Payback

by James Heneghan

Thirteen-year-old Charley Callaghan is coping with some difficult changes in his life. His family has recently moved to Vancouver from Ireland, and his mother has died of cancer. Now he is desperately trying to fit in — in a new school, a new city, a new country — while holding a part-time job and keeping an eye on his little sister, Annie. Charley’s red hair and Irish accent at first make him a target of the class bullies, but he is just tough enough to keep them at bay. It's almost a relief to him when the bullies find a new target, Benny Mason. Charley keeps hoping, in vain, that Benny will defend himself, but he fails to intervene. When Benny commits suicide, Charley is overcome with remorse and guilt. He visits Benny’s single mother, Joanna, but instead of confessing, finds himself trying to make amends by doing chores, running errands, and befriending Benny’s little brother. Can Charley find atonement for his failure to help Benny? James Heneghan's trademark narrative drive, vivid characters, and strong social message make this a masterful study of loss and renewal.

Genres: Young Adult, Canada

184 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2007

About the author

James Heneghan (born 1930) is a British Canadian author. Heneghan grew up Liverpool, England, and currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. He earned Canadian citizenship in 1963.

Series:
* The O'Brien Detective Agency

Awards:
* Arthur Ellis Award: Juvenile
o 1995 – Torn Away – Winner

* Sheila A. Egoff Children's Book Prize
o 1998 – Wish Me Luck – Winner
o 2001 – The Grave – Winner
o 2003 – Flood – Winner

Reviews

[Juan Ignacio Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just grabbed this book at my school one day, thinking it would be a good time to pass the time, and it wouldn't be an "inspiring" or "you-will-remember-this-book-for-your-life" type of book. And boy was I wrong. This book was an amazing, although short, read, and the author managed to catch the emotions of the main character, Charley, in such a short amount of pages. SO, when Charley moves from Ireland to Canada with his sister Annie and his parents. However, after the sudden death of his mom, Charley needs to cope with a new school, the grief of losing a loved one, working as a dancing hot dog for a horrible boss, and taking care of his sister while his dad works away. They often stay with their Aunt and their Uncle, and the settings of the story quickly change between school, his house, their uncle's house, and the house of a classmate that's being bullied.

Charley quickly becomes the target of 2 dumb bullies at school for being Irish and for having bright, red hair. He manages to keep on, even with the many pressures of school and his family, until the bullies change their focus towards a kind, and meek boy called Benny. They proceed to bully him, along with more bad kids. The bullying gets continually worse all of the time, while Charley doesn't help Benny to make him learn to "stand up for himself", until Benny finally snaps and kills himself.

Charley then needs to cope with the guilt of not helping a "friend", and thinking he actually helped him die, and then seeks to redeem himself and tell what happened to Benny's mom. The last part of the story is quite emotional and like I said earlier, you can really feel how Charley feels. Truly recommended. My only nitpick is that is is too short, and that the author could've express even more with a longer book.

[Maria Pia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would definitely give this book a 5/5 because it's really interesting, it's dramatic, and there is a lot of suspense and you can actually imagine the fights and how the characters are. Well, one of the most interesting things was how the bullies managed not to get in trouble and just keep bullying. I actually have no idea how this book could relate to my hero's journey but maybe it could be of how I learned from a book that bullying it's not the best way to fix your personal problems, normally on the movies or series the bullies have a lot of problems at their house and maybe their parents are divorcing of fighting a lot and they bully other to make them feel like they have the top spot like everyone wants to be with them because they think it's funny to bully others. This book changes me as a reading in the way of knowing that maybe it's not a real-life story but it actually happens and has happened to other kids and teenagers and that if you see that someone is going through a lot because they are bullying him then go and help them because they may act like they don't care but on the inside, they want to kill themselves and on the next day they are gone you can't see them anymore because they committed suicide and if you would have helped him maybe there would have been another way of solving their problems. I recommend this book to whoever likes reading suspense and drama.

[Laura Guilbault · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lost me a little at the end, but the middle really struck a cord with me. Very shocking and well done.
My main criticism, is THE TITLE! Extremely misleading; there is NO PAYBACK AT ALL!!!! This is not about a victim getting even with his bullies... it’s just about bullying.
The end was also a bit rushed, and the main characters sort of “confession” was underwhelming.
Despite this, however, I did enjoy the story. Very real, authentic, and humble.

[Summer Athey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually really liked this book even thought it wasn't a long book I feel like we can go learn for this book when we see someone getting bullied help them or tell someone it can really save someone's life

[Ariel]

Wow. I'm surprised with this book in SO MANY WAYS. The copy I got of this book was a previously owned library book, that said the book was a reading level of about 4th/5th grade reading. After reading it, I don't see how. This book has A LOT of heavy material for a kid of that age to read. Considering that Charley (The main character) was in 7th/8th grade, It would have made more sense for a kid of that age to read it. Anyway, This book is quite heavy on the story. First, you've got a kid moving to another country altogether. There aren't many kids who could relate to that. I know that it's not uncommon for children to move, or even teenagers to move. But normally that's just small. New cities, new states. But a new country? That's hard. Then you find out that his mum recently passed away. That, in some ways is at least a little more relate-able considering what her cause of death was. After that, you find out that he is kind of bouncing back and forth between living with his Dad, and living with his Aunt and Uncle. I don't really have any idea on how relate-able that is. So as the story continues, You find out that he is getting bullied in school (Which, I guess if you read the title, you had a pretty good idea that's what the book is about) and his approach to how he is getting bullied. Soon after you read that, You read about how a kid in a few of his classes is also getting bullied, but for a different reason, and you see (From Charley's point of view) how Benny (The student) is getting bullied and his approach to it. As you read on, you see just how serious the bulling gets, and what happens because of it. After that, Charley starts going to a "friends" house (You'll see what I mean) With him and his sister, and the whole relationship between his "friends" family just seems very uncommon, and I don't really know of anybody who would be allowing their 8th grade child (So what...about...14? 15?) be in this type of relationship, to the point that it could cost him his life. Don't get me wrong, I thought the book was quite good, I just don't think this is the right book a 9 or 10 year old should be reading.

[Anil S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anil Singh


BULLY

What does it mean to be bullied? Who tells us how to dress or what to act like? When is it time to stand up for yourself? You can see these questions come together in the book Payback by James Heneghan. This is a sad story that shows the causes and effects of being bullied.
Charley is a teenager that is new to his school and is trying to fit in. He sees another new classmate named Benny being bullied by two boys named Sammy and Rebar who are calling Benny names like “Nancy Boy.” Charley figured that he had enough problems to handle so he left Benny to deal with this himself until one day Sammy and Rebar get out of control.
While I was reading this book, I felt mixed feelings like angriness, surprise ness, sad ness and many more. The author captures the mood of the story and plants it in the pages. He also reveals the effects of Bullying. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a detailed suspenseful book.

[Bethie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a boy who moved to America from Ireland. He misses all his family and friends and tries to get along with all the new teachers and friend in his new neighborhood and school. When he meets and new friend in his English and Social Studies class, he notices his friend starts to be getting beaten up by the bullies who have recently beaten him up. But when his friend doesn't stand up the bullies like he hand to do, he just stands by and watches, hopeing that he'll finally say something. But no such thing happens. Soon his friend commits sucicide, because of his new life. What does he do? You'll have to read to find out. It's a really good book.

[Sandra McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, Charley is relieved when the school bullies at his new school stop picking on him and shift their persecution to Benny Mason, a gentle soul who never stands up for himself against the bullies. Charley is torn between helping Benny and playing it safe by not getting involved--after all, he tells himself, Benny's problem is not his problem. After Benny takes his own life, however, Charley feels the need to somehow make amends in some way for not being there when Benny needed him. A powerful story that focuses on the crucial role of the bystander in bullying situations.

[Carson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only continued reading this book because I thought it might get more interesting,and it did slightly. I did not get hooked at any point. I did not like how it was written. I think the idea of the plot could've been written a little better. I have to say that I expected more. I wouldn't call it a waste of time, but there are other books in the world that would love to be read instead of this one in all honesty.

[Karen S · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Pay Back” is a book more for like knowing experience of people. The author put Charley in a hard situation charley has lots of changes in his life and trying to fit in. His mom dies of cancer and he’s only thirteen years old. They move to a new place and students from the new school his going to are really rude. At first I didn’t like this book yet, I started reading more and it was really nice. I recommend reading this book.

[Kailyn Horne · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a good book. At the beginning it was really boring but as you keep reading it gets better. The title was a good one but as i read the first couple of pages i was really bored.I just kept on reading and it got better.

[Tanner Elton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, in that it sends a good message to stand up to the victims of bullies, or else something drastic could happen. One thing I didn't understand was that it was called "Payback" but they didn't do anything involving payback for the bullies.

[Kourtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is really good

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A striking portrait of a Jr. High boy dealing with the effects of bullying. So real. So scary. Great read.

[Bkuan3061 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading this book，especially Charley saved Benny's mother from his dad.

[Lexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is amazing so far, my friend found it and im on part 2 when benny died .im wondering what that note said im guessing!! I cant wait to finish it!!

[Taylor B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thos book is 186 pages long!!! :)

[Douglas Musselman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty gr8 m8 i r8 it 8/8

[Althea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started this book and I didn't really like it. I don't know if the problem was that I didn't read enough or it just wasn't a book for me.