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OBaaT
Anna has no family except her friends and the shelter dogs she walks. Rae-Rae communicates only through old rock-and-roll lyrics. Piper is terrified of her boyfriend. Sunny wants everyone happy but doesn't know how. Dareen wants to battle the world into being a better place. Jade is so withdrawn she has all but disappeared. Charity keeps showing up to school black-and-blue. These teenage women could be your own friends. The difficulties they face are hauntingly familiar. With the shared strength that only true family of choice gift each other, they set out to take on bullies ... only reluctantly recognizing that the worst bully of all is their teacher. This is their story of coming of age, of learning not to be powerless, and of healing each other's hearts.
246 pages, Paperback
Published January 3, 2025
10 people are currently reading
4178 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 14, 2024
A powerful story of friendship, bravery, and truth. This novel shows us what we can accomplish when we come together to face any challenge - or in this case any bully. We can all see parts of ourselves in these young women, which I found deeply inspiring and healing.
May 8, 2025
In this debut novel, Alice Vachss, does a wonderful job building the character development of each main character and providing details for the supporting characters that contribute to the overall story. The author builds upon important topics in this coming of age story, allowing the reader to gain a better understanding of prevalent and relatable issues. The book is written in a way that is easy to understand and break apart. Overall, this is a great coming of age story for teens and tweens that dives into relatable topics. I highly recommend this book for tweens and teens.
The story begins with us being introduced to Anna, a teen with a mission to start OBaat, One Bully at a Time, but gets a yes then a no from a supporting teacher. The story then leads into the group meeting and discussing the goals and premise of OBaat. They iron out the details of the group, set a plan, and start to think about the first student they want to help. That is where Charity comes into play. Anna, the ring leader, uses her lawyer, you’ll find out later why she has a lawyer, to build trust and connect Charity to a group member she can relate to. A run in with the cops leads Charity to the same group home as Anna, and they work together to build trust between each other and another member is added to their friend group. Then Ethan, their next OBaaT “target” is on their radar as they work to use him as the basis for the case against a cruel teacher who is set on attacking the weakest links. The group works together with the help of Anna’s lawyer to build a case and the more they start digging the more they cruel things they uncover. You’ll have to read the book to see how well this group develops, gets closer to each other, and work to take down their biggest bully yet. Witnesses, lawyers, cruel words, and many secrets, make this book a top read!
This review reflects my viewpoints and does not reflect the viewpoints of the author. I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review
The story begins with us being introduced to Anna, a teen with a mission to start OBaat, One Bully at a Time, but gets a yes then a no from a supporting teacher. The story then leads into the group meeting and discussing the goals and premise of OBaat. They iron out the details of the group, set a plan, and start to think about the first student they want to help. That is where Charity comes into play. Anna, the ring leader, uses her lawyer, you’ll find out later why she has a lawyer, to build trust and connect Charity to a group member she can relate to. A run in with the cops leads Charity to the same group home as Anna, and they work together to build trust between each other and another member is added to their friend group. Then Ethan, their next OBaaT “target” is on their radar as they work to use him as the basis for the case against a cruel teacher who is set on attacking the weakest links. The group works together with the help of Anna’s lawyer to build a case and the more they start digging the more they cruel things they uncover. You’ll have to read the book to see how well this group develops, gets closer to each other, and work to take down their biggest bully yet. Witnesses, lawyers, cruel words, and many secrets, make this book a top read!
This review reflects my viewpoints and does not reflect the viewpoints of the author. I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review
January 9, 2025
OBaat (One Bully at a Time). This young adult novel uses a narrative about a group of high school friends to impart to the reader insightful, expert advice on how to respond to abusers of power. It's intended audience may be young adults, but any reader who take notes as they read will finish this beautiful story (of friendship, courage, connection and justice) empowered with clear and powerful understanding and expert advice from the former Chief of the Special Victims Bureau of the Queens DA's Office.
OBaaT is the first work of "fiction" from the author of Sex Crimes: Then and Now: My Years on the Front Lines.
OBaaT was a joy to read! I took my own notes as I read it, and feel empowered for doing so. Highly recommend for any reader.
OBaaT is the first work of "fiction" from the author of Sex Crimes: Then and Now: My Years on the Front Lines.
OBaaT was a joy to read! I took my own notes as I read it, and feel empowered for doing so. Highly recommend for any reader.
April 1, 2025
THIS BOOK IS SO IMPORTANT !!!!!!!!!!!!
bullying is one of those things I think almost all of us can agree needs to stop, but for some reason it won’t.
OBaaT is something every school needs - every person needs. This is definitely a book I will be keeping on my shelf for my nieces / nephews / littles of my own
Also mega thanks to Alice Vachss for holding the giveaway!!! I feel incredibly lucky to have received a copy 🫶🏻
bullying is one of those things I think almost all of us can agree needs to stop, but for some reason it won’t.
OBaaT is something every school needs - every person needs. This is definitely a book I will be keeping on my shelf for my nieces / nephews / littles of my own
Also mega thanks to Alice Vachss for holding the giveaway!!! I feel incredibly lucky to have received a copy 🫶🏻
July 19, 2025
OBaaT
A group of girls take on a teacher who is bullying students. They have reported to the principal but he sees nothing Mr. Beemer does as unfavorable. When they take it to the board of education, people start helping them by telling their stories to the board. The girls have their own problems to work out, too. Bullying comes in different ways to different people. In this day and age we must work hard to stop bullying and predejust.
A group of girls take on a teacher who is bullying students. They have reported to the principal but he sees nothing Mr. Beemer does as unfavorable. When they take it to the board of education, people start helping them by telling their stories to the board. The girls have their own problems to work out, too. Bullying comes in different ways to different people. In this day and age we must work hard to stop bullying and predejust.
August 4, 2025
I came across this on Bluesky Social can't remember quite how. I was delighted to find this debut novel from Alice Vachss. I had long admired her late husband Andrew's fiction in particular the Burke series of books and there are in this coming of age novel some similar themes that echo down from his writing.
That said this is exciting writing with emotional intelligence and inspiring hope even when the odds seemed stacked against the cast of young characters.
That said this is exciting writing with emotional intelligence and inspiring hope even when the odds seemed stacked against the cast of young characters.
December 16, 2024
I was intrigued by the story and delighted with the author’s writing style. OBaat introduced me to a world I had heard about but had never “seen” until I started reading. It is a story that needs to be told.
April 14, 2025
This is an excellent book. It contains some difficult subjects but are very well handled. Bullying is everywhere and needs to be talked about. We need more competent and compassionate resources for victims.
January 21, 2025
A powerful story
August 25, 2025
An emotionally involving story of so-called misfit teenage girls finding power in solidarity and friendship, and striving for what is good and right for them and others.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews