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With multiple starred reviews, don't miss this humorous, poignant, and original contemporary story about bullying, broken friendships, social media, and the failures of communication between kids. From John David Anderson, author of the acclaimed Ms. Bixby’s Last Day.
In middle school, words aren’t just words. They can be weapons. They can be gifts. The right words can win you friends or make you enemies. They can come back to haunt you. Sometimes they can change things forever.
When cell phones are banned at Branton Middle School, Frost and his friends Deedee, Wolf, and Bench come up with a new way to leaving sticky notes for each other all around the school. It catches on, and soon all the kids in school are leaving notes—though for every kind and friendly one, there is a cutting and cruel one as well.
In the middle of this, a new girl named Rose arrives at school and sits at Frost’s lunch table. Rose is not like anyone else at Branton Middle School, and it’s clear that the close circle of friends Frost has made for himself won’t easily hold another. As the sticky-note war escalates, and the pressure to choose sides mounts, Frost soon realizes that after this year, nothing will ever be the same.
In middle school, words aren’t just words. They can be weapons. They can be gifts. The right words can win you friends or make you enemies. They can come back to haunt you. Sometimes they can change things forever.
When cell phones are banned at Branton Middle School, Frost and his friends Deedee, Wolf, and Bench come up with a new way to leaving sticky notes for each other all around the school. It catches on, and soon all the kids in school are leaving notes—though for every kind and friendly one, there is a cutting and cruel one as well.
In the middle of this, a new girl named Rose arrives at school and sits at Frost’s lunch table. Rose is not like anyone else at Branton Middle School, and it’s clear that the close circle of friends Frost has made for himself won’t easily hold another. As the sticky-note war escalates, and the pressure to choose sides mounts, Frost soon realizes that after this year, nothing will ever be the same.
373 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2017
1733 people are currently reading
7095 people want to read
About the author
John David Anderson
21 books623 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
John David Anderson once hit himself so hard on a dare by his sister that he literally knocked himself out of a chair and nearly blacked out. He has since translated this passion and singularity of purpose to the related arts of novel writing and pizza eating. The author of STANDARD HERO BEHAVIOR, SIDEKICKED, MINION, THE DUNGEONEERS and the soon-to-land MS. BIXBY's LAST DAY, Anderson is a firm believer in wearing the same pair of jeans for three days in a row (four in the winter) and the power of writing to solve 73% of the world's problems. He lives with his beautiful wife and twins in Indianapolis, Indiana.
John David Anderson once hit himself so hard on a dare by his sister that he literally knocked himself out of a chair and nearly blacked out. He has since translated this passion and singularity of purpose to the related arts of novel writing and pizza eating. The author of STANDARD HERO BEHAVIOR, SIDEKICKED, MINION, THE DUNGEONEERS and the soon-to-land MS. BIXBY's LAST DAY, Anderson is a firm believer in wearing the same pair of jeans for three days in a row (four in the winter) and the power of writing to solve 73% of the world's problems. He lives with his beautiful wife and twins in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,251 reviews
January 22, 2018
full disclosure, I read this for a parent/teen book club and all the parents and kids liked it?! Or at least felt socially pressured to say they liked it?
It's dumb though, especially since it's supposedly a book about ~the power of words~ but it's full of little fat-shaming/body-shaming and racist microaggressions. like is this a book about white people who are obsessed with finding their ~tribe~, yes it is. is this a book where everyone's cellphones get banned because a sassy black girl sent a mean text message, yes it is. is this a book where the protagonist can't be bothered to learn how to pronounce his Indian friend's first name, and that's hilarious? yes it is.
is this a book where a schoolwide bullying problem is largely solved by a bicycle race?
you bet.
if you're looking for a message book about ~bullying~ you can do better. Even Wonder is better.
It's dumb though, especially since it's supposedly a book about ~the power of words~ but it's full of little fat-shaming/body-shaming and racist microaggressions. like is this a book about white people who are obsessed with finding their ~tribe~, yes it is. is this a book where everyone's cellphones get banned because a sassy black girl sent a mean text message, yes it is. is this a book where the protagonist can't be bothered to learn how to pronounce his Indian friend's first name, and that's hilarious? yes it is.
is this a book where a schoolwide bullying problem is largely solved by a bicycle race?
you bet.
if you're looking for a message book about ~bullying~ you can do better. Even Wonder is better.
April 20, 2017
Required reading for all middle school students, teachers, administrators and parents. "You find your people and you protect each other from the wolves" ~ that statement alone sets the tone for this searing commentary on middle school, friendship, bullying and the power of words. I flat out cried with about 10 minutes left in the book (no spoilers, I promise) and rejoiced at Anderson's ability to show us light amidst the harsh reality he portrays in this story. It's funny, it's heartbreaking, it's educational and most of all it's REAL. It doesn't offer a magic bullet to stop bullying, but it can and will open conversations - this books needs to be read widely and immediately. And then felt and mulled over. And then discussed and written about. Mandatory middle school library and classroom purchase. Would be an excellent choice for an all-school read.
I received a digital ARC of this title for review - all opinions are my own.
I received a digital ARC of this title for review - all opinions are my own.
xx-dnf-skim-reference
December 28, 2017It'll be so refreshing if the kids are actually encouraged to use their words. Too many MG characters only confide in diaries or best friends.
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Um, no. What it is, is that the kids use post-it notes to substitute for texts when their phones are taken away. And they use them to bully each other. Preachy book, not entertaining. I thought I would persist, but at p. 98 I was struggling with all the cliches, and so I skipped to the end and found out that people still consider calling someone gay to be offensive, even the kid who is. I thought we were past that. My son's school was when he was there several years ago. What I mean is, if you still don't get it, still like the author, it should be like calling a girl a girl, or at least like calling a tall person 'beanpole' or 'shorty.' Nbd, shrug it off, cuz after all it's true and it's who you are. And even if your community is still stuck in the dark ages, shouldn't a preachy book be a model of a better way?
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Um, no. What it is, is that the kids use post-it notes to substitute for texts when their phones are taken away. And they use them to bully each other. Preachy book, not entertaining. I thought I would persist, but at p. 98 I was struggling with all the cliches, and so I skipped to the end and found out that people still consider calling someone gay to be offensive, even the kid who is. I thought we were past that. My son's school was when he was there several years ago. What I mean is, if you still don't get it, still like the author, it should be like calling a girl a girl, or at least like calling a tall person 'beanpole' or 'shorty.' Nbd, shrug it off, cuz after all it's true and it's who you are. And even if your community is still stuck in the dark ages, shouldn't a preachy book be a model of a better way?
August 20, 2017
This is a hard book to review. Not because it wasn't good, because it was, but because I couldn't figure out if it was a middle school book geared towards middle schoolers or a middle school book geared towards high schoolers/adults. It was a bit too much of a wholesome lesson on bullying and middle school friendships in my opinion which makes me think it is more geared toward the latter option. Which is not a bad thing but it takes a star away from my rating. I think 11/12 year old me would have thought this book was too preachy to be honest and would probably have not finished it.
July 31, 2017
Powerful story for middle school. It's the beginning of MS and who isn't scared about finding your tribe? It's more than that though. This is a story for all the kids who are marginalized just because they don't fit into what bullies perceive is the norm. It's about being compassionate, empathetic, finding acceptance, and being aware of what is going on around you and sticking up for what is kind. I ❤️ this quote, "Words are ghosts that can haunt you forever." This would make for a great read aloud.
July 10, 2024
Such a great book
September 3, 2019
If i could rate this negative stars i would. This book made me cry, now you’re thinking “ oh he doesn’t like it because it made him sad”, NO! This book mad me cry because i wanted the pain of reading it to stop. Now on to a more serious note, kids cover your ears, this book gave me suicidal thoughts. Not the hyper-reactonairy teen angst kind of suicidal thoughts, the actually genuinly wanted to die rather than read this book. This book is 365 pages long but it could be 100 (or less) the author goes on long tangents about a flashback to something that bears no relevance to what is currently happening in the book. When you are reading one these stupidly long and off topic rants, you think hey i bet this is foreshadowing or it will be relevant later on in the book NOPE. It nevers comes up again and in the one or two cases it does, the author so very kindly takes the time TO SPEND AN ENTIRE CHAPTER TO GO OFF ON ANOTHER TANGET EXPLAINING SOMETHING THAT YOU ALREADY UNDERSTAND! In conclusion if you value your sanity DO NOT read this book.
June 7, 2021
Terrible... no other words to describe this book... appalling. It's beyond words to be honest. So, I'll be using pictures too.
So, here was my expectation:
And here's what I actually got:
So, I felt this book was extremely heavy. I've read worse honestly speaking. I read books about The Holocaust, Dystopian books, and also, I read about racial injustice and how loss affects a person. Plus, I've read about worse bullying in horror stories.
So, this book is definitely not the harshest I've read because I've read worse. But why did I feel like this book was not the best? Well, mostly a) because the characters were portrayed incorrectly and b) it's often extremely predictable and c) the repetition.
So let's talk turkey.
So let's start with character development. In general, I would say I'm a pretty empathetic person, but I absolutely struggled to feel bad and to cope with these character's triumphs and failures. I'm going to go talk about all of them.
Rose: I found Rose to be too perfect for me. She's everything a person wants to be: funny, tall, burly, athletic, even good looking with pretty eyes. I feel like she's so perfect: A Mary Sue almost. She seems free of weakness, literally everyone wants to be that way. So, I feel like more flaws and insecurities should be added to Rose. I also think she's too friendly. Like literally no one saves someone a seat by knowing them for like two days. And don't get my wrong, other people open up to me BECAUSE I'm friendly and they feel at ease with me. But, I'm not perfect in any way. Rose is, and this character is poorly done.
She's a stalker, a gatecrasher, and everything you don't want (yes, ignore the fact that this contradicts my first point). She knows Frost's address... gate crashes boys' games, and gosh, does so much more. Is anyone getting strange vibes from her?
My reaction:
And please don't get me started on Wolf. I am appalled. He serves as a terrible role model for people. After his secret was leaked by Jason Baker, one of my favorite characters (you'll see why) writing he's gay, he starts destroying his models and he attacked Bench, unprovoked. I mean sure, people felt bad for him, but this just made me angry at him. He needs to stay strong, he could have handled this differently, but he chose the wrong path, which irks me so much. He's so annoying too. Why would he ditch his friends for Rose? I mean sure, Rose understands a lot, but I just feel like that wasn't just right. You know someone for a week and go to them and ditch your life long friends. Not cool, man. Just not cool.
I never really got to see much of Frost and DeeDee to tell you that they are worse, so I wouldn't know, but I feel like Frost is sometimes extremely repetitive and pushy. He asks Wolf what girl to pick even though Wolf clearly doesn't want to. Back off, man really. For one thing, he also keeps saying these cliché sayings. I'm not going into detail right now since that's another section.
DeeDee is harmless as far as I know. I guess the only thing is that he's the only eighth grader who is obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons and is completely oblivious to other people's plans. He is sometimes selfish and only cares about D&D, but he is considerably better.
Bench is actually decent. He'll do anything to survive in middle school, which finally makes things less perfect. At last we have a good character.
And that's where I kind of differ. I found that the popular clique was the one that wasn't perfect. I thought that it was cool. I felt more relatable to that clique, since I am not the Miss and Mr. Perfects.
The book was so predictable.
-I knew Rose was going to face the Gauntlet
-I knew Jason wrote the thing on Wolf's locker
-I knew that Cameron was going to have to apologize
-I knew Jason was going to have a cold shoulder
How much can you know about a book honestly?
AND OH MY GOD DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE REPETITION. I WAS PRACTICALLY DYING EVERY SINGLE TIME I HEARD THE TRIBE PHRASE. I ALSO KEPT HEARING ABOUT FROST'S DIVORCE AND I WAS SO ANNOYED!
About the tribe, it's all a load of baloney. Why is Frost such a control freak? He expects people just to always be with him and to never get any friends. Bench ditched them so that he could branch out and make new friends. Yet, Frost with his crappy "mantra" is always just like, "you find your people". So, what's he saying, really? You find your friends for life. No, you make new friends and ditch the old (sometimes) and you move on. So, really, Frost? Who the heck do you think you are? Some kind of god everyone expects to hail to?
And what is this stupid "war" that the irksome narrator mentions all the time? Really, there was no story behind that. I thought it would be more about how the war flowed out and how the new girl affected yet. Yet the story was so central to the irritating characters. The overall attitude was, "Oh MY GOD THERE WAS A WAR AND LIKE OH MY GOD?" There was no story line to that and it was so repetitive I was literally up at 2 AM banging my head against the book.
But I would say that the writing is kind of all right. It was super repitive, so I guess that also turned to be one out of the many flops in the book. There was a vast vocabulary. But, the overall affect? Disappointing.
Update: I finished the book after painful hours of reading it. I was practically dying and now I really really want to donate it. I want out with it. Every time I read a few pages, I feel sickened to how terrible this book was.
Unfortunately, I can't throw it out the window because my window has a net before the real window. Well... one of them doesn't but it's a waste of money. Whatever, it doesn't add to my point.
So, here was my expectation:
And here's what I actually got:
So, I felt this book was extremely heavy. I've read worse honestly speaking. I read books about The Holocaust, Dystopian books, and also, I read about racial injustice and how loss affects a person. Plus, I've read about worse bullying in horror stories.
So, this book is definitely not the harshest I've read because I've read worse. But why did I feel like this book was not the best? Well, mostly a) because the characters were portrayed incorrectly and b) it's often extremely predictable and c) the repetition.
So let's talk turkey.
So let's start with character development. In general, I would say I'm a pretty empathetic person, but I absolutely struggled to feel bad and to cope with these character's triumphs and failures. I'm going to go talk about all of them.
Rose: I found Rose to be too perfect for me. She's everything a person wants to be: funny, tall, burly, athletic, even good looking with pretty eyes. I feel like she's so perfect: A Mary Sue almost. She seems free of weakness, literally everyone wants to be that way. So, I feel like more flaws and insecurities should be added to Rose. I also think she's too friendly. Like literally no one saves someone a seat by knowing them for like two days. And don't get my wrong, other people open up to me BECAUSE I'm friendly and they feel at ease with me. But, I'm not perfect in any way. Rose is, and this character is poorly done.
She's a stalker, a gatecrasher, and everything you don't want (yes, ignore the fact that this contradicts my first point). She knows Frost's address... gate crashes boys' games, and gosh, does so much more. Is anyone getting strange vibes from her?
My reaction:
And please don't get me started on Wolf. I am appalled. He serves as a terrible role model for people. After his secret was leaked by Jason Baker, one of my favorite characters (you'll see why) writing he's gay, he starts destroying his models and he attacked Bench, unprovoked. I mean sure, people felt bad for him, but this just made me angry at him. He needs to stay strong, he could have handled this differently, but he chose the wrong path, which irks me so much. He's so annoying too. Why would he ditch his friends for Rose? I mean sure, Rose understands a lot, but I just feel like that wasn't just right. You know someone for a week and go to them and ditch your life long friends. Not cool, man. Just not cool.
I never really got to see much of Frost and DeeDee to tell you that they are worse, so I wouldn't know, but I feel like Frost is sometimes extremely repetitive and pushy. He asks Wolf what girl to pick even though Wolf clearly doesn't want to. Back off, man really. For one thing, he also keeps saying these cliché sayings. I'm not going into detail right now since that's another section.
DeeDee is harmless as far as I know. I guess the only thing is that he's the only eighth grader who is obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons and is completely oblivious to other people's plans. He is sometimes selfish and only cares about D&D, but he is considerably better.
Bench is actually decent. He'll do anything to survive in middle school, which finally makes things less perfect. At last we have a good character.
And that's where I kind of differ. I found that the popular clique was the one that wasn't perfect. I thought that it was cool. I felt more relatable to that clique, since I am not the Miss and Mr. Perfects.
The book was so predictable.
-I knew Rose was going to face the Gauntlet
-I knew Jason wrote the thing on Wolf's locker
-I knew that Cameron was going to have to apologize
-I knew Jason was going to have a cold shoulder
How much can you know about a book honestly?
AND OH MY GOD DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE REPETITION. I WAS PRACTICALLY DYING EVERY SINGLE TIME I HEARD THE TRIBE PHRASE. I ALSO KEPT HEARING ABOUT FROST'S DIVORCE AND I WAS SO ANNOYED!
About the tribe, it's all a load of baloney. Why is Frost such a control freak? He expects people just to always be with him and to never get any friends. Bench ditched them so that he could branch out and make new friends. Yet, Frost with his crappy "mantra" is always just like, "you find your people". So, what's he saying, really? You find your friends for life. No, you make new friends and ditch the old (sometimes) and you move on. So, really, Frost? Who the heck do you think you are? Some kind of god everyone expects to hail to?
And what is this stupid "war" that the irksome narrator mentions all the time? Really, there was no story behind that. I thought it would be more about how the war flowed out and how the new girl affected yet. Yet the story was so central to the irritating characters. The overall attitude was, "Oh MY GOD THERE WAS A WAR AND LIKE OH MY GOD?" There was no story line to that and it was so repetitive I was literally up at 2 AM banging my head against the book.
But I would say that the writing is kind of all right. It was super repitive, so I guess that also turned to be one out of the many flops in the book. There was a vast vocabulary. But, the overall affect? Disappointing.
Update: I finished the book after painful hours of reading it. I was practically dying and now I really really want to donate it. I want out with it. Every time I read a few pages, I feel sickened to how terrible this book was.
Unfortunately, I can't throw it out the window because my window has a net before the real window. Well... one of them doesn't but it's a waste of money. Whatever, it doesn't add to my point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
December 6, 2020(no spoilers)
Post-it notes. That was what started the war. Seeing how the tiniest things can snowball into such a big event that adults had to be involved somehow reminded me of my situations. From the expodition, we were introduced to a foursome who were so close, they seemed to be stuck together by super glue. They would've never guessed that a girl just might be their friendship's kryptonite. A couple of years ago, me and my friends formed a clique, and just like the foursome, we would've never saw that we were going to be separated because of a fight. While reading this book, I've come to this phrase that said, "running the gauntlet." Between, good and bad relationships, we had to survive. What really surprised me was how much I understood this phrase. There was this one time when Frost saw his friend getting thrown in the air in congratulation, my heart tugged. Not only was that sympathy for Frost, but I realized I have also been through this situation. Reading this book was like watching Keeping up with the Kardashians but about me. I really enjoyed this "mirror" book and would recommend it to people who would like a humorous realistic fiction that reminds them of their sad life (kidding).
Post-it notes. That was what started the war. Seeing how the tiniest things can snowball into such a big event that adults had to be involved somehow reminded me of my situations. From the expodition, we were introduced to a foursome who were so close, they seemed to be stuck together by super glue. They would've never guessed that a girl just might be their friendship's kryptonite. A couple of years ago, me and my friends formed a clique, and just like the foursome, we would've never saw that we were going to be separated because of a fight. While reading this book, I've come to this phrase that said, "running the gauntlet." Between, good and bad relationships, we had to survive. What really surprised me was how much I understood this phrase. There was this one time when Frost saw his friend getting thrown in the air in congratulation, my heart tugged. Not only was that sympathy for Frost, but I realized I have also been through this situation. Reading this book was like watching Keeping up with the Kardashians but about me. I really enjoyed this "mirror" book and would recommend it to people who would like a humorous realistic fiction that reminds them of their sad life (kidding).
January 3, 2018
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=1...
First, I must start with stating my awe with Mr. Anderson. I have read four of his five books and each is stellar. But what really makes him stand out as an exemplar author to me is that he has tackled three different genres in his five books and each one was just as good as the others. Ms. Bixby and Posted are realistic fiction, Sidekicked and Minion are superhero sci-fi, and Dungeoneers is high fantasy. How impressive! Now onto my review of Posted:
There are books that I read that just feel true to me, and Posted fits that. As a middle school teacher, I could picture all of the characters as true middle school students and know that so many readers will connect with someone in the book. Although some of the adults in the book fit a typecast of teachers (they are probably pretty realistic representations of how middle schoolers see some teachers though), they were needed to propel the story. And Mr. Sword is anything but a stereotype and one of those teachers that I just love in books because he cares! I also felt that the bullying represented is, sadly, probably a pretty true representation. Middle school really is all about finding your tribe. So many kids are trying to find their identity and are influenced by so much which sometimes leads to mean kids; however, there are really awesome middle schoolers as well which you can also see in this book. I love these middle schoolers (Frost, Rose, Wolf, Deedee, and even Bench), and I know you and any kid you share this book with will as well.
What I think makes this book stand out, though, is the theme that words can hurt. They are powerful and can change lives. They can be used for good or evil.
First, I must start with stating my awe with Mr. Anderson. I have read four of his five books and each is stellar. But what really makes him stand out as an exemplar author to me is that he has tackled three different genres in his five books and each one was just as good as the others. Ms. Bixby and Posted are realistic fiction, Sidekicked and Minion are superhero sci-fi, and Dungeoneers is high fantasy. How impressive! Now onto my review of Posted:
There are books that I read that just feel true to me, and Posted fits that. As a middle school teacher, I could picture all of the characters as true middle school students and know that so many readers will connect with someone in the book. Although some of the adults in the book fit a typecast of teachers (they are probably pretty realistic representations of how middle schoolers see some teachers though), they were needed to propel the story. And Mr. Sword is anything but a stereotype and one of those teachers that I just love in books because he cares! I also felt that the bullying represented is, sadly, probably a pretty true representation. Middle school really is all about finding your tribe. So many kids are trying to find their identity and are influenced by so much which sometimes leads to mean kids; however, there are really awesome middle schoolers as well which you can also see in this book. I love these middle schoolers (Frost, Rose, Wolf, Deedee, and even Bench), and I know you and any kid you share this book with will as well.
What I think makes this book stand out, though, is the theme that words can hurt. They are powerful and can change lives. They can be used for good or evil.
August 13, 2017
I don't think I could have read this at a more relevant time.
Powerful, powerful read.
As an adult reading it, it 100% was accurate for how I remember and still hear about middle school. I have no doubt that this book will be a mirror book for far too many kids.
I hope for those seeing it as a mirror, they find this as something they can hold on to. For kids who are seeing this as a window, I hope they see this book as a catalyst to do something. To see the power of words and the power of kindness.
This book should be required reading for both teachers and students.
Powerful, powerful read.
As an adult reading it, it 100% was accurate for how I remember and still hear about middle school. I have no doubt that this book will be a mirror book for far too many kids.
I hope for those seeing it as a mirror, they find this as something they can hold on to. For kids who are seeing this as a window, I hope they see this book as a catalyst to do something. To see the power of words and the power of kindness.
This book should be required reading for both teachers and students.
January 10, 2018
What a fabulous story! There are so many worthwhile lessons (for kids and adults) wrapped in excellent writing that I’m going to be thinking about this story and these characters for a long, long time. <3
June 26, 2017
I loved this book, and I definitely recommend it. It mostly focuses about verbal bullying in school. And how it impacts on people. And also how you can stop it and stand up for others.
August 25, 2019
4.5 for sure. It was such a good book about friendship and how friendships can evolve. I didn't ugly cry but I was pretty damn close
March 10, 2020
Words are ghosts that can haunt us forever. (p. 163 and 340)
Word matter. When texting and cell phones are banned at a middle school in Michigan in a response to online bullying, students rediscover the power of words using sticky notes. Words can relay messages, cause harm or reaffirm in this story about middle school friendship and social hierarchy between Eric, J.J., Morgan, Advik and Rosalind (aka Frost, Bench, Wolf, Deedee and Rose).Their nicknames may appear innocent but are they?
This would make a great middle school all-school read or read-aloud.
Word matter. When texting and cell phones are banned at a middle school in Michigan in a response to online bullying, students rediscover the power of words using sticky notes. Words can relay messages, cause harm or reaffirm in this story about middle school friendship and social hierarchy between Eric, J.J., Morgan, Advik and Rosalind (aka Frost, Bench, Wolf, Deedee and Rose).Their nicknames may appear innocent but are they?
This would make a great middle school all-school read or read-aloud.
March 1, 2021
I liked it but someof the charactors were kind of boring overall was a pretty good book.
January 10, 2026
Ok so first. I loved that this book was funny. It made me happy and smile. And its just simply a amazing book for any type of mood you are in. 200000 out of 10. Highly recommended.
July 24, 2020
On point messaging for its intended audience. I’ll be curious to hear my middle schooler’s reaction to the book. As an adult, I just had a hard time in the middle school setting which made it move slowly to me but I thought the message and final words were really prevalent, especially in this day and age.
March 1, 2021
Posted By John David Anderson was interesting, to say the least; although I wasn't engrossed in the story, it had a good message. This narrator in this book reminds me of the earlier Diary of A Wimpy Kid books because just like Greg, Frost has strained relationships with some of his family & friends and is insecure about what people think of him (like Frost). When I read, I wondered if it would have a "cliche" ending where the tribe makes up and everyone is completly fine with the new dynamic of the friend group, *mild spoiler* so I was pleasantly suprised with the ending of the book. I wouldn't reccommend this book to people who like more mature or solemn books because this book was definetly light and airy compared to other books I've read; I would reccommend this book to younger audiences.
This humourous story is set in a small town in Michigan where Frost, the main character, faces the dilemna of phones being banned at Branton Middle School and the new faze of sticky notes, both hurtful & kind, being used as a new form of communication. The challenge he will have to face later on, is the real situation of friends growing up and apart. At the beginning of the story, Frost has a secure group of friends who all share one love, Dungeons & Dragons. Posted is about Frost, an aspiring poet, who always thinks about what to say and what other people think of him. He decided to let the new girl Rose, sit at his lunch table but one of his close friends object. With the help of his tribe, Frost needs to combat the ever-growing problem of bullying at Branton Middle School before it's too late.
One part I disliked was how the book was partially focused on Frost's character arc but at the end, he never reached out to his Dad or at least sent him a poem. I think calling his Dad may have mended the hole in his heart he was dealing with for the whole book. I found it myself wanting to read one of Frost's poems, which I never got, I thought this was peculiar especially because Frost allegedly writes hundreds of poems and he growed by coming out his shell, (which could mean him sharing his poem).
One strength in this book is the relationship Frost's has with his mom. Even though he brushes her off, she still offers her best of advice and takes the time to try and understand him. I liked how she was portrayed as a strong single mom who wants the best for her son. The idea that this book took place over the course of 2 weeks, did not seem plausible. In real life, I don't think anyone could grow that close with someone and recover from breaking apart from their friends. The author explores the theme of branching out and growing apart, making the point that talking to new people can sometimes lead to a beautiful friendship. I think I would have enjoyed it if the other members of the tribe had one chapter where they could narrate their home-life and side of the story, especially DeeDee because I felt as if he was pushed to the side towards the end of the book. I did not find it particually exciting to read and if I'm honest, the Gauntlet chapter did not inflict suspense.
This humourous story is set in a small town in Michigan where Frost, the main character, faces the dilemna of phones being banned at Branton Middle School and the new faze of sticky notes, both hurtful & kind, being used as a new form of communication. The challenge he will have to face later on, is the real situation of friends growing up and apart. At the beginning of the story, Frost has a secure group of friends who all share one love, Dungeons & Dragons. Posted is about Frost, an aspiring poet, who always thinks about what to say and what other people think of him. He decided to let the new girl Rose, sit at his lunch table but one of his close friends object. With the help of his tribe, Frost needs to combat the ever-growing problem of bullying at Branton Middle School before it's too late.
One part I disliked was how the book was partially focused on Frost's character arc but at the end, he never reached out to his Dad or at least sent him a poem. I think calling his Dad may have mended the hole in his heart he was dealing with for the whole book. I found it myself wanting to read one of Frost's poems, which I never got, I thought this was peculiar especially because Frost allegedly writes hundreds of poems and he growed by coming out his shell, (which could mean him sharing his poem).
One strength in this book is the relationship Frost's has with his mom. Even though he brushes her off, she still offers her best of advice and takes the time to try and understand him. I liked how she was portrayed as a strong single mom who wants the best for her son. The idea that this book took place over the course of 2 weeks, did not seem plausible. In real life, I don't think anyone could grow that close with someone and recover from breaking apart from their friends. The author explores the theme of branching out and growing apart, making the point that talking to new people can sometimes lead to a beautiful friendship. I think I would have enjoyed it if the other members of the tribe had one chapter where they could narrate their home-life and side of the story, especially DeeDee because I felt as if he was pushed to the side towards the end of the book. I did not find it particually exciting to read and if I'm honest, the Gauntlet chapter did not inflict suspense.
April 5, 2024
IMO, This book was challenging me as it took me at least 2 years to actually pick it back up.
(SHORT RANT COMING UP-) When I first read this book I was like 10, and I think I had gotten to like 6 chapters and dropped it afterward because I just didn't know where the story was going at that point. I tried reading it again at like 11 but dropped it again because I think I just found it boring. And here I am, a true 'warrior' for finally completing a book that took me 2 years to pick up again. Yeah, this book was...okay.
-> So just starting off, this review/rant will probably be all over the place or seem unprofessional.
The characters overall were great but needed some improvement. Rose, the new girl but not the MC, was just an exact copy of a Mary Sue and you cannot tell me otherwise. Nothing bad happened to her, she ran the gauntlet very easily, and she, IMO, felt like a unnecessary character. Sure she taught Frost (MC) some things without even knowing it but she was just there. Nothing ever happened to her except for her being called Moose. Through the entire 'war', nothing happened to her. HUH??
This book was kind of unrealistic with the main issue. Bullying. Okay so imagine you're in the locker room and look at someone for just a split second and they say, "What're you looking at, homo?" (So realistic I know), and it turned into a rumor (again, so realistic) for as long as you're there at that school. Would you...
A) Not care as it's stupid that people think being gay is stupid even though you're not gay and it's just a RuMoR
B) Tell someone (Principal, teacher, or parent) about it
C) Other
ORRRRRRRR!!!!
D) Have a mental breakdown and bash your figurine models with a bat in your front lawn and have to transfer to another school because of it!
Wolf chose D...yeah.
Wolf is a thought-out person. He's the one who makes the decisions for the friend group (Frost, Rose, Deedee, and Bench) when it comes to people. But I just didn't get why he got all pissed when some stupid rumor started. They are literally the least 'weird' kids at the school. Some weird kids don't get a reputation unless it's for their...behavior. and furry po-
I also feel like, as the reader, that there wasn't much story to Wolf's mental health or background that would explain why he felt the need to be pissed at a rumor. (I'm aware that I may be wrong-)
This book was unrealistic.
Besides that, I liked the book but it needed more flavor and more drama than just a stupid note 'war' that ChAnGeD everything. Because this book felt like it was just a run through of one week for the characters. Maybe because it was the same setting, I don't know.
3/5 and only 3/5.
(SHORT RANT COMING UP-) When I first read this book I was like 10, and I think I had gotten to like 6 chapters and dropped it afterward because I just didn't know where the story was going at that point. I tried reading it again at like 11 but dropped it again because I think I just found it boring. And here I am, a true 'warrior' for finally completing a book that took me 2 years to pick up again. Yeah, this book was...okay.
-> So just starting off, this review/rant will probably be all over the place or seem unprofessional.
The characters overall were great but needed some improvement. Rose, the new girl but not the MC, was just an exact copy of a Mary Sue and you cannot tell me otherwise. Nothing bad happened to her, she ran the gauntlet very easily, and she, IMO, felt like a unnecessary character. Sure she taught Frost (MC) some things without even knowing it but she was just there. Nothing ever happened to her except for her being called Moose. Through the entire 'war', nothing happened to her. HUH??
This book was kind of unrealistic with the main issue. Bullying. Okay so imagine you're in the locker room and look at someone for just a split second and they say, "What're you looking at, homo?" (So realistic I know), and it turned into a rumor (again, so realistic) for as long as you're there at that school. Would you...
A) Not care as it's stupid that people think being gay is stupid even though you're not gay and it's just a RuMoR
B) Tell someone (Principal, teacher, or parent) about it
C) Other
ORRRRRRRR!!!!
D) Have a mental breakdown and bash your figurine models with a bat in your front lawn and have to transfer to another school because of it!
Wolf chose D...yeah.
Wolf is a thought-out person. He's the one who makes the decisions for the friend group (Frost, Rose, Deedee, and Bench) when it comes to people. But I just didn't get why he got all pissed when some stupid rumor started. They are literally the least 'weird' kids at the school. Some weird kids don't get a reputation unless it's for their...behavior. and furry po-
I also feel like, as the reader, that there wasn't much story to Wolf's mental health or background that would explain why he felt the need to be pissed at a rumor. (I'm aware that I may be wrong-)
This book was unrealistic.
Besides that, I liked the book but it needed more flavor and more drama than just a stupid note 'war' that ChAnGeD everything. Because this book felt like it was just a run through of one week for the characters. Maybe because it was the same setting, I don't know.
3/5 and only 3/5.
April 8, 2022
April, 2022 RE-READ
Using this for the first time in my classroom, and re-read this as my 7th graders read it. Still 4 stars. Still think it's basically a good book. Most kids enjoyed talking about the plot and characters. Themes and messages about shifting friendships, building and breaking down relationship "walls", and of course the power of words emerged clearly in our discussions.
The overt and physical bullying depicted in the book seemed unrelatable to most of my kiddos, as did the notion that telling an adult about such a thing would do no good. When we talked about the name calling, especially the use of "coded" language to bully one of the characters by calling him gay, there seemed to be a definite sense of exasperation and some eye rolling from some students, as in "This is old news. Being gay is fine. Nobody does this anymore." My sense is that there has been - or is ongoing - a general attitude shift among students around sexual identity and gender, and I suspect the coded language was either lost on many of them at first and/or seemed ridiculous. Huh.
As this was only my first time through, I will definitely give it another go next year and see what emerges.
FIRST READ 2019
Great premise. Packed with lots of important, relevant and abundantly clear messages for those in the throes of middle school life - especially about the power of words. For all of that, though, there were times in the story when characters said and did things that I felt ran counter to what I think the author was trying to achieve. Also, the book is a little on the long side and the pacing slow in parts. Not sure how it will be received by students, but looking forward to finding out.
Using this for the first time in my classroom, and re-read this as my 7th graders read it. Still 4 stars. Still think it's basically a good book. Most kids enjoyed talking about the plot and characters. Themes and messages about shifting friendships, building and breaking down relationship "walls", and of course the power of words emerged clearly in our discussions.
The overt and physical bullying depicted in the book seemed unrelatable to most of my kiddos, as did the notion that telling an adult about such a thing would do no good. When we talked about the name calling, especially the use of "coded" language to bully one of the characters by calling him gay, there seemed to be a definite sense of exasperation and some eye rolling from some students, as in "This is old news. Being gay is fine. Nobody does this anymore." My sense is that there has been - or is ongoing - a general attitude shift among students around sexual identity and gender, and I suspect the coded language was either lost on many of them at first and/or seemed ridiculous. Huh.
As this was only my first time through, I will definitely give it another go next year and see what emerges.
FIRST READ 2019
Great premise. Packed with lots of important, relevant and abundantly clear messages for those in the throes of middle school life - especially about the power of words. For all of that, though, there were times in the story when characters said and did things that I felt ran counter to what I think the author was trying to achieve. Also, the book is a little on the long side and the pacing slow in parts. Not sure how it will be received by students, but looking forward to finding out.
Read
September 28, 2017After banning cell phones at Frost's school, the students start a "sticky note war." Bullying becomes more visible as students write their mean thoughts on post-its and stick them on lockers. Frost, the main character, thinks he is safe within his group of nicknamed friends, "Bench, " a good-natured benchwarmer, "Deedee," a D&D enthusiast and "Wolf", a piano prodigy until Rose a new student unexpectedly joins their group and becomes a catalyst for positive change in the entire school. The book has a great message about the power of words to be both hurtful and redeeming and portrays a realistic picture of middle social dynamics. Read if you like: Save Me a Seat or Unfriended
December 29, 2016
After reading Posted, and having read the author's Ms. Bixby's Last Day, I think that John David Anderson will have to go on my list of favorite authors! His main character is a self-deprecating nerd with a funny, snarky voice who narrates his middle school's all-out war using...post-it notes. The book deals with bullying, fitting in, the changes to family and friendships with lots of heart, humor, and hope.
May 9, 2018
This was a great book that really touched my heart. The friendship between them definitely reminded me of the friendship between me and my friends. The things they go through are real world problems and I am glad to finally see a real representation of a true friendship instead of these fairy tale endings.
September 24, 2019
Wow. I am very impressed and completely satisfied with this MG story about finding your tribe and protecting them fiercely. Something for all MS students to unpack in here. Highly recommended for G678.
March 1, 2021
It had a nice story line with good underlying stories. the characters were funny and relatable which really added to the sotry
June 29, 2023
This is the best book I’ve ever read, by the best author I have ever read. I don’t even know where to start. Posted is a rich, beautiful story about the power and weight of words. With an ongoing phone ban at Frost’s middle school, sticky notes become a trend as they are stuck to lockers, bathrooms, water fountains, and more. Some contain affirmations or compliments, while some have insults and threats. While this is all happening, Rose, a new girl who is not afraid to step up and does not care about what other middle schoolers think of her, becomes friends with Frost and his tribe; Deedee, a Dungeons and Dragons fanatic, Bench, a would-be star athlete, and Wolf, a bullied musical genius, Frost is forced to see things in a whole new light. This story is one that can make you both laugh, smile, cry and scream in its pages. It’s incredible!!!!!!!
July 14, 2017
Books rarely take me over 3 weeks to read, but this one caught me in the middle of a reading slump. Yes, even librarians find themselves struggling to read sometimes!
I really liked Posted - the members of the "tribe" were really well done (I had a particular fondness for DeeDee, and Rose was a delight) and the topic at hand - cyber bullying/bullying in general - is one that kids could always use a fresh perspective on. Man, do I cringe when I think about what middle school must be like with the added pressure of cell phones and social media.
While I thought Posted was successful in all aspects, I do think it dragged a little bit. Once again, that could've been due to my reading funk, but I wonder how many kids would power through the whole thing? I kind of miss Frost and the gang already though, so maybe the characters are enough to pull readers through.
I really liked Posted - the members of the "tribe" were really well done (I had a particular fondness for DeeDee, and Rose was a delight) and the topic at hand - cyber bullying/bullying in general - is one that kids could always use a fresh perspective on. Man, do I cringe when I think about what middle school must be like with the added pressure of cell phones and social media.
While I thought Posted was successful in all aspects, I do think it dragged a little bit. Once again, that could've been due to my reading funk, but I wonder how many kids would power through the whole thing? I kind of miss Frost and the gang already though, so maybe the characters are enough to pull readers through.
March 20, 2020
"Keep your head up. Keep your eyes forward. And don't let go."-Rose
Just that saying helped bring this story to life and brought all of them in the "tribe" out of their misery. This quote not only allowed Rose to be able to fit into school, but it also helped remind the protagonist, "Frost" (which is his nickname), who his true friends were and even in the hardest circumstances, he was able to stay true to his friends. I find that hard to do sometimes in real life. When some people leave you to befriend others because of a new friend you have will hurt and most people would be mad at that individual, Frost was calm and he always found his "tribe" and made sure they stayed together even during the hardest times.
Just that saying helped bring this story to life and brought all of them in the "tribe" out of their misery. This quote not only allowed Rose to be able to fit into school, but it also helped remind the protagonist, "Frost" (which is his nickname), who his true friends were and even in the hardest circumstances, he was able to stay true to his friends. I find that hard to do sometimes in real life. When some people leave you to befriend others because of a new friend you have will hurt and most people would be mad at that individual, Frost was calm and he always found his "tribe" and made sure they stayed together even during the hardest times.
July 7, 2023
4.5 stars for this middle grade realistic fiction book! Middle school is a tough time for many kids, especially for Eric and his fellow “nerdy” friends. I love the messages that middle grade readers can take away from this book: 1. Find your tribe. You just need to find your people and everything will be ok. 2. Our words matter. “You can do an awful lot of damage with a handful of words. Some words can break you to pieces. But that’s not all. Words can be beautiful. Gather enough of them and they can stick those same pieces back together, provided they’re the right words, said at the right time.” I loved the ending of this book. So powerful and filled with hope. I’m grateful one of my 4th graders recommended this one to me! ❤️
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