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Behaving Bradley by Perry Nodelman
Eleventh-grader Brad Gold isn't exactly the most popular guy at school these days. When Brad agrees to interject some student opinion into Roblin High School's newly proposed Code of Conduct, he gets a crash course in personal agendas. In the name of the Code, he is abused by power-hungry teachers, ignored by apathetic students, and beat up by the school bullies--two gorilla girls named Mandy and Candy who are determined to maintain the Code's status quo. When the Code is finally approved, idealistic Brad discovers that having a Code of Conduct and enforcing it are two very different "I am beginning to notice a pattern here. The pattern is that having a Code of Conduct hasn't changed any of the conduct. The pattern is that everyone around here behaves just as badly as they always did. The pattern is that people around here have about as much mutual respect for each other as a flock of vultures all after the same few tasty bits of corpse." Bewildered by the whole process, Brad decides to chalk up his misadventures as a learning experience and never, ever set foot in politics again. Perry Nodelman illustrates the absurdities and bureaucracy of high school politics with breezy humor reminiscent of that in Chris Lynch's Elvin comedies Slot Machine and Extreme Elvin . Many teens will find Brad's stab at representing the student body hilariously familiar, making Behaving Bradley a must-read for all past, present, and future student council members and their friends! (Ages 13 to 15) --Jennifer Hubert
- GenresYoung Adult
Board Book
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 16, 2023
This is an interesting one. For starters it's so old my library doesn't even have a physical copy anymore, and the things that made it a contemporary teen read in 1998 make it dated and almost retro now.... BUT this novel has had the power to stick in my mind ever since I read it 15 years ago, and if you can get past the so-realistic-it's-almost-boring plot, this book has a lot to offer.
Why does it stick out to me, even now in 2023? 1) It's the only book I've ever read that managed to really nail the personalities, attitudes, relationships, and language of high school kids without seeming fake or corny, and without exaggerating or oversimplifying their characteristics.
2) The idea of right vs wrong being thrust upon you, having to make a choice between action and inaction, and face the consequences therein, gives Behaving Bradley a timeless quality that I think might be even more relevant today than when it was released.
3) Adults man. I thought dealing with adults was difficult when I was a teen? Now that I have joined the ranks of the mature 9-5ers I have twice as much difficulty in dealing with these so-called adults sometimes. And honestly, Behaving Bradley prepared me for this in ways I'm only now beginning to understand.
If you've ever joined a committee, signed a petition, held up a sign, or just generally cared more about a cause than some of the people around you, I think you might find a reason to like Behaving Bradley. At the very least it's a quirky retro teen book that takes you back a couple decades. And if you're the kind of reader that wants to punch Holden Caulfield in the mouth, I think you might find Brad Gold a much more palatable option.
Why does it stick out to me, even now in 2023? 1) It's the only book I've ever read that managed to really nail the personalities, attitudes, relationships, and language of high school kids without seeming fake or corny, and without exaggerating or oversimplifying their characteristics.
2) The idea of right vs wrong being thrust upon you, having to make a choice between action and inaction, and face the consequences therein, gives Behaving Bradley a timeless quality that I think might be even more relevant today than when it was released.
3) Adults man. I thought dealing with adults was difficult when I was a teen? Now that I have joined the ranks of the mature 9-5ers I have twice as much difficulty in dealing with these so-called adults sometimes. And honestly, Behaving Bradley prepared me for this in ways I'm only now beginning to understand.
If you've ever joined a committee, signed a petition, held up a sign, or just generally cared more about a cause than some of the people around you, I think you might find a reason to like Behaving Bradley. At the very least it's a quirky retro teen book that takes you back a couple decades. And if you're the kind of reader that wants to punch Holden Caulfield in the mouth, I think you might find Brad Gold a much more palatable option.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews