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I'm Only Human After All
What do you do if you find yourself suddenly, and without provocation, the target of high school aggression, relentless insults, and painful isolation? Such is the dilemma of teenager Alex Rogers, the main character in I’m Only Human After All, the thought-provoking, absorbing novel inspired by the real-life trials of the author by the same name. In this penetrating story, Rogers draws from his personal experiences to offer invaluable insight to students, teachers, and parents everywhere on today’s increasingly common, and highly damaging, instances of bullying and cyber-bullying. The novel’s poignant, reflective first-person narrative details all that bullied young adults confront, casting crucial new light on this timely topic to enable individuals to cope with this pervasive problem. I’m Only Human After All also represents the debut work of fiction in the ongoing "Empowerment" series based on the author’s life that surrounds topics relevant today.
- GenresNonfiction
188 pages, Paperback
First published July 19, 2011
30 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
Alex Rogers
17 books38 followersAlex Rogers is a young visionary who has touched the lives of many through his writings. Alex is most recognized from his debut book series, The Empowerment Series, in which Alex shares his thoughts on various issues that affect young adults on a daily basis through the re-telling of his own personal experiences. Topics of the series include: bullying, self-esteem, stereotypes, finding your identity, and many more. Alex's goal for the series is to empower the reader to find insight and direction in life's many ordeals.
Currently, Alex can be found speaking at schools about the topics covered in his debut book, I'm Only Human After All, which focuses on Alex's personal experiences with bullying and self-esteem. Just recently, Alex was featured in a documentary produced by FireCrackerFilms and aired by MTV International, titled Bullied, which featured both him and other young adults around the world sharing their views on bullying.
Currently, Alex can be found speaking at schools about the topics covered in his debut book, I'm Only Human After All, which focuses on Alex's personal experiences with bullying and self-esteem. Just recently, Alex was featured in a documentary produced by FireCrackerFilms and aired by MTV International, titled Bullied, which featured both him and other young adults around the world sharing their views on bullying.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 27, 2011
I really enjoyed this book, it is the story of a young boy, Alex who has gone to school and inevitably ends up being bullied for no reason at all. He ignores the bullies. He is then asked to befriend another by who is new to the school, but that same boy ends up turning on Alex too. Alex just bravely faces all that the bullies throw at him, almost without any reaction. Alex is he middle one of three brothers. His older brother Jason seems so smart and is everything that Alex wishes he could be too. I like how Alex handles the situation himself. I think we all have known bullies in our time and this book deals with the issue of bullying brilliantly. The book does have quite a few religious references, but they don't detract from the story really. I found the book really realistic of today's schools and kids as well as the teachers too! Definitely enjoyed the book and would read more by this author.
July 9, 2014
Received: From the author for review.
This was a cute little Indie book, a quick read, and well-edited. You won't find (m)any errors here. The book is about a high school kid being bullied. As most people who read my reviews know, i like 'issue' books for teens, so I agreed to review this for the author.
The book has a very casual tone, kind of like your buddy just sitting down to chat with you. If your buddy likes to wax philosophical A LOT and to preach motivating speeches at you. At first, the chatty tone sort of bothered me, but once I got used to it, I stopped noticing it so much. It's written almost like an address to the reader though, with lots of second-person questions and comments. "You probably would do the same thing," kind of comments.
The book had some humor and some valuable lessons, but they were sort of forced down your throat and repeated a bit too often for my taste. The book couldn't seem to decide what kind of book it wanted to be--motivational speech, Christian inspirational, or YA memoir on bullying. I believe if the author had stuck with just one of these genres, the book would have been more accessible. Sometimes, it seemed all over the place and there were some distracting tangents that I wasn't sure really had a purpose. I believe this is the first of three, and I also think that the three could be combined into one very interesting novel if all the inspirational pep-talks were cut out. Some of the dialogue was funny and light, some of it...I was just wondering what kind of teenager would talk that way, and if one did, well, I wouldn't be surprised if he was the object of bullying.
The parts about the bullying were interesting to me--the best part of the book. The author goes to great lengths to explain the emotional and mental toll the bullying took. However, I didn't think he showed the bullying in enough detail to warrant the reaction. I'm sure that bullying is a harrowing and traumatic experience for any teen who already has to navigate this difficult time of life. However, I didn't really get the complete picture as I think the author wanted to present it. He only gives one instance of bullying in the first half of the book, and the victim actually comes out on top, so it didn't convince me in any way that he was traumatized. I wanted more of the day-to-day bullying that could wear on a person to bring him down. Instead, I got one example and a lot of waxing philosophical on why a bully would want to pick on an innocent victim and how it just made no sense to target someone who had never done anything to him. If the book had stayed on target with the bullying theme, I would have liked it a lot more.
Overall, this was a quick and interesting read, maybe a pick-me-up for someone feeling down. For someone who isn't used to reading motivational books, it was a bit overdone for my taste. However, it had great potential and the author has a nice casual voice that made me feel like I was sitting around chatting. With some polishing and a narrower focus, I think the author could produce a wonderful next book.
This was a cute little Indie book, a quick read, and well-edited. You won't find (m)any errors here. The book is about a high school kid being bullied. As most people who read my reviews know, i like 'issue' books for teens, so I agreed to review this for the author.
The book has a very casual tone, kind of like your buddy just sitting down to chat with you. If your buddy likes to wax philosophical A LOT and to preach motivating speeches at you. At first, the chatty tone sort of bothered me, but once I got used to it, I stopped noticing it so much. It's written almost like an address to the reader though, with lots of second-person questions and comments. "You probably would do the same thing," kind of comments.
The book had some humor and some valuable lessons, but they were sort of forced down your throat and repeated a bit too often for my taste. The book couldn't seem to decide what kind of book it wanted to be--motivational speech, Christian inspirational, or YA memoir on bullying. I believe if the author had stuck with just one of these genres, the book would have been more accessible. Sometimes, it seemed all over the place and there were some distracting tangents that I wasn't sure really had a purpose. I believe this is the first of three, and I also think that the three could be combined into one very interesting novel if all the inspirational pep-talks were cut out. Some of the dialogue was funny and light, some of it...I was just wondering what kind of teenager would talk that way, and if one did, well, I wouldn't be surprised if he was the object of bullying.
The parts about the bullying were interesting to me--the best part of the book. The author goes to great lengths to explain the emotional and mental toll the bullying took. However, I didn't think he showed the bullying in enough detail to warrant the reaction. I'm sure that bullying is a harrowing and traumatic experience for any teen who already has to navigate this difficult time of life. However, I didn't really get the complete picture as I think the author wanted to present it. He only gives one instance of bullying in the first half of the book, and the victim actually comes out on top, so it didn't convince me in any way that he was traumatized. I wanted more of the day-to-day bullying that could wear on a person to bring him down. Instead, I got one example and a lot of waxing philosophical on why a bully would want to pick on an innocent victim and how it just made no sense to target someone who had never done anything to him. If the book had stayed on target with the bullying theme, I would have liked it a lot more.
Overall, this was a quick and interesting read, maybe a pick-me-up for someone feeling down. For someone who isn't used to reading motivational books, it was a bit overdone for my taste. However, it had great potential and the author has a nice casual voice that made me feel like I was sitting around chatting. With some polishing and a narrower focus, I think the author could produce a wonderful next book.
September 5, 2011
"I'm Only Human After All" was a very quick read, but certainly not without its share of insight. The book details the author's last year of junior high and first two years of high school. Rogers tells us some problems he had to face, problems almost anyone can relate to in some way or another, and how he overcame them. Rogers' trials include filling his older brother's shoes, school bullying and isolation, and coping with physical and emotional displacement after a natural disaster, among some others. Alex almost always has a positive attitude and shows an uncanny amount of wisdom for someone of his age. Alex handles matters in a manner that can only be described as amazing.
The author uses a very simple, and very casual writing style, even outside of dialogues. This makes the book seem more real and easier to relate to, as it is narrated by a middle school/early high school student. The feel of the book seems to shift from beginning to end; the beginning of the novel is very descriptive, where as toward the end, the author tends not to "beat around the bush" so much. Perhaps this change in style is actually symbolic of the transition of the character from child to "young adult".
Almost anyone can agree with almost all of the moral points made by the author. However, Rogers does touch on some controversial issues. (SPOILER ALERT!!) While Alex seems a very wise, free-thinker throughout the novel, the scene in which his minister describes Hurricane Katrina as a "cleansing" sits rather uneasily. While it is obviously just the opinion of a random character in the book, Alex's character has no problems cosigning the idea. Another, and probably the only "bad" aspect of Rogers' work is the unrealistic-ness of some of the dialogues. When the author is trying to portray some sort of life lesson or moral point, the dialogues are very formal and structured, and seem very untypical of the speech of a thirteen-fourteen-year-old...or of anyone for that matter.
Overall, "I'm Only Human After All" did exactly what it was meant to do. As a memoir/self-help hybrid, the novel not only shows teens how to resolve bullying issues, but also how to cope with them on the inside. Alex shows uncommon strength of mind and character, and can really be seen as a sort of role model for anyone going through similar situations. As someone who was bullied in middle school and my early high school days, I can say that "I'm Only Human After All" has the potential to change lives. I eagerly await the second book in Roger's series!
The author uses a very simple, and very casual writing style, even outside of dialogues. This makes the book seem more real and easier to relate to, as it is narrated by a middle school/early high school student. The feel of the book seems to shift from beginning to end; the beginning of the novel is very descriptive, where as toward the end, the author tends not to "beat around the bush" so much. Perhaps this change in style is actually symbolic of the transition of the character from child to "young adult".
Almost anyone can agree with almost all of the moral points made by the author. However, Rogers does touch on some controversial issues. (SPOILER ALERT!!) While Alex seems a very wise, free-thinker throughout the novel, the scene in which his minister describes Hurricane Katrina as a "cleansing" sits rather uneasily. While it is obviously just the opinion of a random character in the book, Alex's character has no problems cosigning the idea. Another, and probably the only "bad" aspect of Rogers' work is the unrealistic-ness of some of the dialogues. When the author is trying to portray some sort of life lesson or moral point, the dialogues are very formal and structured, and seem very untypical of the speech of a thirteen-fourteen-year-old...or of anyone for that matter.
Overall, "I'm Only Human After All" did exactly what it was meant to do. As a memoir/self-help hybrid, the novel not only shows teens how to resolve bullying issues, but also how to cope with them on the inside. Alex shows uncommon strength of mind and character, and can really be seen as a sort of role model for anyone going through similar situations. As someone who was bullied in middle school and my early high school days, I can say that "I'm Only Human After All" has the potential to change lives. I eagerly await the second book in Roger's series!
September 5, 2011
Alex Rogers creates a powerful memoir in his book "I'm Only Human After All." While being a compelling work that demonstrates Roger's ability to manipulate words and their usage to connect with his readers on an emotional level, "Human" gets it's real power from being a true story that many people can relate to.
Following extreme bullying and harassment in his younger, High School years, Rogers sets out to change his own section of the world by conveying his story to a wider audience. Having been someone who was bullied most of my teenage years, I appreciate literature like this. Too many children these days go through life being punished and persecuted for actions and lifestyle choices that are beyond their control. Even more students are bullied because their tormentors manipulate the social structures that become all-too-important in the emotional development of a child. By revealing his personal tale of High School life, Rogers, in this reviewers mind, sets out to prevent this type of attack from occurring with other students.
That being said, there are some issues that I have with the book. Occasionally, grammar slip ups leave OCD readers (such as myself) feeling disconnected from the story due to the inability to focus. I noticed this problem was mainly dealing with quotation passages (""), but the problem was not widespread enough to ruin the book. Additionally, there are some passages that I wish would have had more exploration, such as the Katrina passage. While the book was focused mainly on bullying and Roger's personal life, it would have been interesting to dive into his emotional state after and during the storm that left many people emotional distraught and unstable.
All in all, I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially to those who believe that their child is going through harassment at school. What parents cannot stress in vocalized sounds, authors can capture in ink, and I believe that this book series can add a very powerful and definite stepping block to stopping the bullying problem that is occurring across the globe.
Following extreme bullying and harassment in his younger, High School years, Rogers sets out to change his own section of the world by conveying his story to a wider audience. Having been someone who was bullied most of my teenage years, I appreciate literature like this. Too many children these days go through life being punished and persecuted for actions and lifestyle choices that are beyond their control. Even more students are bullied because their tormentors manipulate the social structures that become all-too-important in the emotional development of a child. By revealing his personal tale of High School life, Rogers, in this reviewers mind, sets out to prevent this type of attack from occurring with other students.
That being said, there are some issues that I have with the book. Occasionally, grammar slip ups leave OCD readers (such as myself) feeling disconnected from the story due to the inability to focus. I noticed this problem was mainly dealing with quotation passages (""), but the problem was not widespread enough to ruin the book. Additionally, there are some passages that I wish would have had more exploration, such as the Katrina passage. While the book was focused mainly on bullying and Roger's personal life, it would have been interesting to dive into his emotional state after and during the storm that left many people emotional distraught and unstable.
All in all, I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially to those who believe that their child is going through harassment at school. What parents cannot stress in vocalized sounds, authors can capture in ink, and I believe that this book series can add a very powerful and definite stepping block to stopping the bullying problem that is occurring across the globe.
September 6, 2011
A book about deception, betrayal and overcoming obstacles in life, Alex Rodgers has created an empowering and thought provoking novel which grabs on the heart strings and exposes the issue of bullying which many young people face on a day to day basis.
Even with so many contrasting novels also tackling the issue of bullying, I felt that this novel stayed realistic and relevant without the need for exaggeration, which is probably down to the fact that Alex Rodgers based some of the scenarios on his own experiences, which made the book even more compelling to read as you could actually feel the heartache and agony that the protagonist was going through.
Even though this novel delves on the hard issue of bullying what I liked about this book is that it had aspects of witty dialect between characters which was a good needed balanced as this could've been a very dark and intense novel throughout.
Another aspect I liked, was how empowering the book was as there doesn't seem to be a chapter without a moral to learn or insight to gain. A certain saying in the book which caught my eye was the line 'it's all about perception' which I will probally take into account next time when things in life get tough.
Overall the novel is highly relatable to anyone and could potentially be a book to confide in for anyone who has been bullied in the past and also could be a catalyst to motivate people to not let obstacles or certain people stop them from living their life.
Lastly we all wished we could be as strong as the protagonist Alex but 'we're only human after all'
Even with so many contrasting novels also tackling the issue of bullying, I felt that this novel stayed realistic and relevant without the need for exaggeration, which is probably down to the fact that Alex Rodgers based some of the scenarios on his own experiences, which made the book even more compelling to read as you could actually feel the heartache and agony that the protagonist was going through.
Even though this novel delves on the hard issue of bullying what I liked about this book is that it had aspects of witty dialect between characters which was a good needed balanced as this could've been a very dark and intense novel throughout.
Another aspect I liked, was how empowering the book was as there doesn't seem to be a chapter without a moral to learn or insight to gain. A certain saying in the book which caught my eye was the line 'it's all about perception' which I will probally take into account next time when things in life get tough.
Overall the novel is highly relatable to anyone and could potentially be a book to confide in for anyone who has been bullied in the past and also could be a catalyst to motivate people to not let obstacles or certain people stop them from living their life.
Lastly we all wished we could be as strong as the protagonist Alex but 'we're only human after all'
August 24, 2011
I'm Only Human After All is a compelling novel that is very relevant to current issues and problems occurring in today's society. This novel brings to the forefront the issue of bullying and a young man trying to find his way through life while facing a myriad of stumbling blocks along the way. I along with many other people can relate to Alex's struggle with bullying and I was truly amazed at how Alex was able to deal with the constant bullying and still keep his head held high. The reader is able to get a strong sense of what the character is feeling as he faces his day to day journey through high school. The author was very descriptive in terms of conveying what was occurring in the story. The reader is able to sympathize with the Alex as he faces being ostracized by his peers. At several points in the book, I cried because I felt deep sympathy for the reader and felt great accomplishment when he was able to triumph over his tormentors.
At the end of this novel, I can honestly say that I learned many life lessons, that can be applied to my adult life as well as some knowledge I wish I'd had going through grade school. This type of book offers hope to young teens that face a daily life of torment due to vicious bullies. Alex's emotions are raw and real which makes this character more relatable to the reader. This book was an excellent read and I will definitely recommend this book to other readers.
At the end of this novel, I can honestly say that I learned many life lessons, that can be applied to my adult life as well as some knowledge I wish I'd had going through grade school. This type of book offers hope to young teens that face a daily life of torment due to vicious bullies. Alex's emotions are raw and real which makes this character more relatable to the reader. This book was an excellent read and I will definitely recommend this book to other readers.
September 6, 2011
This book is a very enlightening story. It takes the reader through the daily life of a bullied student. The reader can hear the tormented thoughts that young Alex had to deal with as if they were experiencing those thoughts themselves.
Although I have never experienced bullying personally, I have seen its affects on people that are close to me. Bullying is a tough topic to talk about with other people, but Alex Rogers did a fantastic job of relaying his personal experience. I hope that other readers were impacted by this story like me and will walk away with a new outlook like me. This book has changed my perspective on the topic and has made me more proactive.
Although I have never experienced bullying personally, I have seen its affects on people that are close to me. Bullying is a tough topic to talk about with other people, but Alex Rogers did a fantastic job of relaying his personal experience. I hope that other readers were impacted by this story like me and will walk away with a new outlook like me. This book has changed my perspective on the topic and has made me more proactive.
April 22, 2012
This book reveals to the reader the psychological struggles of the one who has been bullied. This story also allows the reader to become one with Alex, and experience the everyday process of being bullied.
July 18, 2012
First off, the writing was wonderful. This story touched me so deeply. I found every part of it enjoyable, from his outlook on life, the way he looked up to his father, to his feeling for his big brother. I couldn't stop reading. Great job, Mr. Rogers.
July 23, 2012
This was a really touching story. It is really well written, my pet peeves are spelling and grammar, It was no issue with this book. The author conveyed a message that would touch any one in every walk of life. I was able to see life from someone else's perspective and it was refreshing.
September 19, 2011
Rating:
2.5/5
I'm Only Human After All, for me, consisted of two parts. The first half was a moving tale, a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story that touched on themes a lot of people have dealt with in their lives: the confusion of going through puberty, feeling like you're grasping at straws just to be able to exist, searching for your identity, trying to do the right thing when you feel the odds are always against you.
I've been lucky to never have been bullied, I'm an only child so I don't know about the pains of sibling rivalry and I've never grown up in a religious home. The simple crystalline prose that makes you feel like you're inside the main character's head from the moment you start reading is a testament to the author's wish to engage his audience from the get-go.
A lot of the more general and familiar themes like the claustrophobic nature that is inherent to high schools (mainly because of the students themselves, who are close-minded by nature and perceive it to be their whole world - who can't relate to that?) were addressed very honestly and openly. While the prose wasn't very descriptive its straightforward yet pensive stream-of-conciousness approach served the narrative very well; it truly felt like you were hearing the voice of a teenager, yet you could still hear the traces of the strong adult that teenager eventually grew to be. There were some typos throughout but they didn't bother me all that much. A little bit of editing could fix all of that.
Then came the second part of the story. I have very mixed feelings on this, to be honest. I'm aware that this was probably an accurate depiction of the family dynamics and religious thoughts during the time depicted by the author but I can't not feel shocked by the way the only semi-prominent female in the novel, Alex's mother, was portrayed as a confused (and sometimes grotesque) stereotype of how women where generally perceived around 1950. She was frail and insecure, extremely disorganized, emotionally all over the place and became some sort of a laughing stock for the males in the house to shake their heads at and whisper to each other, "women...", with a collective sigh. Nobody else in the house (the males) was portrayed as having any faults or even special quirks or character traits. The father was strong-willed, unwavering and an apparently exemplary god-fearing man, and all the narrative revealed of the other teens' personalities seemed to reek of "boys will be boys". This might've been the author's point of view at the time, but it was painful to read nonetheless. Some balancing out and giving more personality to the others would have worked better.
Then there was the hurricane Katrina. I've never had to deal with such a big catastrophe and I am sorry for all those who had to go through this disaster. My shock at the sermon scene in which the pastor exclaimed the hurricane was a 'cleansing' of the city took a while to subside, even if that wasn't the first time I'd heard of that notion. And then, even after watching the news reporting continuous killings, lootings and rapes in the devastated city the family still seemed to perceive this as a test from a deity who only had the best interests of his people at heart. I'm as blatantly atheist as they come but I've always been actively studying, out of sheer curiosity, the world's societies including various religions. I tolerate people's faiths within reason and respect a plethora of beliefs. But I can't keep myself from feeling really testy at some of those religious ideas pushed forward in light of this natural disaster. I know that's just my personal opinion but it did take away from the positive message the story was trying to convey throughout, not because of the fact that there was religious content but because of what kind of content it was. I couldn't ever think about people suffering in a positive light.
Overall, this was an emotional ride and I think that it will be one for everyone who reads this, whoever you are and wherever you come from. There are a bunch of elements to this story that are universal and that's what makes I'm Only Human After All pack a considerable punch.
2.5/5
I'm Only Human After All, for me, consisted of two parts. The first half was a moving tale, a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story that touched on themes a lot of people have dealt with in their lives: the confusion of going through puberty, feeling like you're grasping at straws just to be able to exist, searching for your identity, trying to do the right thing when you feel the odds are always against you.
I've been lucky to never have been bullied, I'm an only child so I don't know about the pains of sibling rivalry and I've never grown up in a religious home. The simple crystalline prose that makes you feel like you're inside the main character's head from the moment you start reading is a testament to the author's wish to engage his audience from the get-go.
A lot of the more general and familiar themes like the claustrophobic nature that is inherent to high schools (mainly because of the students themselves, who are close-minded by nature and perceive it to be their whole world - who can't relate to that?) were addressed very honestly and openly. While the prose wasn't very descriptive its straightforward yet pensive stream-of-conciousness approach served the narrative very well; it truly felt like you were hearing the voice of a teenager, yet you could still hear the traces of the strong adult that teenager eventually grew to be. There were some typos throughout but they didn't bother me all that much. A little bit of editing could fix all of that.
Then came the second part of the story. I have very mixed feelings on this, to be honest. I'm aware that this was probably an accurate depiction of the family dynamics and religious thoughts during the time depicted by the author but I can't not feel shocked by the way the only semi-prominent female in the novel, Alex's mother, was portrayed as a confused (and sometimes grotesque) stereotype of how women where generally perceived around 1950. She was frail and insecure, extremely disorganized, emotionally all over the place and became some sort of a laughing stock for the males in the house to shake their heads at and whisper to each other, "women...", with a collective sigh. Nobody else in the house (the males) was portrayed as having any faults or even special quirks or character traits. The father was strong-willed, unwavering and an apparently exemplary god-fearing man, and all the narrative revealed of the other teens' personalities seemed to reek of "boys will be boys". This might've been the author's point of view at the time, but it was painful to read nonetheless. Some balancing out and giving more personality to the others would have worked better.
Then there was the hurricane Katrina. I've never had to deal with such a big catastrophe and I am sorry for all those who had to go through this disaster. My shock at the sermon scene in which the pastor exclaimed the hurricane was a 'cleansing' of the city took a while to subside, even if that wasn't the first time I'd heard of that notion. And then, even after watching the news reporting continuous killings, lootings and rapes in the devastated city the family still seemed to perceive this as a test from a deity who only had the best interests of his people at heart. I'm as blatantly atheist as they come but I've always been actively studying, out of sheer curiosity, the world's societies including various religions. I tolerate people's faiths within reason and respect a plethora of beliefs. But I can't keep myself from feeling really testy at some of those religious ideas pushed forward in light of this natural disaster. I know that's just my personal opinion but it did take away from the positive message the story was trying to convey throughout, not because of the fact that there was religious content but because of what kind of content it was. I couldn't ever think about people suffering in a positive light.
Overall, this was an emotional ride and I think that it will be one for everyone who reads this, whoever you are and wherever you come from. There are a bunch of elements to this story that are universal and that's what makes I'm Only Human After All pack a considerable punch.
September 25, 2013
This is an autobiography of author Alex Rogers’ years in middle school and early high school. When presented to me for review, it was billed as a book about bullying, with a Christian flavor. I was intrigued, as combating bullying is a hot topic in many churches today.
I didn’t really find it very intense. The bullying, while certainly worse than anything I experienced in my school years, was not enough to send anyone all Columbine … and Alex didn’t face it totally by himself, nor was he totally cowed. So, to set the proper flavor, let me quote from the forward: Alex writes, “[this is] the story of my early adolescent life and the issues that all of us can relate to at that stage in our lives. At some time we have all been in an awkward stage until, one day, we surface as something more.”
So what is the Christian bent? Minor spoiler alert: curiously, Alex is rescued from the bullying by an act of God. I’ll give you a hint: it occurred in 2005, in New Orleans. A short interlude in the book tells about Alex attending church as the hurricane neared, hearing from the pulpit about a “cleansing” that God was sending. Alex and his family evacuated, and when they returned, the high school circumstances had changed. It’s all presented as a sort of odd coincidence, just one of the ways the bumps in life get mysteriously ironed out, so I’m uncertain if we’re really supposed to read much into the fiery “cleansing” sermon.
The writing is simple, easy for young readers to follow (it would make a great young adult book), and it holds your attention. I enjoyed sharing Alex’s young life and getting to know him. Beyond that, given my own stage in life (I’m 52), it didn’t make a deep impression … my bullies have all grown up and my kids are out of high school.
I didn’t really find it very intense. The bullying, while certainly worse than anything I experienced in my school years, was not enough to send anyone all Columbine … and Alex didn’t face it totally by himself, nor was he totally cowed. So, to set the proper flavor, let me quote from the forward: Alex writes, “[this is] the story of my early adolescent life and the issues that all of us can relate to at that stage in our lives. At some time we have all been in an awkward stage until, one day, we surface as something more.”
So what is the Christian bent? Minor spoiler alert: curiously, Alex is rescued from the bullying by an act of God. I’ll give you a hint: it occurred in 2005, in New Orleans. A short interlude in the book tells about Alex attending church as the hurricane neared, hearing from the pulpit about a “cleansing” that God was sending. Alex and his family evacuated, and when they returned, the high school circumstances had changed. It’s all presented as a sort of odd coincidence, just one of the ways the bumps in life get mysteriously ironed out, so I’m uncertain if we’re really supposed to read much into the fiery “cleansing” sermon.
The writing is simple, easy for young readers to follow (it would make a great young adult book), and it holds your attention. I enjoyed sharing Alex’s young life and getting to know him. Beyond that, given my own stage in life (I’m 52), it didn’t make a deep impression … my bullies have all grown up and my kids are out of high school.
May 8, 2014
I’m Only Human After All is a great book that follows the high school years of Alex Rogers. This non-fiction book accurately shows how stressful an average teenager’s life can be within the first couple years of high school. Alex is faced with many challenges such as bullying, friends, enemies, being self-conscious, and grades.
Alex is a new freshman at his high school and his friend for many years turned on him. He starts to get bullied, made fun of and left out. On top of that, Alex struggles with his school work and keeping his grades up. Alex befriends the school Principal and eventually gains one close friend. The next year, Alex’s only friend backstabs him along with Alex’s previous bullies. Alex is left with no friends and is now bullied by everyone in the school.
When hurricane Katrina hits their home, Alex’s family turns to God. They go to church more often and through listening to the preacher, Alex gains more self-respect and confidence. Alex and his family, especially his older brother, become closer. He learns that he cannot be perfect but that’s okay. As long as he is himself, that’s enough. He’s only human after all.
I enjoyed this book a lot. It was well paced and it was never too slow. It really makes you realize that other people have gone through hard times, everyone goes through struggles but you can always find a way out. I would recommend this book to any middle school or high school student.
Alex is a new freshman at his high school and his friend for many years turned on him. He starts to get bullied, made fun of and left out. On top of that, Alex struggles with his school work and keeping his grades up. Alex befriends the school Principal and eventually gains one close friend. The next year, Alex’s only friend backstabs him along with Alex’s previous bullies. Alex is left with no friends and is now bullied by everyone in the school.
When hurricane Katrina hits their home, Alex’s family turns to God. They go to church more often and through listening to the preacher, Alex gains more self-respect and confidence. Alex and his family, especially his older brother, become closer. He learns that he cannot be perfect but that’s okay. As long as he is himself, that’s enough. He’s only human after all.
I enjoyed this book a lot. It was well paced and it was never too slow. It really makes you realize that other people have gone through hard times, everyone goes through struggles but you can always find a way out. I would recommend this book to any middle school or high school student.
November 18, 2013
I knew this was a YA novel when I chose to read it but it never really took off. Very casual writing and very simple dialog. I liked Alex and his thoughts, feelings and beliefs and I believe this book is a very good tool to start a conversation for young children in school. More for elementary and early Jr High. Also, shows how some children (one of mine being one of them) can over think situations and cause their own problems. Be who you are and do not apologize for it. Find help when needed.
March 23, 2014
This book gave quite an insight for those, that never experienced it: bullying.
It is about Alex, a teenage boy, that starts his first year on highschool. As the main topic of this book is his story of how he was bullied, you can imagine, that the new school didn't go so well for him. Thoughts and feelings are described, while cruel jokes of fellow students are pulled out on Alex.
It is about Alex, a teenage boy, that starts his first year on highschool. As the main topic of this book is his story of how he was bullied, you can imagine, that the new school didn't go so well for him. Thoughts and feelings are described, while cruel jokes of fellow students are pulled out on Alex.
August 31, 2014
It's a good book for young adults and parents as it's quite straightforward and realistic (of course, since it's based on the author's personal experience) about bullying and other adolescent issues.
But to me, a general adult, it appeared to be too simplistic and flat. It also needed better proofreading.
But to me, a general adult, it appeared to be too simplistic and flat. It also needed better proofreading.
January 31, 2015
A quick read, this is an inside look at the victim of high school bullying and how he gets through the experience and comes out feeling positive about himself. Will probably read the next in this series, about college, as well.
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