Bully.Com: A Novel by Lawlor, Joe (2013) Paperback

by Joe Lawlor

Seventh grader Jun Li is a brilliant student, more comfortable around computers than people. But his world turns upside down when the principal accuses him of posting pictures on the school's website that expose the eating disorder of one of his classmates. To prove his innocence, Jun has seven days to track down the true cyber bully.Jun's investigation will bring him face-to face with computer hackers, a jealous boyfriend, and more than one student who has been a victim of bullying. But he discovers along the way that everyone's story is more complicated than it seems -- and that the people he meets have more in common than they think. With likeable characters and a fast-paced, humorous plot, Bully.com is a compelling look at the consequences of cyber bullying.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Family, Fiction, Middle Grade

Paperback

First published April 1, 2013

About the author

Joe Lawlor grew up on Long Island with three sisters and no brothers. To escape unwanted sisterly love, he hid himself away in his closet or sometimes in the limbs of the tall oak in his backyard. When he couldn’t get far enough away, his imagination was his escape. While other boys his age bashed their action figures together, Joe created extensive backstories and family histories for each. Even at an early age, character motivation was important.

These days, Joe works as a middle school English teacher. He enjoys the challenge of working with adolescents, while he secretly takes notes on his target audience.

Joe's debut novel, BULLY.COM, will be published in April 2013 by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

Reviews

[Licia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book that enters a middle-grade world in which age-old problems of friendship and betrayal are amplified by current day technology.
Jun is a 7th grade computer whiz looking forward to applying to Wellington, a prestigious private school. Jun had always worked hard and kept a low profile, but this becomes impossible once Mr. Hastings, the school principal, makes him the prime suspect in a cyber-attack against Kimmie Cole. Now he must prove his innocence in a few short days in order to avoid expulsion, get his needed teacher recommendations and avoid the repercussions of Kimmie’s bruiser boyfriend. With no time to lose, Jun and his friend Chris are thrust into a life-altering investigation. Together they must make their way through the middle school front-line, dodging angry boyfriends,computer hackers,revenge seekers,apathetic teachers, protective parents and cheats. In the process, Jun loses his innocence when he must repeatedly lie to accomplish the goal of clearing his name. When time does run out, Jun is forced to stand tall and present the little evidence he has gathered to the principal, lawyers and others. Jun leads us to a conclusion that keeps the reader on the edge of their computer chair! Bully.com is a gratifying first novel.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this timely story, 7th grader Jun Li is accused of cyberbullying a classmate. The only evidence against him is the fact that his is good with computers and he was in the library around the same time as the incident. Considering his good record, the principal gives him a week to uncover the culprit on his own, otherwise it looks like Jun will take the fall. Jun's faithful friend, but not girlfriend, Chris, is happy to help him track down leads and doesn't mind being muscle if necessary. (She's center for the girl's basketball team.) But the more they investigate, the more suspects they pick up. And when Jun's parents discover what's happening, they don't exactly embrace Jun's plan. It's a well done story and every time I wanted to say "they would never do that" I realized that "they" probably would. Cyberbullying isn't taken as seriously as it should be by adults and kids often have to figure these things out themselves. Jun reminds me a little of Encyclopedia Brown and I hope Lawlor plans on writing a series for Jun's cases. An unlikely detective but smart is smart.

[Moe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bully.com is your basic simple timeline book. It introduces the characters, then the conflict, rising and falling actions, and then the end is never anything different from all the problems being resolved and a good ending. Don't get me wrong, it was still a relaxing and interesting-enough book, I just wish something drastic happened like Jun killing his entire school because he has to much stress on trying to find the cyber bully. That'd be really interesting. But no, it was a humble, simple book that was overall just okay.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clever mystery! While cyberbullying is at the heart of this mystery, this is not a preachy book. The cyberbullying issue is fully nuanced, balanced with well-placed humor. The seventh-grade sleuth, Jun, is intelligent but flawed. The mystery offers plenty of suspects, but it takes Jun's sharp eye and whirring mind to put all the clues together. The middle school setting is incredibly realistic and recognizable. I can't wait to booktalk this with my students!

[sladynoire · Rating 3 out of 5]

The whole suspenseful mystery part surrounding who actually posted the images had me invested, and I was like :0 when everything was explained and the culprit was unmasked.

Idrk though, the ending *after* that just felt kind of unsatisfactory. Or something xD

[Kate Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good, liked the main character, very topical and raised some important issues without being over the top about it. Had me hooked early on, really wanted to know who culprit was!

[okas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the ending 🤩🫶

[Bernardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bully.com, a novel by Joe Lawlor, is a contemporary fiction book, especially for junior readers. Bully.com is a drama in which a little intelligent Asian-American boy(named Jun) falls into a giant hole named cyberbullying. Now he is accused of cyberbullying with an eighth-grade girl. Now he has one week to solve the case, with his stay in the school at the table of the principal, Mr Hastings. During this period he is forced to go against his naturality and lie to his parents, be rude to teachers and friends, and more. But now, Jun can resolve this mystery and clear his name? Read this fantastic book to discover if Jun and his best friend Chris will do it. During my period of reading, my last day reading this book I read 50 pages just because it was so interesting, and gave me the pleasure to do it. In addition, by reading Joe Lawlor’s novel, you can learn much more about cyberbullying and bullying in general, such as self-confidence too. I recommend this 246-page book, especially for teenagers in middle school. I enjoyed it a lot.

Bernardo, student from Brazil

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jun an A+ student in all of his classes, striving to get to the most prestige college he can suddenly faces an issue that may complicate this. When the principle frames Jun of posting pictures about Kimmie Cole his world goes go crazy. Not only is she the most popular girl at his school, she is the most popular bully. Facing hackers, a boyfriend, and past victims of Kimmie, in the end he must chose the culprit with what little information he has gathered. Can he clear his name with the help of his friend? Or will he forever be known as the kid who took down the biggest bully at school. Bully.com by Joe Lawlor is a movie like book, but there is at least one minor flaw that could prove otherwise.
First of all, there is not a lot of characterization. Some people like to know a little more about a character than what meets the eye. Sure Jun might be a computer nerd, but what else does he like? What is his interests? What about his family. If you are someone who likes to know a little bit more about the character than you might not completely like this book, but there is reasons you should like it as well.
Gender roles are pretty obvious in society, people think girls should be weak and stay at home kind of people, and boys should be strong and do work. In this story however the main character Jun ( a guy) is weak, and needs help in rough situations a lot. Chris (a girl) however, is very strong and most cases gets Jun out of trouble. I love that they switched the gender roles in this story, because it makes it more meaningful to readers. There are more reasons you might like this story though.
In this book Jun faces a lot of problems, and he has to do them on his own with only the help of Chris of course. In the end he ends up figuring it out as well. This could be seen as motivational to some people because they may think they have to face some of their problems on their own. This is why it could be motivational, because it could show people that you have the power to solve your own problems, it just could take some time and effort.
Overall it’s a good story, there is just minor flaws that might annoy some people. This story could be shared with many people and they would love it, it could even be shared in classes. Students would love the story overall, even with the characters. There is not a lot of movies or book out there with a plot like this, so it makes the read so much more exciting. They way the author switched the gender roles would be a relief to a lot of readers. Also the way the author told the story gets you into it and you can imagine it the whole way through like a movie playing in your head. Bully.com by Joe Lawlor is a delightful book, and it should be shared with students and teens of all ages.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

7th grader Jun Li has never been in trouble in his life, but now someone has framed him for a cyberbullying incident that targeted Kimmie, one of the nastiest girls in school. The principal has given him one week to find the real culprit, or Jun will be expelled. Along with his best friend Chris (a girl), Jun interviews people who had connections with Kimmie, and tries to avoid getting beaten up by Kimmie’s boyfriend. Things get worse before they get better as the bully does his or her best to convince everyone that Jun is the culprit, and the whole school turns on him. Is there any chance Jun can save himself?

While I found the principal’s actions completely unbelievable (threatening to expel a middle school student with no real evidence, then ordering the student to investigate the crime himself), I can see why the contrivance was necessary to set up the story. After that, I found it sadly believable. It’s a good example of how kids abuse each other online today, and how it takes very little to turn the tide of rumor against someone. I liked the ethical dilemma of Jun having to help a girl who had done so many bad things to other kids that everyone hated her, and how there wasn’t a lot of black and white anywhere—just realistic situations. The mystery was well-constructed, for those kids who love mysteries, and unfolded in a classic Agatha Christie style as Jun collects all the suspects in one place (again, not believable, but I can’t be against a tip of the hat to the grand master herself). Overall, a pretty good book.

One thing that concerned me, though; I liked that there was an Asian boy at the center of this, but after reading it, I felt that you could have substituted in a white boy with just the most minor of changes. All that seemed to indicate Jun as Asian was his name, his stature (stereotypical), and maybe his parents’ desire for his academic achievement (again, stereotypical).

[Liralen · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the strongest takeaway lessons I learned when I interned at a children’s & YA publisher a few years back is that kids want kids to solve things — they don’t want adults to rush in at the end and fix everything. Actually, the same could probably be said for, say, cozies — why should the cop barge in at the end and explain everything when the layperson, the hero(ine), has done the groundwork?

So to that end this book succeeds. Jun is put in an impossible position — find the real culprit, on a strict deadline, or be punished harshly for a crime he didn’t commit. To his credit (and the author’s), Jun is aware that he’s not likely to actually be expelled, but he knows that the stain on his reputation will damage not just his social life at this school but also his chances of being accepted into private school. Also to the author’s credit (as a bit of an aside), Jun is a minority, but while that impacts some interactions, etc., it’s not his defining characteristic or the focus of the story.

It does feel like a stretch, though, that the onus of solving the mystery is put on Jun — by the principal, and without so much as a notification to his parents that he’s under threat of expulsion. I think the term we’re looking for here is ‘scapegoat’, since the school seems quite unconcerned with investigating claims that Miss Pretty and Popular is the biggest bully in school (or keeping her hulk of a boytoy from beating up the hero — or, for that matter, taking action regarding any of the bullying Jun turns up info on), even as they prepare to string Jun (a top student with no motive) up.

While I question some of the leaps (cognitive and otherwise), it certainly seems topical and appropriate for the target audience. Raw at the edges, but with promise.

[Jennifer Lavoie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay. I'm torn as to the rating of this book, but I'm going to go with my gut instinct as a reader looking for something for my students and not as a teacher reacting to characters I wanted to throttle. (Please note, it was not the young characters but the adults that frustrated me!)

While there are some unbelievable elements to the story, setting that aside, this is a fantastic novel that looks at what happens to those who are victims of bullying. With cyberbullying becoming even more of a problem now, this novel does a great job of looking at the implications. Though students may not think they will suffer any repercussions, they can and will.

Each of the younger characters brings something great to the story. Though Kimmie Cole is certainly not painted to be a sympathetic character, as the story is told, one can see maybe why she has become who she is. Poor Jun, too, being dragged into this because he's in the wrong place at the wrong time. I felt for him.

What frustrated me was the adult reactions around him. As a middle school teacher myself, I was horrified by the teachers in the book. Yes, though it appears Jun did it because of circumstantial evidence, the fact that his teachers were "too busy" to write recommendations for him infuriated me. I understand their position of not wanting to recommend someone who is implicated in such a horrible thing, however, as someone who gets to know her students well, it bothered me that they jumped to conclusions about him and didn't wait to hear the entire story. It really broke my heart.

Aside from that, the book was excellent. I like Jun, Chris, and the rest and would enjoy seeing this turned into a mystery series.

[Law · Rating 3 out of 5]

Representation: Asian characters
Trigger warnings: Bullying, eating disorder, emesis, anorexia/bulimia, attempted suicide mentioned
Score: Five points out of ten.

Bully.com is an uncomfortable read at best. The text is yellowface and cultural appropriation at worst.

I hoped that I would enjoy this interesting realistic/mystery middle grade novel involving cyberbullying but I didn't expect it to be this terrible nor did I expect that there would be a lot of mature themes that would definitely be more suitable in a young adult book but for some reason it is in here and I had to deal with it which was discomforting.

It starts with Jun Li being framed for making images of someone with an eating disorder like anorexia or bulimia and it shows the person vomiting out her food to achieve a skinny body and already I didn't like it from the beginning. That starts off Jun's investigation into who made the images so he lists off some suspects who might've made them like a student whose name I forgot but apparently he didn't do it and then Jun goes to another school and meets some flat stereotypical Goth girl who attempted suicide but survived. She wasn't the suspect either and maybe she was there only to raise awareness but she was a minor part of the story.

I appreciate the inclusion, however, the execution could've been a bit better. In the end Jun was exposed for lying to his mother for whatever reason and that made me not like him as much but I didn't care for him since the start and his character didn't develop but he finds out that the librarian was the culprit since she could alter the school website and put the offending images in there.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jun is an academic overachiever and overall good kid, so it shocks him to learn that he is suspected of cyberbullying at his middle school. The principal is accusing him of posting inappropriate pictures of a fellow classmate’s bulimia online. With the help of his best friend, they become investigators out to prove Jun’s innocence in seven days or else more than just Jun’s name is on the line, but his acceptance into a prestigious academy too. This means he must sneak around, lie to his parents, interview classmates and staff, and ultimately question the victim, a queen bee who to some got what she deserved.
In the age of technology and social media, this book is a useful educational tool and knowing that Lawlor is himself a middle school teacher, the message is honest. The diverse duo of Jun, of Japanese and Chinese decent, and Chris, his loudmouthed, basketball-loving girl sidekick, support a meaningful dialogue about first impressions, names, and reputations. Alongside the characters is the authentic middle school landscape, which covers the cafeteria and library, guidance counselors and principals. With an ending that seems to set Jun up as a serial crime-solver, using his computer skills and intelligence, the book illuminates bullying, in person and online and the social hierarchy that amplifies it. Certainly a book for literature circles addressing bullying or light mystery readers.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I saw this book, I was hesitant to look at it because the name implied it was about social issues, but the name also implied it was about computers, so I started reading the back. I was still hesitant to read it but I decided to because I had been looking for a book for an hour at least by then. What most impressed me about this book is the growth of the main character, Jun. In the beginning of the book, Jun is scared to talk to his teacher about a mistake on his grade, “Jun approached the teacher’s desk with short, hesitant steps”(Lawlor 9). Jun was very shy and felt more comfortable around computers than people, but his knowledge was used to his advantage later. He was accused of being a cyber-bully that was terrorizing many children in the school, and Jun had one last chance to prove he was not the cyber-bully. “The final three adults sat at a table in the rear – Jun’s parents plus their lawyer”(Lawlor 221). If Jun did not get a confession out of the real cyber-bully, he would have been arrested. Luckily, Jun, who threatened to hack the cyber-bully, got a confession out of him. Throughout the book, Jun makes friends and enemies, but has a normal social life, which he did not have in the beginning. This book is relevant to society because it teaches kids they do not have to be like everyone else to be liked. You can be your own person, have your own interests and still have friends too.

