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Easy Target
A school project goes terribly wrong in this middle-grade thriller about ex-homeschooler and Christian teen Hudson Sutton and his experiences in his new school. When he makes two friends and attempts to take on an established hierarchy of bullying, he doesn't realize he's taking a risk he never expected--becoming a bully himself.
From the same author who wrote the suspenseful fiction Code of Silence series, this is a realistic look at the extent and reality of bullying, especially through social media, with a Christian protagonist who learns that relationships, bullying, and doing the right thing are a bit more complicated than he realized. It also touches on the subject of suicide.
From the same author who wrote the suspenseful fiction Code of Silence series, this is a realistic look at the extent and reality of bullying, especially through social media, with a Christian protagonist who learns that relationships, bullying, and doing the right thing are a bit more complicated than he realized. It also touches on the subject of suicide.
416 pages, Paperback
Published March 9, 2021
3 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Tim Shoemaker
36 books102 followersTim Shoemaker is a speaker and author of eight books, including Dangerous Devotions for Guys; Smashed Tomatoes, Bottle Rockets, and Other Outdoor Devotionals; and Mashed Potatoes, Paint Balls, and Other Indoor/Outdoor Devotionals. He has three grown sons and has been happily married for over 32 years. His debut into the juvenile fiction market draws from his experience with kids as a volunteer youth leader for more than sixteen years.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 3, 2022
Previously homeschooled, Hudson has never had to deal with bullying until he starts public school and finds himself in an all out battle against the social hierarchy of students, but at what cost?
A well written middle grade read that takes a realistic look at bullying, and I thought did a good job of asking thought provoking questions. Hudson sees the problems and wants to help, he is quick thinking and has good intentions. I liked that this book looked at varying perspectives throughout, and even some surprising ones. Maggie was one of my favorite characters, I liked that she was thoughtful and cautious.
Overall, I thought that this book got its point across well, while encapsulating it in an engaging story, with well developed characters and questions of faith. A great fit for the middle grade audience or even to read as a family to start discussions.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A well written middle grade read that takes a realistic look at bullying, and I thought did a good job of asking thought provoking questions. Hudson sees the problems and wants to help, he is quick thinking and has good intentions. I liked that this book looked at varying perspectives throughout, and even some surprising ones. Maggie was one of my favorite characters, I liked that she was thoughtful and cautious.
Overall, I thought that this book got its point across well, while encapsulating it in an engaging story, with well developed characters and questions of faith. A great fit for the middle grade audience or even to read as a family to start discussions.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
April 28, 2023
This book was sooo good!! Tim Shoemaker is one of my all time favorite authors, and he never disappoints. I loved this book from the very first sentence to the very last. It had a good message, great characters, and a plot that had me on the edge of my seat the whole time, especially the last quarter of the book. It had some tense moments, like his other books do, but it all ends up being alright in the end. I highly recommend this book, and all Tim Shoemaker’s other books as well!
May 18, 2021
Easy Target was a nice read with a good message. I liked how the story spotlights bullying and social media. It was a believable storyline.
The characters were good. I felt like Hudson grew a lot throughout the book and learned some important lessons.
All in all, Easy Target is a book I liked and recommend.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
The characters were good. I felt like Hudson grew a lot throughout the book and learned some important lessons.
All in all, Easy Target is a book I liked and recommend.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
June 18, 2021
I usually don’t read large books in three days, but Easy Target was a different story. Yesterday, my Mom came into my room at one moment, saw me with the book and said, “You’re almost done reading it? How many pages are there?” At the time, I was at 273 out of 409 and let’s just say I really should’ve been studying for Bible Bee instead. *laughs* But nevertheless, I am super excited to share with you all my thoughts on this incredible read!
If I’m honest, there literally was nothing I disliked. The whole novel was just wonderfully written and included everything that I enjoy in a book.
Let’s start with the plot.
Hudson Sutton abruptly goes from being homeschooled to Southfield Middle School for 8th grade after his family has to move because of his Dad’s job. He doesn’t really know what to expect and even his Dad is worried sick about what could possibly happen. Little did anyone know that Hudson would be an easy target so soon, so fast after trying to defend a possible new friend. What will he do to try to put the bullying to an end? And what happens when he slowly becomes a bully and a girl is so fed up that she wants to be gone from the world?
The character development was phenomenal. Every character had their own personality, flaws, and ways of dealing with situations, including the bullies.
Though I typically don’t like the main character in any sort of entertainment, Hudson was a really good MC. I enjoyed reading his thoughts, thinking about ways he could’ve done things better, and his kind heart. He was super relatable because he was portrayed as flawed and didn’t always know what to do. Sometimes creators of entertainment will make Christians seem perfect because of their faith, but nobody can be that. We have a sin nature so we will naturally make mistakes; we’re human and that’s why Hudson struggled so much, which will be talked about shortly.
Pancake, whose real name is Carlos, was definitely perfect for the comical relief. I don’t know what it is, but I just really liked his character. It could’ve been because of how much he loved food, or how excited he was to finally have a new friend, who you know, was a guy. And to answer your potential question, yes, he loves pancakes. He’ll eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, hot or cold! That’s why everyone calls him Pancake, including the teachers.
Then there’s Maggie. She was dealing with a lot of hurt because her previous best friend, Giovanna, ditched her for the “popular girls.” Her emotions were so well descripted and the reader could feel how she felt. You’d want to cry when she cried. Feeling angry when she was angry. Give her a hug when she was cyberbullied. You felt all the things! I also like her sarcasm and the way she treated Hudson in the beginning. This definitely added to her character.
And can I just squeeze that I loved their History teacher? Mr. Cutter actually reminded me a lot of my Biology teacher from this year. Just kind of laid back and built relationships with his students. Oh, and the fact that he taught History, my favorite subject, was a plus. It was so cool how he connected facts with everyday scenarios; what an interesting yet fascinating way to view events from the past.
Then, we have my favorite part…the Christianity aspect.
I loved how Hudson made it known that he was a Christian to Pancake and Maggie. He wasn’t afraid to say grace before eating lunch or even mention his faith. And they took note of it as they mentioned it to him several times.
Throughout the novel, Hudson dealt a lot with contemplating whether to include God or not regarding the plans he had to try to stop bullying for his create change project for History. Majority of the time, he was asking just for the Lord's protection instead of seeking His guidance about what he should do. And a lot of times, he felt kind of bad. A lot of times, he kept thinking, “What if He wants me to do something I don’t want to do?”
How important it is to include God in EVERYTHING. Sometimes Hudson thought that what he had planned to stop bullying was best even though others confronted him about how wrong it would be. Pancake went as far as saying (paraphrase), “Aren’t you supposed to kiss the other cheek?” Hudson knew he meant “turn” and had a chuckle. Yet, it sort of went in one ear and out the other. Once his mind was made up about what he wanted to do, there was no changing his mind. That’s why he kept wondering if even what he was doing would be right. His plan practically was bullying the bullies back to make them feel guilty while casting revenge in a sense. Sure, he had the right reason, protecting his friends, but his way of going about it was sinful. That’s why so many times I wanted to say, “Hudz, think about what Jesus would do! Talk to Him for guidance!”
And now, we are at the conclusion. So, would I recommend this book. 100% yes! Due to certain bullying scenes and mentions of suicide, I would say that this book is best for those who are ages 14 and up. However, There were so many woven themes in this novel regarding telling the truth, sticking up for others, sharing kindness, and so much more. Hudson finally learned in the end that the only way to create change is to be the change. The bullies wouldn't stop unless he showed them kindness; they would then see how much of a target he wasn't. This would get them to ponder, "Why is he being so nice to me even though I'm his enemy?" Simply the work of God.
Although Easy Target was quite the page-turner, the themes are so visible that they are difficult to miss. It's a great encouragement through fiction. This novel gets a 5 star rating from me!
*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
If I’m honest, there literally was nothing I disliked. The whole novel was just wonderfully written and included everything that I enjoy in a book.
Let’s start with the plot.
Hudson Sutton abruptly goes from being homeschooled to Southfield Middle School for 8th grade after his family has to move because of his Dad’s job. He doesn’t really know what to expect and even his Dad is worried sick about what could possibly happen. Little did anyone know that Hudson would be an easy target so soon, so fast after trying to defend a possible new friend. What will he do to try to put the bullying to an end? And what happens when he slowly becomes a bully and a girl is so fed up that she wants to be gone from the world?
The character development was phenomenal. Every character had their own personality, flaws, and ways of dealing with situations, including the bullies.
Though I typically don’t like the main character in any sort of entertainment, Hudson was a really good MC. I enjoyed reading his thoughts, thinking about ways he could’ve done things better, and his kind heart. He was super relatable because he was portrayed as flawed and didn’t always know what to do. Sometimes creators of entertainment will make Christians seem perfect because of their faith, but nobody can be that. We have a sin nature so we will naturally make mistakes; we’re human and that’s why Hudson struggled so much, which will be talked about shortly.
Pancake, whose real name is Carlos, was definitely perfect for the comical relief. I don’t know what it is, but I just really liked his character. It could’ve been because of how much he loved food, or how excited he was to finally have a new friend, who you know, was a guy. And to answer your potential question, yes, he loves pancakes. He’ll eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, hot or cold! That’s why everyone calls him Pancake, including the teachers.
Then there’s Maggie. She was dealing with a lot of hurt because her previous best friend, Giovanna, ditched her for the “popular girls.” Her emotions were so well descripted and the reader could feel how she felt. You’d want to cry when she cried. Feeling angry when she was angry. Give her a hug when she was cyberbullied. You felt all the things! I also like her sarcasm and the way she treated Hudson in the beginning. This definitely added to her character.
And can I just squeeze that I loved their History teacher? Mr. Cutter actually reminded me a lot of my Biology teacher from this year. Just kind of laid back and built relationships with his students. Oh, and the fact that he taught History, my favorite subject, was a plus. It was so cool how he connected facts with everyday scenarios; what an interesting yet fascinating way to view events from the past.
Then, we have my favorite part…the Christianity aspect.
I loved how Hudson made it known that he was a Christian to Pancake and Maggie. He wasn’t afraid to say grace before eating lunch or even mention his faith. And they took note of it as they mentioned it to him several times.
Throughout the novel, Hudson dealt a lot with contemplating whether to include God or not regarding the plans he had to try to stop bullying for his create change project for History. Majority of the time, he was asking just for the Lord's protection instead of seeking His guidance about what he should do. And a lot of times, he felt kind of bad. A lot of times, he kept thinking, “What if He wants me to do something I don’t want to do?”
How important it is to include God in EVERYTHING. Sometimes Hudson thought that what he had planned to stop bullying was best even though others confronted him about how wrong it would be. Pancake went as far as saying (paraphrase), “Aren’t you supposed to kiss the other cheek?” Hudson knew he meant “turn” and had a chuckle. Yet, it sort of went in one ear and out the other. Once his mind was made up about what he wanted to do, there was no changing his mind. That’s why he kept wondering if even what he was doing would be right. His plan practically was bullying the bullies back to make them feel guilty while casting revenge in a sense. Sure, he had the right reason, protecting his friends, but his way of going about it was sinful. That’s why so many times I wanted to say, “Hudz, think about what Jesus would do! Talk to Him for guidance!”
And now, we are at the conclusion. So, would I recommend this book. 100% yes! Due to certain bullying scenes and mentions of suicide, I would say that this book is best for those who are ages 14 and up. However, There were so many woven themes in this novel regarding telling the truth, sticking up for others, sharing kindness, and so much more. Hudson finally learned in the end that the only way to create change is to be the change. The bullies wouldn't stop unless he showed them kindness; they would then see how much of a target he wasn't. This would get them to ponder, "Why is he being so nice to me even though I'm his enemy?" Simply the work of God.
Although Easy Target was quite the page-turner, the themes are so visible that they are difficult to miss. It's a great encouragement through fiction. This novel gets a 5 star rating from me!
*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
January 17, 2021
Easy Target is a good example of a novel that never quite understood the kind of tone it wanted to set. At the outset, we’re thrown into a world set from the kid-perspective, where parents and teachers are mostly clueless and irrelevant (until they have to swoop in to save the day), allowing the kid’s plans to run virtually unchecked. But by the end, well…just follow me on this.
Easy Target follows Hudson, a formerly-homeschooled middle school student trying to make his way in this new realm of public school with its cliques, social stratification, and bullying. The bullies run the school, while the teachers do little to nothing to stop them. Hudson and his group of misfits decide they’re going to fight back.
Their tactics grow more and more bold—as in, they quickly become the bullies—and things escalate until the end of the book in no way matches with the beginning. SPOILERS HERE…They bully the bullies so badly that the book ends with one of the bullies staging a school shooting with the goal of taking her own life.
The adults in this book are continuously incompetent. Small things include Hudson’s mom not being able to do her job by programming an electronic sign and letting Hudson work it out. The payoff to this plot point is that Hudson uses the sign to put the bullies on blast, naming and shaming them on the City’s billboard. And that’s just a silly example.
Early on, Hudson is beat up by seven of the school bullies. Although an adult breaks up the fight, he’s absolutely useless afterward, telling the kids that he’ll call their parents or the police but never doing either and letting them run off. The school principal knows that Hudson is behind some of the shenanigans meant to bring the bullies to vigilante justice, but lets it go on. At one point even agreeing to let the kids have one more day to exact their revenge. (The next day is when one of the bullies brings a gun to the school to kill herself.)
The Big Moral of the story is “Don’t react to bullying with bullying,” but the actual takeaway reads like “Adults are incompetent; fend for yourself” or “Don’t bully people. They might do a mass shooting.” The story shifts from the goofy 90s TV movie bully stereotype to holy crap, there’s going to be a mass shooting with an absolutely ludicrous storyline that, had the tone stayed the same throughout the book, Shoemaker might have been able to pull it off.
There’s no substance to the characters. Each one falls into a flat stereotype and their story arcs are telegraphed from their introductory paragraph. Even the school shooting, which was so out of the book’s scope early on, is clearly telegraphed. It’d be laughably cheesy if it wasn’t handling so serious a subject. More work was spent to create a message—a message that fails—then tell a good, coherent, age and tone appropriate story. Easy Target misses the mark completely.
Easy Target follows Hudson, a formerly-homeschooled middle school student trying to make his way in this new realm of public school with its cliques, social stratification, and bullying. The bullies run the school, while the teachers do little to nothing to stop them. Hudson and his group of misfits decide they’re going to fight back.
Their tactics grow more and more bold—as in, they quickly become the bullies—and things escalate until the end of the book in no way matches with the beginning. SPOILERS HERE…They bully the bullies so badly that the book ends with one of the bullies staging a school shooting with the goal of taking her own life.
The adults in this book are continuously incompetent. Small things include Hudson’s mom not being able to do her job by programming an electronic sign and letting Hudson work it out. The payoff to this plot point is that Hudson uses the sign to put the bullies on blast, naming and shaming them on the City’s billboard. And that’s just a silly example.
Early on, Hudson is beat up by seven of the school bullies. Although an adult breaks up the fight, he’s absolutely useless afterward, telling the kids that he’ll call their parents or the police but never doing either and letting them run off. The school principal knows that Hudson is behind some of the shenanigans meant to bring the bullies to vigilante justice, but lets it go on. At one point even agreeing to let the kids have one more day to exact their revenge. (The next day is when one of the bullies brings a gun to the school to kill herself.)
The Big Moral of the story is “Don’t react to bullying with bullying,” but the actual takeaway reads like “Adults are incompetent; fend for yourself” or “Don’t bully people. They might do a mass shooting.” The story shifts from the goofy 90s TV movie bully stereotype to holy crap, there’s going to be a mass shooting with an absolutely ludicrous storyline that, had the tone stayed the same throughout the book, Shoemaker might have been able to pull it off.
There’s no substance to the characters. Each one falls into a flat stereotype and their story arcs are telegraphed from their introductory paragraph. Even the school shooting, which was so out of the book’s scope early on, is clearly telegraphed. It’d be laughably cheesy if it wasn’t handling so serious a subject. More work was spent to create a message—a message that fails—then tell a good, coherent, age and tone appropriate story. Easy Target misses the mark completely.
March 27, 2025
I bought this book in 2024 because it was the only standalone available at the stand, and I only had so much cash to spend on books (homeschool conventions drain your accounts with books, what can I say?). Anyway, regardless of WHY I bought this book, out of the 26 I bought at this convention, Easy Target was by far my favorite.
I love an author who practices what he preaches. In this case he'd done a talk about suspense and this book... I was walking around the house vacuuming with a physical book in hand because I didn't want to take the time to set it down and find an audio book.
Can we commend the author, first of all, on how he writes sensitive topics? This book deals with physical abuse (maybe an allusion to past sexual abuse? I'm not sure, it could be read that way) and neglect, suicide, and even brings up sexting. There is a school shooting, bullies severely beat up a character, and the cyberbullying is... wow. It's intense.
Growing up as a Christian homeschooler, my inherent response was, "what the heck is he doing, putting sexting into a Christian middle grade book?". And then it hit me: these kids are in eighth grade. And a lot of kids in real life deal with this stuff.
As an author-in-training who writes fiction for tweens and teens, it really got me thinking about Christian fiction for kids, and the balance in intensity. Tim Shoemaker found that balance and pulled off the topics masterfully. Finally, some Christian fiction that isn't preachy! Where has this been all my life?
This book is definitely going to be a reread for me in the future.
(note: I would like to address something mentioned in the more negative reviews, as is my practice since as a person reading reviews I like to know what the positive reviews think about the issues brought up in the negative reviews. A couple people mentioned the parents being very out of the picture. This too is a trope that deeply irritates me, sometimes to the point where it will drop a star from a book's rating. However, it did not annoy me as much in this book because in this case... it was understandable. In these sorts of situations, a kid is more likely to think "oh I can handle it by myself" until it gets really extreme. I didn't see it as the parents being inadequate-- I saw it as the kids being too scared to talk. And you can have amazing parents who still don't find out about secret evils because of this. It happens a lot in real life, sadly. It's even happened to me. If anything, I think this book encouraged talking to parents about these situations before they escalate.)
Content warnings: Suicide attempt, mentions of sexting, mentions of physical and emotional abuse (possible allusion to sexual abuse?), school shooting (I don't believe anyone is shot, but I'm putting this here anyway since it does happen in real life a lot).
I love an author who practices what he preaches. In this case he'd done a talk about suspense and this book... I was walking around the house vacuuming with a physical book in hand because I didn't want to take the time to set it down and find an audio book.
Can we commend the author, first of all, on how he writes sensitive topics? This book deals with physical abuse (maybe an allusion to past sexual abuse? I'm not sure, it could be read that way) and neglect, suicide, and even brings up sexting. There is a school shooting, bullies severely beat up a character, and the cyberbullying is... wow. It's intense.
Growing up as a Christian homeschooler, my inherent response was, "what the heck is he doing, putting sexting into a Christian middle grade book?". And then it hit me: these kids are in eighth grade. And a lot of kids in real life deal with this stuff.
As an author-in-training who writes fiction for tweens and teens, it really got me thinking about Christian fiction for kids, and the balance in intensity. Tim Shoemaker found that balance and pulled off the topics masterfully. Finally, some Christian fiction that isn't preachy! Where has this been all my life?
This book is definitely going to be a reread for me in the future.
(note: I would like to address something mentioned in the more negative reviews, as is my practice since as a person reading reviews I like to know what the positive reviews think about the issues brought up in the negative reviews. A couple people mentioned the parents being very out of the picture. This too is a trope that deeply irritates me, sometimes to the point where it will drop a star from a book's rating. However, it did not annoy me as much in this book because in this case... it was understandable. In these sorts of situations, a kid is more likely to think "oh I can handle it by myself" until it gets really extreme. I didn't see it as the parents being inadequate-- I saw it as the kids being too scared to talk. And you can have amazing parents who still don't find out about secret evils because of this. It happens a lot in real life, sadly. It's even happened to me. If anything, I think this book encouraged talking to parents about these situations before they escalate.)
Content warnings: Suicide attempt, mentions of sexting, mentions of physical and emotional abuse (possible allusion to sexual abuse?), school shooting (I don't believe anyone is shot, but I'm putting this here anyway since it does happen in real life a lot).
March 9, 2021
A perfect, high-paced read for young adults dealing with bullying and the difficulties they face in school and the complications of social media.
When Hudson Sutton must attend public school after being homeschooled all his life, his parents worry how he will fit in, but Hudson just wants to survive. It doesn’t take him long to figure out how things work and a school project on creating change puts him in the crosshairs of the school bullies. He does make two friends and together they try to take on the bullies to change things at their school. Unfortunately, the plan doesn’t work out exactly like he hoped and he quickly finds himself becoming what he was trying to stop, a bully. Together the friends work to help each other and those around them who don’t even know are being bullied. Will their plan work? Or will it make things worse?
Easy Target starts out nice and slow, but in the best way, there isn’t too much action right away and for a YA/middle grade audience it has a nice pace. The story is right on point with issues that need to be addressed in the world we live in today. The bullying in schools and on social media is an issue that seems to never go away. I loved the way Shoemaker wrote Hudson as he comes in not knowing the dynamics of how a school goes with social parameters and such and thinks he can quickly make changes. As he goes, he learns that none of that is going to be as easy as he hoped it would be. People get hurt and along the way he realizes that making these kinds of changes isn’t going to happen overnight and he can’t go over the heads of others.
As sad as it is, this is a problem that has affects generation after generation and we need to prepare our children for it. One thing I loved about this book was how it showed that even bullies can be hurting inside. Not everything is as it seems on the surface and trying to fit in and be accepted will be something that many kids and adults strive for no matter the cost. A lot of times, people lose themselves in the way they change to fit what others think they should act like, look like, or be. When we focus on what is inside and stop trying to please them, we find ourselves to be so much happier. I read this before letting my ten-year-old read it just to make sure it was appropriate for him. I feel it is a book that all young adults, and those getting ready for middle school where the pressure to fit in can be the greatest, should read and keep their eyes out for those around them that are hurting and figure out how they can stay true to themselves and help those around them at the same time.
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
When Hudson Sutton must attend public school after being homeschooled all his life, his parents worry how he will fit in, but Hudson just wants to survive. It doesn’t take him long to figure out how things work and a school project on creating change puts him in the crosshairs of the school bullies. He does make two friends and together they try to take on the bullies to change things at their school. Unfortunately, the plan doesn’t work out exactly like he hoped and he quickly finds himself becoming what he was trying to stop, a bully. Together the friends work to help each other and those around them who don’t even know are being bullied. Will their plan work? Or will it make things worse?
Easy Target starts out nice and slow, but in the best way, there isn’t too much action right away and for a YA/middle grade audience it has a nice pace. The story is right on point with issues that need to be addressed in the world we live in today. The bullying in schools and on social media is an issue that seems to never go away. I loved the way Shoemaker wrote Hudson as he comes in not knowing the dynamics of how a school goes with social parameters and such and thinks he can quickly make changes. As he goes, he learns that none of that is going to be as easy as he hoped it would be. People get hurt and along the way he realizes that making these kinds of changes isn’t going to happen overnight and he can’t go over the heads of others.
As sad as it is, this is a problem that has affects generation after generation and we need to prepare our children for it. One thing I loved about this book was how it showed that even bullies can be hurting inside. Not everything is as it seems on the surface and trying to fit in and be accepted will be something that many kids and adults strive for no matter the cost. A lot of times, people lose themselves in the way they change to fit what others think they should act like, look like, or be. When we focus on what is inside and stop trying to please them, we find ourselves to be so much happier. I read this before letting my ten-year-old read it just to make sure it was appropriate for him. I feel it is a book that all young adults, and those getting ready for middle school where the pressure to fit in can be the greatest, should read and keep their eyes out for those around them that are hurting and figure out how they can stay true to themselves and help those around them at the same time.
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
March 15, 2023
This is a pretty solid read. It's the second work by Shoemaker that I've read after checking out his Escape from the Everglades. There are a lot of similarities between the two books. The main characters are both the same type of kid. I think the protagonist in EfE was more compelling, but they both fit the teen boys from good families mold. There is a secondary girl character (Maggie = Jelly) and a secondary male character from a minority. I thought the character of Pancake drifted into a caricature somewhat. His Mexican identity seemed forced onto his character. His use of Spanish phrases like "loco" and "amigo" and "holy jalapeños" left me a bit perplexed. His Native American counterpart in EfE is handled better. His character reminded me of Peter Parker's friend Ned in the recent Spider-Man movies, and frankly, the main trio is pretty similar to the Peter, Ned, and MJ trio. Both books also have villains who are described as physically attractive who take advantage of their status within the community. Each book also has many shorter chapters. I wonder if all of Shoemaker's books use this sort of format.
Of course, the story is totally different from EfE. It takes place at public school in a suburb of Chicago instead of the Florida Everglades, and it is focused on the subject of bullying. The plot essentially involves a boy trying to stop bullies without realizing he is turning into a bully himself because of the tactics he employs. This goes as expected, and the twists are somewhat predictable, but there are some good turns throughout the plot.
The character of Giovanna is definitely the most intriguing. I could definitely understand her motivations. This book is very heavy, and there were parts that really wrenched at my heart. It reminded me of my own struggles in middle school. The ending felt a little absurd and wild to me, but it was still believable enough that I could see how the scenario would play out like that. Essentially, it was a powerful story with good themes.
It has a strong message about how to respond to your enemies that I think really resonates. I don't think I liked it as much as EfE, but I still think it's a good book. It had some punch to it.
Of course, the story is totally different from EfE. It takes place at public school in a suburb of Chicago instead of the Florida Everglades, and it is focused on the subject of bullying. The plot essentially involves a boy trying to stop bullies without realizing he is turning into a bully himself because of the tactics he employs. This goes as expected, and the twists are somewhat predictable, but there are some good turns throughout the plot.
The character of Giovanna is definitely the most intriguing. I could definitely understand her motivations. This book is very heavy, and there were parts that really wrenched at my heart. It reminded me of my own struggles in middle school. The ending felt a little absurd and wild to me, but it was still believable enough that I could see how the scenario would play out like that. Essentially, it was a powerful story with good themes.
It has a strong message about how to respond to your enemies that I think really resonates. I don't think I liked it as much as EfE, but I still think it's a good book. It had some punch to it.
September 25, 2023
There is nothing better in my opinion than a book with a great story line that also promotes Christianity.
Tim Shoemaker is a master at crafting such books. The characters are always relatable. As a teacher I have seen many homeschooled kids begin regular middle school. For many it is not much of a social jump as they attend church or other activities that have them fitting in socially. Then we have those who have been out of the loop socially and struggle with going to a regular school.
Hudson Sutton is one of the first types of kids. He was homeschooled, raised as a Christian and adjusted fairly well in the school. That is until the bullying starts. He tries to protect his new friends from the bullying going on. He comes up with a wonderful plan only to realize that he himself has become a bully. Since he is so open about his faith he is like many teens who think they are doing the right thing, only to discover that what they are actually doing is not what God would have us do. One thing that kept going through my mind was the scripture, “Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay.” I guess a part of me remembers a time that I was so fed up with something that I thought I could help handle it. I then discovered that I had become a part of the same bad decisions. I justified my actions “because I prayed about it.” There is a difference between praying and actually listening to what God is trying to tell us.
All of the characters are well developed. The setting was nicely done. The messages are clear. It is great that Hudson wanted to help his friends with the bullying issue. How far is too far? What happens when the bullied become the bullies? A great question to end on and a recommendation to read this book. It is so worth is.
Tim Shoemaker is a master at crafting such books. The characters are always relatable. As a teacher I have seen many homeschooled kids begin regular middle school. For many it is not much of a social jump as they attend church or other activities that have them fitting in socially. Then we have those who have been out of the loop socially and struggle with going to a regular school.
Hudson Sutton is one of the first types of kids. He was homeschooled, raised as a Christian and adjusted fairly well in the school. That is until the bullying starts. He tries to protect his new friends from the bullying going on. He comes up with a wonderful plan only to realize that he himself has become a bully. Since he is so open about his faith he is like many teens who think they are doing the right thing, only to discover that what they are actually doing is not what God would have us do. One thing that kept going through my mind was the scripture, “Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay.” I guess a part of me remembers a time that I was so fed up with something that I thought I could help handle it. I then discovered that I had become a part of the same bad decisions. I justified my actions “because I prayed about it.” There is a difference between praying and actually listening to what God is trying to tell us.
All of the characters are well developed. The setting was nicely done. The messages are clear. It is great that Hudson wanted to help his friends with the bullying issue. How far is too far? What happens when the bullied become the bullies? A great question to end on and a recommendation to read this book. It is so worth is.
March 6, 2021
The timely topic of bullying is portrayed in this book unlike many others I've read geared toward early to mid-teens. As a parent of teens, this is something I've kept my eye on over the years. With the added aspect of social media, cell phones, etc. it's a whole new world. My parents dealt with bullying by saying "Never start a fight....but you'd best finish it" - basically saying not to throw a punch first, but also to defend myself in the event one was thrown at me.
A few years ago, I found myself sitting at a school event, listening and watching - opposed to practically everyone else who had their eyes and nose in a phone. They were completely oblivious to the actions and words being used by their children. I witnessed good kids turn to the behavior that they were receiving.
That being said, I can relate to how hands-off the adults in this book were. But reading through it caused some heartache for what our world has become. I think this title provides an eye-opening moment that we need to be more vigilant in our kid's lives - including social media/cell phones.
For teens, this book shows how easy it is to cross the lines from being bullied to becoming the bully. There are other options - ones that can easily be accomplished with guidance from adults. If teens enjoy reading something relatable, this is definitely a good book to grab!
I received a complimentary copy for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
A few years ago, I found myself sitting at a school event, listening and watching - opposed to practically everyone else who had their eyes and nose in a phone. They were completely oblivious to the actions and words being used by their children. I witnessed good kids turn to the behavior that they were receiving.
That being said, I can relate to how hands-off the adults in this book were. But reading through it caused some heartache for what our world has become. I think this title provides an eye-opening moment that we need to be more vigilant in our kid's lives - including social media/cell phones.
For teens, this book shows how easy it is to cross the lines from being bullied to becoming the bully. There are other options - ones that can easily be accomplished with guidance from adults. If teens enjoy reading something relatable, this is definitely a good book to grab!
I received a complimentary copy for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
September 11, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It’s intense- but in a different way than most stories I have read, in that this one could actually happen. Teenagers joining terrorist organizations as a spy is unrealistic. But bullying goes on every day.
My one annoyance is that when Maggie says ‘no’ it’s occasionally written as ‘nooooooo’ give or take a few o’s. However, I know from experience that this is the way girls type on social media things, and maybe is the way they think? (Girls, help me out on this!)
Rated PG-13 for mature themes (thematic elements?) and some violence. If you want to know the specific mature themes, comment.
My one annoyance is that when Maggie says ‘no’ it’s occasionally written as ‘nooooooo’ give or take a few o’s. However, I know from experience that this is the way girls type on social media things, and maybe is the way they think? (Girls, help me out on this!)
Rated PG-13 for mature themes (thematic elements?) and some violence. If you want to know the specific mature themes, comment.
February 8, 2021
Not your usual story about bullying... I like that Hudson was trying to change things in a different way, though he didn't really always go about it in the right way. I don't like that he and his friends didn't trust any adults until toward the end. It was a little long, I thought. Also, the kids seemed too old for junior high.. I did like the 3 main characters, but overall, not a great story.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
July 29, 2022
This book was really great! Pros; It was hard to put down, Taught a lesson, Was written in an easy to read stye, and was altogether a fun book. Cons; It didn't seem to let you forget that it was trying to teach a lesson, and it kind of stereo typed the homeschoolers, making them sound overly cheesy. (:(Especially the parents) Anyway, I'm looking forward to borrowing another book by the same author from a friend.
April 5, 2022
This book is an excellent YA book about the topic of high school bullying. Bullying is examined in its many forms: physical, verbal, emotional, and psychological. It also covers whether the transformation of someone who starts defending others and himself could possibly lead to that person becoming a bully as he gets stronger. If you have a teenager, I recommend this book to you.
October 29, 2022
Easy Target by Tim Shoemaker is compelling and sure to capture the interest of teens. Tim does a beautiful job of showing the challenges teenagers face today. His main characters are super interesting and very memorable. He deals with tough issues and guides readers in a positive, faith based direction. Strong writing.
April 14, 2025
Books that entertain, while dealing with hard topics, are often hard to find. “Easy Target” is a book that does just that. It was a VERY entertaining read (I couldn’t put it down). At the same time, it talked about things in life that are hard… and it didn’t sugar coat them.
Overall, this book was amazing!!! I hope you add it to your ‘to read list’.
Overall, this book was amazing!!! I hope you add it to your ‘to read list’.
August 25, 2021
Literally amazing. Go read it right now. It gave me a whole new perspective on bullying and how it is in public and even private schools sometimes. I love this book so much.
Recommended ages 13\14 & up.
Recommended ages 13\14 & up.
July 26, 2023
This might be my favorite Shoemaker to date. The plot centers around bullying but there are no easy answers. Well rounded characters, fast-paced plot. Wonderful and powerful.
March 24, 2025
Absolutely loved this. HIGHLY recommend everything by this author!!
March 28, 2021
As a mom of four, I believe Tim Shoemaker’s latest book is able to capture some of the real-life situations kids go through in REALITY, as in the world today, while integrating a Christian worldview through the characters, their development and through dialog. As in his award-winning Code of Silence books, these kids are smart—too smart for there own good, as usually is the case.
In Easy Target, Shoemaker takes a look at bullying kids face in school and on social media, and its ultimate, horrific escalation—a school shooting scenario.
I have lived through lock down drills with my kids in school. Once the school went into lock down because of an actual bomb threat.
Kids talk about these things, and they need to talk about these things.
Kids also talk about faith, and the faith-content within is not heavy handed, but remains true to the characters and their stories, and presents the situations from a Christian worldview—realistically.
Especially in light of recent and ongoing tragic school shootings, and the bigger picture of mental health issues, all these issues are tough topics that need discussing. Easy Target offers an excellent starting point for such conversations.
In this situation the school shooting is deescalated, but the situation remains in the forefront of kids’ minds—and their parents.
Perfect for boys and girls ages 11-14, reluctant readers, with crossover for younger and older readers.
I have been of fan of Tim Shoemaker’s contemporary realistic thrillers since Code of Silence, Back Before Dark is probably my favorite. Shoemaker’s characters are “smart” and the suspense in Easy Target builds in the same way, to a satisfying ending for the intended readers. Highly recommend!
Published by Focus on the Family/Tyndale, the book comes from a Christian publisher,
In Easy Target, Shoemaker takes a look at bullying kids face in school and on social media, and its ultimate, horrific escalation—a school shooting scenario.
I have lived through lock down drills with my kids in school. Once the school went into lock down because of an actual bomb threat.
Kids talk about these things, and they need to talk about these things.
Kids also talk about faith, and the faith-content within is not heavy handed, but remains true to the characters and their stories, and presents the situations from a Christian worldview—realistically.
Especially in light of recent and ongoing tragic school shootings, and the bigger picture of mental health issues, all these issues are tough topics that need discussing. Easy Target offers an excellent starting point for such conversations.
In this situation the school shooting is deescalated, but the situation remains in the forefront of kids’ minds—and their parents.
Perfect for boys and girls ages 11-14, reluctant readers, with crossover for younger and older readers.
I have been of fan of Tim Shoemaker’s contemporary realistic thrillers since Code of Silence, Back Before Dark is probably my favorite. Shoemaker’s characters are “smart” and the suspense in Easy Target builds in the same way, to a satisfying ending for the intended readers. Highly recommend!
Published by Focus on the Family/Tyndale, the book comes from a Christian publisher,
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2025
never again.
guys this book actually killed me.
not in a good way.
i genuinely think reading this book killed a lil bit of my soul.
anyways byeeee
ill prob come back to edit this review with more hate as i feel like it :)
guysssss
save yourself while u can
this book is literally cyanide in word form.
im backkkk
WHAT THE HECK WAS THIS ACTUAL MONSTROSITY. I LITERALLY CANT FATHOM WHY MY ELA TEACHER MADE ME READ THIS.
im calming down now. but still, what the actual heck was this. this was so useless and boring like AUHEUHSUSBSBISJNE
anyways ttyl
shes baaaack!!
i feel like this could’ve been an email. maybe even a pamphlet. a POSTER for all i care. like i could make one on canvas in 5 minutes and it would be better than this.
this was basically just about like why not to bully or whatever i think
anyways i feel mean now so im probably not gonna write anymore
guys this book actually killed me.
not in a good way.
i genuinely think reading this book killed a lil bit of my soul.
anyways byeeee
ill prob come back to edit this review with more hate as i feel like it :)
guysssss
save yourself while u can
this book is literally cyanide in word form.
im backkkk
WHAT THE HECK WAS THIS ACTUAL MONSTROSITY. I LITERALLY CANT FATHOM WHY MY ELA TEACHER MADE ME READ THIS.
im calming down now. but still, what the actual heck was this. this was so useless and boring like AUHEUHSUSBSBISJNE
anyways ttyl
shes baaaack!!
i feel like this could’ve been an email. maybe even a pamphlet. a POSTER for all i care. like i could make one on canvas in 5 minutes and it would be better than this.
this was basically just about like why not to bully or whatever i think
anyways i feel mean now so im probably not gonna write anymore
February 5, 2025
Loved it!!
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