullying in our society and what we can do about it.

"The school bell was a wet towel spun into a whip,
snapping at my bare ass and
effectively breaking me out of my trance.
I picked myself up as best as I could
and shuffled off to class
with all the enthusiasm of a vegan at a meat-and-dairy convention.

Upon seeing my locker,
it was obvious that
the thick black letters that were stacked on top of one another 
were like a totem pole
telling me the story
of what kind of school year I was about to have.

FATASS

It wasn’t just letters strung together to form an insult,
it was a notice:
This was a not a two-part mini series.
This was going to be an entire season…"

ISBN: 978-0-9738131-6-6
Trim: 5 1/2 x 8 1/2
Extent: 192
Illustrations: B&W line drawings (chapter openers)t
Cover: Full-colour
Trade paperback
Price: $22.99
Pub date: September 2008

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