[Dale Safford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because it is on the United Methodist Women Reading Program list for 2015. Of the 25 or so books listed, it was the one I was the most interested in, and it did not disappoint. This was mainly because it is written like a mystery which is the type of book that I like best. The end was an unexpected surprise, and understandable. The author truly gets you to understand what it is like to suffer from being bullied.

Jun Li is a 7th-grade boy whose name is linked to a bullying e-mail where a girl is outed for being bulimic. An excellent student, he gets called into the principal's office and, when he claims he didn't do it, is given one week to track down the real cyberbully to avoid being expelled. He gets help from his friend Chris, a tall girl's basketball player. Meanwhile, he is punched around by the girl's bruiser boyfriend, gets taunted by most of the student body in person or by e-mail, and even his parents hack into his e-mail account to find out what is going on since he has not told them. He meets other victims of bullying who make him understand what a mean act it can be. Will he find the culprit in time?

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feared that this book might be preachy or difficult to relate to, but it felt about right for middle-grade readers. Some plot points were far-fetched, but I think that's only to be expected from a work of fiction. It was interesting to watch the mystery unravel, and I didn't guess who the bully actually was until it was revealed!

One aspect that bothered me a bit was that the adults in the story were sometimes quite unfair or unapproachable. I felt that it might be more appropriate to tackle the sensitive topic of bullying with a strong cast of adults [at least mostly], such that readers may feel more comfortable asking for help in such real-life situations. I also felt that bullying was not punished fairly across the board--it was only once a certain student was bullied that authorities came out of the woodwork to bring justice. This could really rub a bullied reader the wrong way, or give the impression that it's ok to bully someone as long as it's not someone extremely popular!

Overall, I felt that Bully.com was a good pleasure or book report read for middle-graders.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant student Jun Li, a seventh grader, seems to be the culprit in mean-spirited postings online and faces expulsion from school. He has the requisite computer skills and was seen to be in the school library on a computer when the attack was uploaded. The victim is Kimmie, a popular girl who is staying home away from school until the matter is resolved. The principal has given Jun a week for him to find the person responsible or he will be the assumed bully and be kicked out of school.

This couldn't have happened at a worse time for Jun--this is the week in which recommendations to high school are written and, unsurprisingly, the teachers are having trouble finding time to provide him with theirs.

But there are further complications: Kimmie, though victim this time, has been guilty of bullying herself. So having been burned by Kimmie in the past, when Jun asks classmates for information, they are not eager to come to her defense.

A fast-moving adventure through the halls of middle school and the current culture. (246 p.)

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jun is falsely accused of posting some pictures online – a crime that could get him expelled from school. The principal gives him a week to clear his name – but Jun has no idea where to start. As the week progresses and Jun starts talking to students, we learn more about each of the characters and why all of this happened. The actual culprit is a bit of a surprise.

The characters are realistic - their problems are current and believable and what many middle school students are dealing with every day. The reader can relate to the characters and you find yourself hoping that Jun can clear his name.

Great story – especially as a read aloud. Will generate some good discussions about what the students could have, should have done.

(Contains a few swear words – but otherwise G rated story appropriate for 4th and up)

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first hint that Jun has that there is something wrong is a whispered threat during class. And then there are the kids pointing and whispering in the halls. What is going on here? When he gets called to the principal's office, he knows there must be some kind of misunderstanding. Kids like him are barely noticed in school. And they certainly don't get into trouble. When the principal tells him that someone hacked into the school webpage and posted awful pictures of one of the most popular girls in school, he thinks he understands. The principal must want him to use his computer skills to track down the cyberbully. But that is not it at all. The principal thinks Jun is the cyberbully.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bully.com is a terrific middle-grade mystery about a seventh-grader, Jun Li, who becomes an accidental detective when he’s accused of putting up photos online about a classmate’s bulimia. Though the book doesn’t trivialize the serious issues at its core, it’s also often surprisingly funny. Jun is almost as socially inept as he is bright and articulate, and his efforts to unravel the mystery create a clash of middle-school cultures that’s consistently interesting. By the book’s end, the mystery has been solved in a satisfying way, but there’s also a perfect setup for sequels. I look forward to reading more about Jun in future books to come.

[Dawn Moews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book certainly deals with a timely topic--cyber bullying is in the news and must be dealt with. The book also plays to the middle grade audience. I must admit that I have advised many adult computer immigrants new to the world of computers to find a 7th grader when they need help using their computers. Lawlor introduces characters whom I have met over my teaching career. The only plot element that I didn't buy so easily was the principal leaving all the investigation in the hands of his prime suspect. Having said that, I believe that the middle school readers will both relate to and enjoy this book very much.

[Victoria Coe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bully.com is a middle grade mystery that starts off with a bang and keeps the excitement and intrigue going until the very satisfying climax. The main character, Jun, and his trusty partner Chris are both believable heroes that any reader would love to cheer for, and the secondary characters are the types who keep the reader guessing chapter after chapter. Author Joe Lawlor belongs on the shelf right next to Dan Gutman, Ben H. Winters, Andrew Clements, and Gordon Korman. I can't wait for more of his books!

[Tyler S · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was about a boy being framed and trying to clear up his name. I don't remember the main character's name, The main character ran into bully's and teachers accusing him. I can't relate to the any of the characters in the book, except for the protagonist, I ''Used'' to be very intelligent. No, I haven't done anything related to what the characters did, maybe to the being framed for receiving naughty pictures of a girl older than you except I wasn't framed so not really.I kinda liked the book, it was kind of silly. I wouldn't reccomend this.

[Zj]

Jun li has to deal with all three types of bullying (cyber, verbal, mental and physical) In The most important year of his life! What teacher would want to give a cyber bully a nice recommendation to a fancy school? Obviously not Jun's teachers! In this exiting scooby doo-ish adventure, Jun must find a way to clear his name before it's too late! Yup, Jun had been framed for cyber bullying! But Why did it have to be him though? Why couldn't things go his way and be easy? But nothing is ever easy is it? Will Jun be able to uncover the truth In time?

[Leeann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery.

This story is about Jun Li who is an excellent student who finds himself accused of a cyberbullying incident. The principal gives him 1 week to clear his name before telling his parents and expelling him. This is one of the MANY things about this story that is COMPLETELY unbelievable, but if this story line didn't exist, how would we ever get to the mystery?

It was actually a well written mystery. I wasn't sure who did it until the very end. Nice job Lawlor. I can see this book turned into a fun mystery series!

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book, recommend it to anyone 5th grade and up to read. Mr. Lawlor actually teaches at my Middle school which is actually really cool. A little summary: this book is kind of like a mystery, Jun Li is accused of cyber bullying a popular girl in his school, and his principal gives him a week to find the person behind this. Someone had posted pictures of the girl exposing a personal issue she had... The rest of the story is how Jun and his pals find this cyber bully. Again, this is a good book and is very strongly recommended.

[Barbara Brauner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bully.com is a wonderful middle grade mystery about a boy who's accused of cyber-bullying and takes it upon himself to find the real culprit. The main character, Jun Li, has heart and charm. The mystery is very well constructed. And the middle school setting is sharply realized. The male main character makes this book a good choice for boys but there's plenty of interest for girls as well. Let's hope there will be a whole series of Jun Li mysteries in the future.

[Jen G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a book about middle school students with believable characters, intriguing plot twists, and a sense of humor? Joe Lawlor writes about his characters as real, likeable people and has an ear for how kids really talk. This book kept me up late reading to find out the next clue to the mystery - but you'll be hard pressed to guess the real ending!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was between three and four stars. This is a great, timely realistic fiction story. It hits on a lot of the issues kids have to deal with today: social networking, eating disorders, bullying and cyberbullying. My only complaint is that the b* word was used more than once, which wasn't entirely necessary and takes it up a notch on reader age.