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Jake Drake #1
Jake Drake, Bully Buster
Meet Jake Drake.
He's not the toughest kid in fourth grade or the fastest kid or the funniest. But he's got ideas -- big ideas, and boy, does he have stories to tell about what really goes on in school. Like bullies, for instance. Jake wants to know "if everybody who works at school is so smart, how come they can't get rid of the bullies?...Because every year, it's the same thing. Bullies."
So it's up to Jake Drake to take matters into his own hands when Link Baxter, SuperBully, moves into the neighborhood. Link's reign of terror must be stopped...if only Jake can figure out how.
In this new series by the bestselling author of Frindle, The Landry News, and The Janitor's Boy, Jake Drake confronts the problems of school life and finds some surprising solutions!
He's not the toughest kid in fourth grade or the fastest kid or the funniest. But he's got ideas -- big ideas, and boy, does he have stories to tell about what really goes on in school. Like bullies, for instance. Jake wants to know "if everybody who works at school is so smart, how come they can't get rid of the bullies?...Because every year, it's the same thing. Bullies."
So it's up to Jake Drake to take matters into his own hands when Link Baxter, SuperBully, moves into the neighborhood. Link's reign of terror must be stopped...if only Jake can figure out how.
In this new series by the bestselling author of Frindle, The Landry News, and The Janitor's Boy, Jake Drake confronts the problems of school life and finds some surprising solutions!
80 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2001
58 people are currently reading
628 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Clements
191 books2,194 followersI was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1949 and lived in Oaklyn and Cherry Hill until the middle of sixth grade. Then we moved to Springfield, Illinois. My parents were avid readers and they gave that love of books and reading to me and to all my brothers and sisters. I didn’t think about being a writer at all back then, but I did love to read. I'm certain there's a link between reading good books and becoming a writer. I don't know a single writer who wasn’t a reader first.
Before moving to Illinois, and even afterwards, our family spent summers at a cabin on a lake in Maine. There was no TV there, no phone, no doorbell—and email wasn’t even invented. All day there was time to swim and fish and mess around outside, and every night, there was time to read. I know those quiet summers helped me begin to think like a writer.
During my senior year at Springfield High School my English teacher handed back a poem I’d written. Two things were amazing about that paper. First, I’d gotten an A—a rare event in this teacher’s class. And she’d also written in large, scrawly red writing, “Andrew—this poem is so funny. This should be published!”
That praise sent me off to Northwestern University feeling like I was a pretty good writer, and occasionally professors there also encouraged me and complimented the essays I was required to write as a literature major. But I didn’t write much on my own—just some poetry now and then. I learned to play guitar and began writing songs, but again, only when I felt like it. Writing felt like hard work—something that’s still true today.
After the songwriting came my first job in publishing. I worked for a small publisher who specialized in how-to books, the kind of books that have photos with informative captions below each one. The book in which my name first appeared in print is called A Country Christmas Treasury. I’d built a number of the projects featured in the book, and I was listed as one of the “craftspeople”on the acknowlegements page, in tiny, tiny type.
In 1990 I began trying to write a story about a boy who makes up a new word. That book eventually became my first novel, Frindle, published in 1996, and you can read the whole story of how it developed on another web site, frindle.com. Frindle became popular, more popular than any of my books before or since—at least so far. And it had the eventual effect of turning me into a full-time writer.
I’ve learned that I need time and a quiet place to think and write. These days, I spend a lot of my time sitting in a small shed about seventy feet from my back door at our home in Massachusetts. There’s a woodstove in there for the cold winters, and an air conditioner for the hot summers. There’s a desk and chair, and I carry a laptop computer back and forth. But there’s no TV, no phone, no doorbell, no email. And the woodstove and the pine board walls make the place smell just like that cabin in Maine where I spent my earliest summers.
Sometimes kids ask how I've been able to write so many books. The answer is simple: one word at a time. Which is a good lesson, I think. You don't have to do everything at once. You don't have to know how every story is going to end. You just have to take that next step, look for that next idea, write that next word. And growing up, it's the same way. We just have to go to that next class, read that next chapter, help that next person. You simply have to do that next good thing, and before you know it, you're living a good life.
Before moving to Illinois, and even afterwards, our family spent summers at a cabin on a lake in Maine. There was no TV there, no phone, no doorbell—and email wasn’t even invented. All day there was time to swim and fish and mess around outside, and every night, there was time to read. I know those quiet summers helped me begin to think like a writer.
During my senior year at Springfield High School my English teacher handed back a poem I’d written. Two things were amazing about that paper. First, I’d gotten an A—a rare event in this teacher’s class. And she’d also written in large, scrawly red writing, “Andrew—this poem is so funny. This should be published!”
That praise sent me off to Northwestern University feeling like I was a pretty good writer, and occasionally professors there also encouraged me and complimented the essays I was required to write as a literature major. But I didn’t write much on my own—just some poetry now and then. I learned to play guitar and began writing songs, but again, only when I felt like it. Writing felt like hard work—something that’s still true today.
After the songwriting came my first job in publishing. I worked for a small publisher who specialized in how-to books, the kind of books that have photos with informative captions below each one. The book in which my name first appeared in print is called A Country Christmas Treasury. I’d built a number of the projects featured in the book, and I was listed as one of the “craftspeople”on the acknowlegements page, in tiny, tiny type.
In 1990 I began trying to write a story about a boy who makes up a new word. That book eventually became my first novel, Frindle, published in 1996, and you can read the whole story of how it developed on another web site, frindle.com. Frindle became popular, more popular than any of my books before or since—at least so far. And it had the eventual effect of turning me into a full-time writer.
I’ve learned that I need time and a quiet place to think and write. These days, I spend a lot of my time sitting in a small shed about seventy feet from my back door at our home in Massachusetts. There’s a woodstove in there for the cold winters, and an air conditioner for the hot summers. There’s a desk and chair, and I carry a laptop computer back and forth. But there’s no TV, no phone, no doorbell, no email. And the woodstove and the pine board walls make the place smell just like that cabin in Maine where I spent my earliest summers.
Sometimes kids ask how I've been able to write so many books. The answer is simple: one word at a time. Which is a good lesson, I think. You don't have to do everything at once. You don't have to know how every story is going to end. You just have to take that next step, look for that next idea, write that next word. And growing up, it's the same way. We just have to go to that next class, read that next chapter, help that next person. You simply have to do that next good thing, and before you know it, you're living a good life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
October 9, 2007
Grade 2-4-A fourth grader looks back over his years in school and his early experiences as a "bully magnet." Even as a preschooler, Jake was the perfect victim-medium sized, moderately smart, and not inclined to tattle to the authorities. He relates how, in second grade, he came up against a SuperBully, Link Baxter, who taunted him on the bus, ruined his schoolwork, and generally made his life miserable. When the boys were paired up to do a Thanksgiving project, Jake was forced to do all the research. As it turned out, however, the SuperBully was a talented model maker and sometimes forgot to be mean when he was involved in creative work. Then, moments before their class presentation, Jake discovered that Link was terrified of public speaking. Although briefly tempted to take revenge, he instead agreed to let Link be a silent participant while he gave the oral presentation. While the tone of the book is light and humorous, it is a realistic look at a common problem. There is no instant change of heart, although the two adversaries end with a reluctant respect for one another. More important is the peace theme-Jake recognizes that "behind- [every] bully face, there's another face. A real face." For a slightly younger audience than the author's Frindle (S & S, 1996), this title is a must for character-education and conflict-resolution programs and will have strong appeal to transitional readers.
November 4, 2014
Well,in this interesting, realistic fiction book, you will learn how to stop people from bullying and also what to do when people are bulling. well first of all there this kid in fourth grade named Jake,and unfortunately hes getting bullied:(first he was very very happy and stuff until this kid which was the bully came into his town and just started to bully him in school.Jake, didnt really know what to do when this bully, used to bully him........The bully's name was link Baxter.EVERY SINGLE DAY,LINK WILL ALWAYS BOTHER JAKE,BUT OF COURSE SINCE JAKE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO....he didnt do anything about it HE DIDN'T EVEN TELL HIS PARENTS OR ANYTHING AND NOW HERE'S THE PROBLEM,when you are getting bullied,you have to tell an adult immediately because of you don't things might get worst,and trust me you wouldn't want that to happen.so yeah,you have to tell an adult immediately or at least to your parents of what is going on at school because if somebody is bullying you,YOUR PARENTS WOULD NOT KNOW WHATS HAPPENING,and they need to know.
In school,link will always be smiling at Jake but they where not an ordinary smile, it was an evil smile and Jake will always get scared at his smiles.in class Jake and link sit together in their desks,i wonder how will Jake be feeling right now since link bullies him all the time.Jake must probably be feeling really bad and annoyed.i guess the type of conflict in this problem is person vs. person since (i mean)their both persons and one person is bullying the other person so, yeah.so after school,(since link was new)a teacher named Mrs.brattle was showing link where was the bus to take him home.AND JAKE WAS BEGGING AND WHISPERING SAYING"PLEASE NOT NOT BUS,PLEASE NOT THIS BUS."AND THEN GUESS WHAT..................UNFORTUNATELY HE WAS AT THIS BUS,and then like about ten seconds link was at this bus ,standing right next to him and said super loud than it needed to be "HEY FAKE,ANYONE ELSE IS GONNA SIT THERE?!but now,Jake had realized that link was making fun at his name because fake rhymed with fake and said"MY NAME IS JAKE DRAKE,OK?"but then,right away he noticed that he had done a mistake by also saying his last name because it also rhymed with Jake.but then link said "I KNOW,BUT KNOW I'M CALLING YOU FAKE DRAKE."AND THEN THAT'S WHEN EVERYBODY IN THE BUS STARTED LAUGHING AND LINK JUST SAT NEXT TO HIM.
When link got of the bus he didnt even talk to him he just walked away.when Jake got home he didnt even say hi or hello to her mom or anything he just dropped his book bag and she took the remote away from her little sister and changed the channel.i wonder why was he acting like this,was it because link was bullying him or what?BECAUSE IF IT WAS THAT THEN HE SHOULDN'T BE ACTING LIKE THAT ETHER..... HER LITTLE SISTER NAMED ABBY,SAID "hey i was watching my puppet show!"then Jake said "OH YEAH,WELL NOW IM GONNA WATCH BATMAN AND YOU CANT STOP ME!",AND KICKED HER PILLOW.Abby yelled "ow,ow that hurt,MOM JAKE STOLE THE REMOTE FROM ME AND KICKED ME VERY HARD!!"then Jake's mom went inside the room and said "JAKE DRAKE!YOU KNOW BETTER THAN TO COME IN HERE AND MAKE A FUSS!NOW YOU COME RIGHT BACK TO THE KITCHEN AND PICK UP YOUR BOOK BAG,AND GIVE THAT REMOTE BACK TO YOUR SISTER!." Jake tossed the remote and in accident it hit Abby in the knee and Abby yelled"OOOWWWW!",quickly i said sorry but it was too late because my mother had gotten into the room again and took me by the arm and marched me into the kitchen.
Mom sat me down in the chair and she also sat down and said "Jake we do not treat others like that in this family,and YOU KNOW IT!WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO YOU!?"and then this was when it hit me........it was link who had gotten into me.but obviously I COULDN'T TELL MOM BECAUSE THEN SHE WILL MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT AND SHE WILL CALL THE LINK'S MOM AND STUFF AND THEN LINK WILL JUST START BULLYING ME MORE.so instead I just said "sorry mom,I guess im just hungry and tired."then she just said OK well i will make u a sandwich and some milk and I'll make sure you go to sleep early tonight but when that sandwich is gone you have to go apologize to your sister.when i said sorry to Abby she just said "its OK."so next morning link made sure to sit right next to me on the bus.when he sat next to Jake he wiped his shoes with mud on it in my book bag but Jake just smiled and brushed it off.Link started calling him Jake flake,but Jake just laughed and said"yeah,that's a good one!or how about snake drake or cheesecake drake ?or maybe shaky Jake?then everybody just started to laugh EXCEPT Link.I wonder what the heck was Jake doing?was he doing this so that Link could see that he wasn't feeling bad about anything.Well anyways Link would just keep bothering Jake,but Jake will just play it cool.well when Jake was in the washroom washing his hands he looked in the mirror and of course LINK WAS THERE.Link just washed his hands right next to the sink at where Jake was and link cupped his hands and threw a ton of water right at Jake.then everybody started to laugh at him and when they go to class Link started to make some faces and Jake got really tired of all this so he PUNCHED LINK RIGHT IN HIS ARM.HE WENT OT THE PRINCIPLE and just said something not true and the principle believed and said OK but she didnt even call Jake's mother or anything.Finally the next weeks link was like a friend to Jake and stuff.They will always be hanging out and stuff.
Well,IN CONCLUSION,i though the rating of this book was 4-5stars.it wasn't like WAY TOO GOOD,i just though it was OK.i would want to recommend this book to all of you and to let you know that YOU HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY TELL AN ADULT!!!!!!!!JUST LETTING YOU KNOW IN CASE THIS HAPPENS TO YOU.HOPE YOU LIKE THE BOOK TOO!
In school,link will always be smiling at Jake but they where not an ordinary smile, it was an evil smile and Jake will always get scared at his smiles.in class Jake and link sit together in their desks,i wonder how will Jake be feeling right now since link bullies him all the time.Jake must probably be feeling really bad and annoyed.i guess the type of conflict in this problem is person vs. person since (i mean)their both persons and one person is bullying the other person so, yeah.so after school,(since link was new)a teacher named Mrs.brattle was showing link where was the bus to take him home.AND JAKE WAS BEGGING AND WHISPERING SAYING"PLEASE NOT NOT BUS,PLEASE NOT THIS BUS."AND THEN GUESS WHAT..................UNFORTUNATELY HE WAS AT THIS BUS,and then like about ten seconds link was at this bus ,standing right next to him and said super loud than it needed to be "HEY FAKE,ANYONE ELSE IS GONNA SIT THERE?!but now,Jake had realized that link was making fun at his name because fake rhymed with fake and said"MY NAME IS JAKE DRAKE,OK?"but then,right away he noticed that he had done a mistake by also saying his last name because it also rhymed with Jake.but then link said "I KNOW,BUT KNOW I'M CALLING YOU FAKE DRAKE."AND THEN THAT'S WHEN EVERYBODY IN THE BUS STARTED LAUGHING AND LINK JUST SAT NEXT TO HIM.
When link got of the bus he didnt even talk to him he just walked away.when Jake got home he didnt even say hi or hello to her mom or anything he just dropped his book bag and she took the remote away from her little sister and changed the channel.i wonder why was he acting like this,was it because link was bullying him or what?BECAUSE IF IT WAS THAT THEN HE SHOULDN'T BE ACTING LIKE THAT ETHER..... HER LITTLE SISTER NAMED ABBY,SAID "hey i was watching my puppet show!"then Jake said "OH YEAH,WELL NOW IM GONNA WATCH BATMAN AND YOU CANT STOP ME!",AND KICKED HER PILLOW.Abby yelled "ow,ow that hurt,MOM JAKE STOLE THE REMOTE FROM ME AND KICKED ME VERY HARD!!"then Jake's mom went inside the room and said "JAKE DRAKE!YOU KNOW BETTER THAN TO COME IN HERE AND MAKE A FUSS!NOW YOU COME RIGHT BACK TO THE KITCHEN AND PICK UP YOUR BOOK BAG,AND GIVE THAT REMOTE BACK TO YOUR SISTER!." Jake tossed the remote and in accident it hit Abby in the knee and Abby yelled"OOOWWWW!",quickly i said sorry but it was too late because my mother had gotten into the room again and took me by the arm and marched me into the kitchen.
Mom sat me down in the chair and she also sat down and said "Jake we do not treat others like that in this family,and YOU KNOW IT!WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO YOU!?"and then this was when it hit me........it was link who had gotten into me.but obviously I COULDN'T TELL MOM BECAUSE THEN SHE WILL MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT AND SHE WILL CALL THE LINK'S MOM AND STUFF AND THEN LINK WILL JUST START BULLYING ME MORE.so instead I just said "sorry mom,I guess im just hungry and tired."then she just said OK well i will make u a sandwich and some milk and I'll make sure you go to sleep early tonight but when that sandwich is gone you have to go apologize to your sister.when i said sorry to Abby she just said "its OK."so next morning link made sure to sit right next to me on the bus.when he sat next to Jake he wiped his shoes with mud on it in my book bag but Jake just smiled and brushed it off.Link started calling him Jake flake,but Jake just laughed and said"yeah,that's a good one!or how about snake drake or cheesecake drake ?or maybe shaky Jake?then everybody just started to laugh EXCEPT Link.I wonder what the heck was Jake doing?was he doing this so that Link could see that he wasn't feeling bad about anything.Well anyways Link would just keep bothering Jake,but Jake will just play it cool.well when Jake was in the washroom washing his hands he looked in the mirror and of course LINK WAS THERE.Link just washed his hands right next to the sink at where Jake was and link cupped his hands and threw a ton of water right at Jake.then everybody started to laugh at him and when they go to class Link started to make some faces and Jake got really tired of all this so he PUNCHED LINK RIGHT IN HIS ARM.HE WENT OT THE PRINCIPLE and just said something not true and the principle believed and said OK but she didnt even call Jake's mother or anything.Finally the next weeks link was like a friend to Jake and stuff.They will always be hanging out and stuff.
Well,IN CONCLUSION,i though the rating of this book was 4-5stars.it wasn't like WAY TOO GOOD,i just though it was OK.i would want to recommend this book to all of you and to let you know that YOU HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY TELL AN ADULT!!!!!!!!JUST LETTING YOU KNOW IN CASE THIS HAPPENS TO YOU.HOPE YOU LIKE THE BOOK TOO!
March 23, 2012
This book is recommended for children between the grades of 2-4 grade. I think that the book is good for this grade level because of the topic, bullying. The book talks about two boys Jake and. When Jake was three years old at Miss Lulu's Dainty Diaper Day Care Center, what did he know about bullies? Nothing. But he learned really fast. Why? Because he was very smart. He was an only child so to bullies he was a magnet.But now that Jake is in fourth grade, he can look back and see that the year that made the difference was second grade. That's when Link Baxter moved to town. Link was a SuperBully, and Jake had his hands full just trying to survive. Then it was class project time, and who did the teacher assign to be Link's partner? You guessed it. Jake has to use all of his abilities to bust against bullies.
June 25, 2016
I love the Jake Drake series! Andrew Clements's books are great for guided reading in grades 1-3. I've stuck with the Jake Drake series for a 6 month block of guided reading with my students in 2nd grade and they always wanted to know what Jake was up to next! The story is a great story about a boy that overcomes his fear of bullies and realizes that there is always some underlying issue that makes a bully a bully. This is a great story to use during an anti-bulling campaign within your school and can be used to teach so much about social situations that students might actually face. It'd be interesting to see what older students might get out of this book. Maybe they can relate it to current events?
January 19, 2010
Ever since he started preschool, Jake Drake has attracted bullies. But as he looks back at some of his exeriences with bullies, Jake realizes that the year he was in Mrs. Brattle's second grade class was when he finally understood how to deal with a bully.
SuperBully Link Baxter came to town and tormented Jake so much that he just didn't know what to do. By the time his social studies teacher forced the boys to do a project together, Jake knew he'd had enough. What did Jake do to become Jake Drake, Bully Buster? Read the book to find out.
SuperBully Link Baxter came to town and tormented Jake so much that he just didn't know what to do. By the time his social studies teacher forced the boys to do a project together, Jake knew he'd had enough. What did Jake do to become Jake Drake, Bully Buster? Read the book to find out.
September 24, 2009
it was about a kid that got pick on seens he wass a kid seens third grade and when he got to fourth grade he had the most coolest teacher and the most coolest room because there was no bullyes in tell link showed up
April 24, 2012
A good story about bullying. I thought it was perfect for my class since I teach 2nd grade. Students start to really understand what bullying is in this grade, I believe. The kids were really anxious to see how Jake could stop Link from bullying him.
September 27, 2007
It gets points for being about a fourth grader but easy to read. So likable for younger than fourth graders but not totally embarrassing for fourth graders to read.
January 1, 2023
When I started reading this I thought it was book one in the Jake Drake quadrilogy. I was mistaken. But that being said it is an excellent volume. Before I was even a third done the book, I recommended it to my son. My son is in grade 9, and yes, the volume is below his reading level. But he has been dealing with some serious bullying for a number of years now. Most of it instigated by the same ring leader, a boy that would give Link Baxter, Super Bully, more than a run for his money. My son started it the day after I did and loved the story. And even though the other Jake Drake books do not deal with bullying, we plan on reading them together in short order.
Six years ago, I discovered the works of Andrew Clements. I was instantly hooked and have now read almost 25 books from his masterful pen. Many consider him the ‘master of school stories’, and I would agree. I have a dual form of dyslexia and did not learn to read until after grade 7. So I never read ‘school stories’ when I was young. That combined with having my own school aged children has instilled a great appreciation for the genre and specifically for the works of Andrew Clements. Clements passed away in 2019 his last novel was The Friendship War, which is another excellent volume. He writes amazing stories for children, but they are also stories that any of us can learn from. Back then I set the goal of reading all of his works, but as my own children have outgrown these books and they had slid by the wayside. I have now returned to them yet again. I have read 1 a week over the last several weeks and plan to do so for a while yet.
I had no idea what this book was about when I picked it up. I grabbed it based on the author alone. I just thought it was the first in a series and based on the covers thought it was for a younger audience than many of his books I have read. It was a great read and one I wish we had read with my son years ago. It is an excellent read. The description of this book is:
“Meet Jake Drake.
He's not the toughest kid in fourth grade or the fastest kid or the funniest. But he's got ideas -- big ideas, and boy, does he have stories to tell about what really goes on in school. Like bullies, for instance. Jake wants to know "if everybody who works at school is so smart, how come they can't get rid of the bullies?...Because every year, it's the same thing. Bullies."
So it's up to Jake Drake to take matters into his own hands when Link Baxter, SuperBully, moves into the neighborhood. Link's reign of terror must be stopped...if only Jake can figure out how.”
I was not a bully magnet like Jake, but I can recall the kids who were from early grade school all the way to the end of secondary school. Some of them were hounded for years, and though many school boards have a zero tolerance policy that has not been our experience. In fact we got an email from a grade school principal this week that included:
“-we (school name redacted) will no longer be dealing with any of these issues moving forward unless they involve 'real' safety, bullying, or threats
-just because you feel bad or are crying does not mean that what you are dealing with is a 'real' problem that needs to be addressed”
But the book does bring home ways that Jake deflected the bullying, and how he learned to be a bully buster. Will they work in all cases, no! But there are some good tools mentioned in the books, and especially havening someone to talk to about it.
The chapters in this volume are:
Bully-Magnet
SuperBully
From Bad to Worse
Bullyitis
What Abby Said
Playing It Cool
Learning My Lesson
Dangerous Duo
Surprises and Questions
Busted Link
This is another wonderful offering from the masterful pen of Andrew Clements. This is a great early chapter book. An excellent book for young readers, and for those of us who just love a great story!
Six years ago, I discovered the works of Andrew Clements. I was instantly hooked and have now read almost 25 books from his masterful pen. Many consider him the ‘master of school stories’, and I would agree. I have a dual form of dyslexia and did not learn to read until after grade 7. So I never read ‘school stories’ when I was young. That combined with having my own school aged children has instilled a great appreciation for the genre and specifically for the works of Andrew Clements. Clements passed away in 2019 his last novel was The Friendship War, which is another excellent volume. He writes amazing stories for children, but they are also stories that any of us can learn from. Back then I set the goal of reading all of his works, but as my own children have outgrown these books and they had slid by the wayside. I have now returned to them yet again. I have read 1 a week over the last several weeks and plan to do so for a while yet.
I had no idea what this book was about when I picked it up. I grabbed it based on the author alone. I just thought it was the first in a series and based on the covers thought it was for a younger audience than many of his books I have read. It was a great read and one I wish we had read with my son years ago. It is an excellent read. The description of this book is:
“Meet Jake Drake.
He's not the toughest kid in fourth grade or the fastest kid or the funniest. But he's got ideas -- big ideas, and boy, does he have stories to tell about what really goes on in school. Like bullies, for instance. Jake wants to know "if everybody who works at school is so smart, how come they can't get rid of the bullies?...Because every year, it's the same thing. Bullies."
So it's up to Jake Drake to take matters into his own hands when Link Baxter, SuperBully, moves into the neighborhood. Link's reign of terror must be stopped...if only Jake can figure out how.”
I was not a bully magnet like Jake, but I can recall the kids who were from early grade school all the way to the end of secondary school. Some of them were hounded for years, and though many school boards have a zero tolerance policy that has not been our experience. In fact we got an email from a grade school principal this week that included:
“-we (school name redacted) will no longer be dealing with any of these issues moving forward unless they involve 'real' safety, bullying, or threats
-just because you feel bad or are crying does not mean that what you are dealing with is a 'real' problem that needs to be addressed”
But the book does bring home ways that Jake deflected the bullying, and how he learned to be a bully buster. Will they work in all cases, no! But there are some good tools mentioned in the books, and especially havening someone to talk to about it.
The chapters in this volume are:
Bully-Magnet
SuperBully
From Bad to Worse
Bullyitis
What Abby Said
Playing It Cool
Learning My Lesson
Dangerous Duo
Surprises and Questions
Busted Link
This is another wonderful offering from the masterful pen of Andrew Clements. This is a great early chapter book. An excellent book for young readers, and for those of us who just love a great story!
February 19, 2019
Jake uses the kill-them-with-kindness approach to tame a bully. This book is very short, even for a children's chapter book; though it has a definite beginning, middle, and end, this story doesn't feel completely satisfying. Perhaps if Jake had tried a wider variety of methods to deal with his bully, this book may have felt more fulfilling. A quick and easy read which may be helpful for a kid being bullied, though I have reservations about Jake's decision not to tell his parents or the school principal about the bullying.
Part of the Jake Drake chapter book series by Andrew Clements.
Part of the Jake Drake chapter book series by Andrew Clements.
March 20, 2017
“Link was only eight years old, just like me. But I could tell right from the start that Link had big plans. He wanted to be the MVP on the Bully All-Star team. He wanted to make it into the Bullies Hall of Fame. And me, Jake Drake, I was his new project” (pg 15).
Jake Drake Bully Buster is a beginner chapter book by the bestselling author of Frindle, Andrew Clements. The story follows a fourth grader by the name of Jake Drake who is a bully magnet. Ever since he started school, around the age of four, the bullies just flocked to him. It may have something to do with how small he is or maybe because he looks really smart. After all these years he has yet to figure out why he is the target. In second grade, however, Jake met the worse bully he has ever encountered, Link.
One day, his second grade teacher announced that there was a new student. The new student was quite big for his age and looked like a bully. What does a bully look like you ask? I don’t know but Jake sure does and he was right, Link was a bully. Link didn’t bother any of the other kids but made it his duty to pick on Jake. Jake felt like he couldn't tell anyone because then he’ll be a tattler and as a result the bullying will get worse. But Jake has to figure something out soon because they have just become partners on a Thanksgiving project.
I give Jake Drake Bully Buster 3 stars. I felt like this book did a wonderful job bringing an issue as serious as bullying into the hands of young readers. But, I felt like it gave some misinformation that may mislead children who fall victim of bullying. For one, Jake never told any adults about what was happening. He did feel, as most children who are bullied feel, like if he told then the situation becomes worse. I wish that the author would have tried to paint a scenario where telling an adult resulted in the situation becoming better. I decided to give Andrew Clements’s books another chance after being disappointed by Frindle, just to be let down again. I feel as though Clements will never make a male character appear weak even in a vulnerable situation. However, I did like the ending and the message attached. It humanizes bullies and shows that there is a reason they are bullies. Maybe it is something they don’t like within themselves or something happening at home.
Although I didn’t agree with the route Jake went to end his bullying, I think this book teaches independent problem solving and I would assign as independent reading for every student in 2nd or 3rd grade. I do not suggest taking on a bully all by yourself but simple disagreements in the classroom don’t always have to end with the teacher having to make the decisions. After reading, we can have mini book clubs and I could introduce the children to theme and characterization.
Jake Drake Bully Buster is a beginner chapter book by the bestselling author of Frindle, Andrew Clements. The story follows a fourth grader by the name of Jake Drake who is a bully magnet. Ever since he started school, around the age of four, the bullies just flocked to him. It may have something to do with how small he is or maybe because he looks really smart. After all these years he has yet to figure out why he is the target. In second grade, however, Jake met the worse bully he has ever encountered, Link.
One day, his second grade teacher announced that there was a new student. The new student was quite big for his age and looked like a bully. What does a bully look like you ask? I don’t know but Jake sure does and he was right, Link was a bully. Link didn’t bother any of the other kids but made it his duty to pick on Jake. Jake felt like he couldn't tell anyone because then he’ll be a tattler and as a result the bullying will get worse. But Jake has to figure something out soon because they have just become partners on a Thanksgiving project.
I give Jake Drake Bully Buster 3 stars. I felt like this book did a wonderful job bringing an issue as serious as bullying into the hands of young readers. But, I felt like it gave some misinformation that may mislead children who fall victim of bullying. For one, Jake never told any adults about what was happening. He did feel, as most children who are bullied feel, like if he told then the situation becomes worse. I wish that the author would have tried to paint a scenario where telling an adult resulted in the situation becoming better. I decided to give Andrew Clements’s books another chance after being disappointed by Frindle, just to be let down again. I feel as though Clements will never make a male character appear weak even in a vulnerable situation. However, I did like the ending and the message attached. It humanizes bullies and shows that there is a reason they are bullies. Maybe it is something they don’t like within themselves or something happening at home.
Although I didn’t agree with the route Jake went to end his bullying, I think this book teaches independent problem solving and I would assign as independent reading for every student in 2nd or 3rd grade. I do not suggest taking on a bully all by yourself but simple disagreements in the classroom don’t always have to end with the teacher having to make the decisions. After reading, we can have mini book clubs and I could introduce the children to theme and characterization.
November 6, 2012
Grade/interest level: Upper Elementary (3rd-5th grade)
Reading level: Guided Reading Level O
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Main Characters: Jake Drake and Link Baxter
Setting: Jake’s 2nd grade classroom
POV: Story told through Jake’s eyes
Summary: Jake Drake Bully Buster by Andrew Clements, and illustrated by Amanda Harvey is one in a series of Jake Drake books. The story is about a boy named Jake who is in the fourth grade. Jake informs the reader about how in second grade he became known as a bully buster. Jake takes on a flashback to his 2nd grade classroom where all the bully busting began. Jake was just minding his own business when a new student arrived in his 2nd grade class, Link Baxter. Right off the bat Link had his eye on Jake. Link continued to pick on Jake and called him Fake Jake. Jake was so frustrated. Link started embarrassing him in front of fellow classmates and him and Jake got into a fight at school. To work out their differences their teacher decided that they will work on a project about Thanksgiving together. Jake goes over to Link’s house to work on the project; he discovers that Link is being bullied by his older sister. Jake figures out that there’s a bully cycle, and that every bully is bullied. Jake and Link work together on their project and earned an A. They become cordial to each other, and still are in fourth grade. Jake shares with the reader some advice on the fact that behind every bully is a person, and you just have to get to know that person and you can bust that bully.
Class Uses/Themes: I would use this book in my class as a read aloud to discuss the issue of bullying. I would use this book as part of a social emotional learning unit on bullying, where students can learn about the negative impacts of bullying and what needs to be done to stop this bully cycle.
Reading level: Guided Reading Level O
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Main Characters: Jake Drake and Link Baxter
Setting: Jake’s 2nd grade classroom
POV: Story told through Jake’s eyes
Summary: Jake Drake Bully Buster by Andrew Clements, and illustrated by Amanda Harvey is one in a series of Jake Drake books. The story is about a boy named Jake who is in the fourth grade. Jake informs the reader about how in second grade he became known as a bully buster. Jake takes on a flashback to his 2nd grade classroom where all the bully busting began. Jake was just minding his own business when a new student arrived in his 2nd grade class, Link Baxter. Right off the bat Link had his eye on Jake. Link continued to pick on Jake and called him Fake Jake. Jake was so frustrated. Link started embarrassing him in front of fellow classmates and him and Jake got into a fight at school. To work out their differences their teacher decided that they will work on a project about Thanksgiving together. Jake goes over to Link’s house to work on the project; he discovers that Link is being bullied by his older sister. Jake figures out that there’s a bully cycle, and that every bully is bullied. Jake and Link work together on their project and earned an A. They become cordial to each other, and still are in fourth grade. Jake shares with the reader some advice on the fact that behind every bully is a person, and you just have to get to know that person and you can bust that bully.
Class Uses/Themes: I would use this book in my class as a read aloud to discuss the issue of bullying. I would use this book as part of a social emotional learning unit on bullying, where students can learn about the negative impacts of bullying and what needs to be done to stop this bully cycle.
April 22, 2013
Jake is a fourth grader who loves his teacher and loves being in school. But that isn't the case every year. Like the year he was in second grade and a new student named Link came to town. Link was a big kid, even in second grade. Link put a target on Jake the very first day and became his own personal bully, nicknaming Jake Flake and Fake. What was worse, Link rode the bus home with Jake everyday and lived just down the street. There was no escaping Link. Jake tried to make the best of his life being bullied, but one day Link went too far. Link purposely splashed water on Jake's pants while they were in the bathroom and then told everyone that Jake had wet himself. Jake was so mad, that he punched Link in the arm. This got Jake sent to the principal's office. Jake could have told the principal the real reason why he punched Link, but he was afraid if he "tattled" it would just make Link bully him more. So Jake said that he thought Link spilled water on him and he was mad about it. Jake got off without a punishment, but Link was still a bully. As if that wasn't bad enough, their teacher paired them up for a report about Native Americans and Link bullies Jake into doing their report on his own. But Jake decides not to back down and tells Link that he will have to do the craft part of the project or they will just get an "F." Will Jake's boldness pay off and will Link ever back down?
I liked this story and found that it had some great lessons in it. It would be a great book to read and talk about bullying. Even second graders could understand the plot in this one.
I liked this story and found that it had some great lessons in it. It would be a great book to read and talk about bullying. Even second graders could understand the plot in this one.
September 15, 2013
Fourth grader Jake Drake reflects on the bullies he has encountered during his short life. Things turned around in second grade when he finally figured out the key to the behavior of most bullies through his interactions with Link Baxter, a new classmate who delights in bothering Jake. He calls him Fake and even throws water on Jake's pants so that it will look as though he had an accident in them. When his teacher assigns the two boys to be partners for a social studies project, Jake sees glimpses of the real Link with his own insecurities and fears and an older sister who bullies him at home. Many young readers will find this book comforting since it unravels some of the reasons behind bullying and addresses the issues honestly.
December 18, 2014
1. 12/16＝60 12/17=60
2. Atheneum
3. school bully smart kid friends project buster
4 a) Link's face got red, but he smiled. And it wasn't a bully-smile. It was his real smile.
b) I love this scene. I was relieved to find out Link was just common kid like Jake. Actually, he was very mean and bullied Jake, but when Jake helped him, something was changed in his mind. Jake's kindness changed a SUPERbully.
5. I read ”class clown” first, so I was surprised and shocked that Jake who became a class clown was bullied. I thought the bullied like Jake are not weak at all. They are far tougher than the bully. I respect Jake.
2. Atheneum
3. school bully smart kid friends project buster
4 a) Link's face got red, but he smiled. And it wasn't a bully-smile. It was his real smile.
b) I love this scene. I was relieved to find out Link was just common kid like Jake. Actually, he was very mean and bullied Jake, but when Jake helped him, something was changed in his mind. Jake's kindness changed a SUPERbully.
5. I read ”class clown” first, so I was surprised and shocked that Jake who became a class clown was bullied. I thought the bullied like Jake are not weak at all. They are far tougher than the bully. I respect Jake.
January 7, 2015
1/7=60 minutes
1. Bully
2. Beady little eyes
3. Mean
4. Tattletale
5. Worry
6. Scared
7. Real face
"Tomorrow, I will not get mad at Link. No matter what. Then he will see that it's not fun to be mean."
I could see how Jake worried and thought that he needs to learn how to solve this biggest ever problems. Perhaps everyone had to experience that to become an adult.
I love Jake's story. There has many tricky words but the way of writing is just like Jake is telling the story. It reminds me my young age and also make me think the kid life in the US. The story is so real and so funny. I love it!
1. Bully
2. Beady little eyes
3. Mean
4. Tattletale
5. Worry
6. Scared
7. Real face
"Tomorrow, I will not get mad at Link. No matter what. Then he will see that it's not fun to be mean."
I could see how Jake worried and thought that he needs to learn how to solve this biggest ever problems. Perhaps everyone had to experience that to become an adult.
I love Jake's story. There has many tricky words but the way of writing is just like Jake is telling the story. It reminds me my young age and also make me think the kid life in the US. The story is so real and so funny. I love it!
March 14, 2016
Jake Drake is in fourth grade and tells the story of how he has been bullied all his life, until he meets the SuperBully, Link, in second grade. This is the year he becomes Jake Drake the Bully Buster. Jake is mercilessly bullied by Link from the first day of school. Link attempts to make him miserable. Jake then gets a little insight into his life and sees that Link is actually bullied at home by his older sister and this makes him think. When Jake is tempted to be mean at Link's weakest moment, he ends up making the right decision and is kind to Link. And although they never really become friends, Link does stop bullying him after that.
March 18, 2016
Jake Drake is in fourth grade and tells the story of how he has been bullied all his life, until he meets the SuperBully, Link, in second grade. This is the year he becomes Jake Drake the Bully Buster. Jake is mercilessly bullied by Link from the first day of school. Link attempts to make him miserable. Jake then gets a little insight into his life and sees that Link is actually bullied at home by his older sister and this makes him think. When Jake is tempted to be mean at Link's weakest moment, he ends up making the right decision and is kind to Link. And although they never really become friends, Link does stop bullying him after that.
May 10, 2010
My seven year old son really liked this book and we had lots of conversations about "mean kids" because of it.
A new kid named Link shows up in Jake's class. Link bullies Jake, but Jake doesn't really want to tell anyone and be a tattletale. The story ends with them getting paired for a project on Native Americans together. Link builds a model village--he is great a building models. But it turns out he is scared to give the report. Instead of being mean, Jake is nice. This stops the super bullying.
A new kid named Link shows up in Jake's class. Link bullies Jake, but Jake doesn't really want to tell anyone and be a tattletale. The story ends with them getting paired for a project on Native Americans together. Link builds a model village--he is great a building models. But it turns out he is scared to give the report. Instead of being mean, Jake is nice. This stops the super bullying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2014
How refreshing to see a book about bullying!
The only problem I had with this book and the other Jake Drake book is how it starts off with Jake in fourth grade for the first two pages and then flashes back to second grade. Since both books take place primarily in second grade, why can't the book just start there? Starting in fourth grade seemed pretty pointless. Usually, I would think it was to show his reflections about his past problems, but they weren't really reflections since he learned everything in the moment.
The only problem I had with this book and the other Jake Drake book is how it starts off with Jake in fourth grade for the first two pages and then flashes back to second grade. Since both books take place primarily in second grade, why can't the book just start there? Starting in fourth grade seemed pretty pointless. Usually, I would think it was to show his reflections about his past problems, but they weren't really reflections since he learned everything in the moment.
September 16, 2013
This little book really seemed to GET what bullies do to kids when no one is looking. I really thought it handled the situation in a mostly realistic, yet hopeful and empowering way. Sure, not all bully situations are fixed without intervention, but plenty of angles were explored here and I didn't think it was dumbed down. Jake is a wonderfully believable character, and I like the way that Jake is a portrayed as a 4th grader and tells the story of what happened to him in previous grades.
January 26, 2014
Jake Drake has a problem: Link Baxter, Super Bully. Jake has dealt with a bully before, but for a Super Bully, he'll need all his wits to end the reign of terror. Jake is clever and street-smart, with a fresh, frank voice. He's not the toughest kid in the school, so using violence to confront eh bully is not only out of the question, but stupid, as Jake knows. Transitional readers will enjoy reading about Jake and how he overcomes his troubles in the chapter book with a surprising end.
February 1, 2014
My Homeschooled son (3rd grade) loved this book! I always read books ahead of him so we can discuss. He was eager to complete this "real life" story of bullying and gave us plenty of opportunities for great discussion. Every kid can relate to this story. He loved this book so much we checked out 2 more Jake Drake books from the library and he finished them quickly. Love when he finds the right books to encourage a love for reading.
July 11, 2014
I read this with my son and this is a really funny story about how a boy deals with bully's in school. It is a good book to lead into a discussion about bullying with your kids. Also...this is a great author and most of his books are excellent. I have taught his book Frindle when I was teaching 4th grade and this was a good book too. 4 stars!
April 22, 2015
I picked a short book this month for the kids, and figured you can't really go wrong with Andrew Clements. Kids seem to relate to his characters, and I enjoy the way they talk and think. This book (as the title suggests) deals with bullying, which I'm hoping will be a good discussion we can have!
While definitely for the slightly younger set, this is worth the time to read for all elementary students.
While definitely for the slightly younger set, this is worth the time to read for all elementary students.
December 17, 2014
1.ANDREW CLEMENTS
2.12/16,17 80 min
3.Bully buster,Bully-smile ,Bullyitis,Mad,Moron, Smiled,Pointed
4."if I get mad, I feel mean. I don't like to feel mean. So I don't get mad."
This is pretty good sentence to show getting mad makes nothing happy. So I want to think about my self to improve.
I like this book, because I though this is about bully only! But in the end they became friend! I like this kind of story,, like bad begging to good ending!
2.12/16,17 80 min
3.Bully buster,Bully-smile ,Bullyitis,Mad,Moron, Smiled,Pointed
4."if I get mad, I feel mean. I don't like to feel mean. So I don't get mad."
This is pretty good sentence to show getting mad makes nothing happy. So I want to think about my self to improve.
I like this book, because I though this is about bully only! But in the end they became friend! I like this kind of story,, like bad begging to good ending!
January 8, 2015
2. 12/21 = 100 minutes
3. Pete, bully, bus, Abby, smile, project, face
4. there is Jake's story he was bullied. when I read this story, i felt like that I don't like this book because it's not comfortable. it's a story like in a comic but it's also a story in our life.
5. I thought this book is also interesting like other one we read in the class and funny story about Jake but it's not true. of course I enjoyed reading but I felt another important thing.
3. Pete, bully, bus, Abby, smile, project, face
4. there is Jake's story he was bullied. when I read this story, i felt like that I don't like this book because it's not comfortable. it's a story like in a comic but it's also a story in our life.
5. I thought this book is also interesting like other one we read in the class and funny story about Jake but it's not true. of course I enjoyed reading but I felt another important thing.
July 29, 2015
Characters: jake. The bully
Beginning: there was a mean bully that was mean to Jake...he spilled water on his pants and said he had an accident.
Middle: a big history project and jake and the bully were partners and while jake did research the bully read comics...except really the bully built a really good model on his own.
End: bully was scared people would laugh at his presentation so jake said it was okay and then the bully became nice.
Beginning: there was a mean bully that was mean to Jake...he spilled water on his pants and said he had an accident.
Middle: a big history project and jake and the bully were partners and while jake did research the bully read comics...except really the bully built a really good model on his own.
End: bully was scared people would laugh at his presentation so jake said it was okay and then the bully became nice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
March 14, 2009I read this book as part of my volunteer work for In2Books.
In2books is a perfect volunteer opportunity for someone like me who has a busy, often uncertain schedule. I read books along with a student pen pal and then exchange letters with them discussing the book. It's fun!
Learn more about In2Books at: www.in2books.com
In2books is a perfect volunteer opportunity for someone like me who has a busy, often uncertain schedule. I read books along with a student pen pal and then exchange letters with them discussing the book. It's fun!
Learn more about In2Books at: www.in2books.com
June 29, 2011
I like the way a few different types of bullying are presented in the first chapter. Many students may exhibit various types of bullying behavior without having a clue of what they are doing.
Pushing and shoving? Saying mean things? Pretending to hit someone? Most kids aren't aware that this is bullying. This book is eye opening for the kids who bully as well as the kids who are bullied.
Pushing and shoving? Saying mean things? Pretending to hit someone? Most kids aren't aware that this is bullying. This book is eye opening for the kids who bully as well as the kids who are bullied.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews