Ezra Exposed

by Amy E. Feldman

It started as a joke—but it’s not funny anymore.

Even though Ezra’s got good friends and can make everyone laugh, he feels like he’s invisible, both at home and at school. To make things worse, he’s the only kid in his group without a phone—left out of plans and shared jokes and games. Finally, at the end of fifth grade, his parents come through.

The phone changes everything. Ezra texts his friends all the time, can instantly keep up with his favorite teams, and boredom is a memory. Best of all, the funny pictures he’s posting on social media are getting a lot of attention. Other kids—including the popular kids—are noticing him for the first time.

Then he takes a photo that pushes things over the edge, and suddenly he’s in the principal’s office with his parents …

Amy Feldman’s debut is smart, laugh-out-loud funny, fast-moving—a great read that also takes on the very serious subject of kids and phone use. Middle-grade readers will recognize Ezra as one of their own, and the author’s light touch allows her to address an issue parents might not recognize, but kids need to be aware of. Ezra Exposed is just right for fans of Gordon Korman, Tom Angleberger, and Rebecca Stead.

Genres: Middle Grade, Contemporary, School, Realistic Fiction

150 pages, Hardcover

Published November 2, 2022

Reviews

[Francisca · Rating 3 out of 5]

His parents got him a phone on his birthday and he decided to start an Instagram account. He's only ten years old and, clearly, no one is supervising what he posts. If that sounds a bit like an afternoon special of the cautionary-tale type, it's because this book perfectly fits in that mold.

Funny at times, a bit too vague at others, leaving some plot points in the air without resolution, the story feels younger than the main character and his friends actually are.

Focused on the dangers of posting inappropriate things on social media, this story develops as a modern-day fable and like such, it feels a tiny bit preachy at times, which leads me to think most children will find the lessons it conveys unappealing, even if they are quite important and relevant to kids today.

Also, if I'm going to buy my children a book, I hope it will keep them entertained more than the forty minutes it took me to read this book.

It is all in the eye of the beholder, so perhaps the best way to review this book is to say that it was not for me.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn...why do all the embarrassing middle grade stories remind me so much of my own childhood? Some parts are totally cringey... getting so hyper about phone and social media. That's totally me. And the voices that told me that I was so addicted to texting and social media still echo. And I cringe while reading this book. It should not be this relatable!

I find the writing really fun and the main character relatable funny! It's a quick read and the plot lives up to the blurb. I appreciate this!

And yes, after all the drama things do end well for Ezra!

Absolutely waiting for the book to come out.

Thank you, Blackstone Publishing, for the advance review copy.

I love the cover so much!

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This middle grade chapter book tells the story of Ezra, a boy who gets his first cell phone at the end of 5th grade and makes some pretty big mistakes when it comes to safe internet practices. To combat some teasing he shares a picture of his butt with a friend at school to prove he doesn't have a "beaver butt", but after the picture gets spread around through texts to other students in his class, things quickly go from bad to worse. This book is innocent, yet tells a very important message about sharing pictures through text and social media, and the importance of privacy and safety on the internet. The book also shares the range of consequences that can come from making these kinds of choices, from losing privileges to police involvement to being fired for sending inappropriate texts at work. The story also looks at bullying and the importance of talking to safe adults. As far as sexual content, the book uses the word butt a lot and does describe the aforementioned incident where a nude butt picture was shared but there were no other graphic details. There is also a reference to a girl's chest saying something like "some parts weren't still skinny" and a boy tapping his chest. There are also a few sex ed type lessons, including a vague description of what the students were seeing such as "male private parts", reference to hair growing on private parts and the word vas deferens. Finally the boys find out that while they were learning about male reproduction the girls were given maxipads and discussing their periods. I think this book would be appropriate for students in the grade 5-8 range, but I do wish that there was a little less description of some of those sex ed topics. Middle grade students are so easily freaked out about these topics and while I totally agree with the messages about sexuality and privacy, I do think the author could have been a bit more subtle with what the students were learning. I would love to read this book to my class to teach about internet safety and bullying, but I think I would have to censor some of it for my grade 3 students. I would recommend it more for later middle grade or middle school teachers, but I really think the messages are important for students as young as mine! Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Blackstone Publishing through NetGalley.
This is a much needed book and a difficult one too. Kudos to Feldman for writing this and offering upper elementary readers insight into what happens when one foolish decision explodes through social media. Ezra finally has a phone like all of his friends. Yes, they are all fifth graders, and the timing of receiving cell phones and ignoring age limits on social media platforms is a discussion for families. While out to dinner, Ezra sees two of his sister's chicken nuggets look like they've fused into butt shape. He takes a picture and shares it. This leads to more pictures and him looking for items that look like butts to build his base. Readers see how easy it is to get caught up in the world of likes and followers and ignore warnings and concerns. Eventually, he posts an inappropriate picture and his world crashes. I appreciate Feldman emphasizing that this is based on a bad choice and that life will get better again. She handles the police and school involvement with sensitivity and facts. She also makes sure readers realize there are consequences even when a decision was not through through.
The writing style will appeal though the content may be difficult to process for some middle grade readers. This would be an excellent family read when preparing to enter the cell phone and social media world.

[Soojung Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely an elementary book, but it's a good intro and conversation about appropriate tech usage and the consequences of inappropriate tech usage. Disclaimer: not a literary masterpiece but not terrible.

[Neha Thakkar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading for all 4th graders and their trusted adults.

[Mary Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a timely book with an important message for kids.

Ezra is getting ready to graduate from elementary school. His parents just got him a phone, and he loves playing games and sharing pictures with his friends. When a picture of two chicken nuggets that look like a butt get him attention, he starts talking more pictures of objects that look like butts. But when he takes an actual picture of his butt, he gets in more trouble than he can imagine.

Ezra is a typical kid with a phone - making bad decisions, taking silly pictures, and not thinking about the consequences of his actions. He also starts neglecting his homework and his family to spend time on his phone.

While the message is good, kids might feel the book is too preachy and heavy-handed. I also found it difficult to keep up with who was who in his friend group. There were too many kids to keep up with.

This is a good book, but not a great one. Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ezra, coming out of fifth grade is feeling neglected and out of the loop because he has no cell phone. He finally receives one so he can text and post pictures to his social media accounts. He has no time for anything else besides his phone. Very quickly, one of his funny posts turns out to be not quite so funny and gets Ezra into trouble with the school and the law.

A good read for upper elementary and this book should be read by their parents as well. Children do not realize the breadth and depth of social media posts, and that once out there, they may stay out there, leading to unpleasant consequences. Parents need to realize how quickly things can get out of hand (maybe looking at their own cell phone usage as well). Being a good citizen today necessitates more than being polite and courteous in person. It also means being polite, courteous and practicing discretion while online. Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should do something.

I received an e-ARC from Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley, in exchange for a review.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book about a serious & all-too common occurrence nowadays. I wish “phone classes” could be taught for the kids & parents before the problem occurs.

In my hometown, an 8th grader with a bright future ahead of him took his own life bc he received a nude picture of a female classmate. He knew the police were on the case & even though HE didn’t send it to anyone, he thought his life was over.

I went to the school meeting about it. The BEST piece of advice the police have if this should happen to you or your kid was DON’T PANIC. Put the phone into airplane mode (can’t send or receive anything new) ASAP & take it to the police.

[Meg · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wasn't particularly impressed by this one. It's more cautionary tale than fiction. 

As a cautionary tale, it's okay. Ezra makes a mistake, shows some friends a picture of his partially exposed butt, and he ends up getting suspended from school, interrogated by the police, and socially outcast among his classmates. In the end, he learns his lesson and gets to graduate elementary school with everyone else and learns how to be empathetic towards others. As a story... It's too preachy. It's an internet safety lesson thinly disguised as a story. 

EDI-wise, this book totally misses the mark. Everyone except for ONE character that I could find (and I'm only assuming that character is a person of color because his name is Abhishek Abdi) is White, Cishet, Neurotypicical, without any disabilities, mental or physical. And Abhishek? He gets one paragraph in the entire book. As if he was thrown in there just to make the book seem more "diverse."

I also do not appreciate the tone taken with the girls and women present in this book. I get that boys get all "Ewwww girlssss" around puberty, but it's disappointing to see even the PE Teacher adopt that attitude as well. Check out this quote: 

Instead, he sat on Ms. Robinson’s desk and said in a quiet voice, like he was sharing a secret, “Listen up, boys.” I was in the last row, so I had to lean in a little to hear him. “The girls are getting a talk about getting their periods. You don’t need to know the details about that. You don't want to know the details about that."

I heard the door opening behind me. Ms. Robinson walked in quietly and sat down nearby. Mr. Volpi didn't see her. He kept talking.

"All I will say is that when you start dating and get married, if your girl starts to get a little crazy, you just need to know that she's probably on her period, so the best thing to do is just be nice and don't argue, and she'll calm down eventually.”

That is super messed up. Yes. Boys do need to know about periods and menstrual cycles. And even though the female teacher, Ms. Robinson, appears upset by Mr. Volpi's "talk," no one did a single thing to correct him or teach the boys.

[Patti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was extremely relevant and important for kids who are getting smartphones for the first time! My older daughter is starting middle school in the fall, and several of her classmates already have phones. But she herself was worried about the distractions and has no desire to have a phone yet, so we compromised by getting her a watch that she could call and text from. I'm proud of her for choosing to be phone free for a little bit longer!

But the truth is, there are lots of young kids with phones, and many of them are on social media as well. Even I, as a 42 year old mom, am addicted to my phone and the Instagram app in particular. So I could relate to what Ezra was feeling, and also it caused a bit of a panic attack in me as I worry that I'm not setting the best example for my own kids.

The story starts when 10 year old Ezra gets a phone for his birthday. All of his friends already have phones, so he's excited to be getting one. He can now text with them, and also share posts on Instagram! But what starts as a joke on Instagram quickly escalates into something more serious, and Ezra must learn to deal with the consequences of his decisions.

I like that the parents were flawed in this book as well. That it wasn't just Ezra who had a judgement lapse and had to deal with the consequences. There is a responsibility that parents have when they get their children smartphones. Technology these days is amazing but also frightening. I think the lesson in this book was very valuable.

I plan on sharing this book with my own children, especially as they dabble more in technology and social media. I think above all else, it's important to share with our children the importance of phone safety. I plan on doing a lot more research before we get my daughter a smartphone of her own!

Thanks to the author for writing such a relevant and important story, and for netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read a digital arc in exchange for a review.

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to #NetGalley for an ARC of Ezra Exposed, which brings to light an important topic: kids with cellphones. Kids love to play games and text, often way more than they should, and that’s what happens when Ezra gets his phone for his birthday.

He discovers that some of his fifth grade friends pay more attention to him when he posts silly pictures, so he starts a series of pictures that look like butt cheeks. You know, peaches, and the crease on the inside of your elbow, that kind of silly stuff.

Hungry for “likes” he checks his phone regularly, which is something many kids will relate to. The reader can predict what will happen in this book, but its intent is not to be full of surprises. Except perhaps at the end. It may come as a surprise to some students that sending lewd photos across the internet is a criminal offense.

This is a good book for upper elementary students, many of whom will connect with Ezra and the pull of technology. And they’ll certainly understand the ups and downs of friendships. There’s an important message that Ezra’s grandfather tells him and the reader: “this too shall pass.” Events that seem horrible in the moment have a way of receding into the distance with a little bit of time.

The content is good for upper elementary and middle school students, although I suspect middle schoolers may find it a little young. Still, it delivers an important message, gently told, about being thoughtful about how we use technology.

[Emily Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to #NetGalley, Amy E. Feldman, and the publisher of this book for the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ezra is living high on life. He's about to graduate fifth grade, kids think he is funny at school, and it's almost his birthday. Everything changes when Ezra gets a phone for his birthday. He's now able to text his friends when he wants, check on his beloved Phillies, and post funny pictures on social media. Soon though, a funny post turns out to not be so funny and turns into a serious consequence for Ezra.

I thought this book was very good and so important for current times. Kids are getting phones younger and younger. As a teacher, that bothers me because I do not feel that kids are necessarily ready for phones at a young age. I think before any child has a phone, it is important for them to understand the good things phone can do, but also the things that can go wrong. I think Ezra gave a good example of things phones should not be used for. I hope this book with help teachers and parents teach their young children the importance of phone safety and smart digital citizenship.

[Sun Shyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a funny , lighthearted read with a crucial message underneath.

Unlike our parents,who probably got their first computer or cell phone or first SM account in high school or college , kids right from elementary school are already familiar with the internet and some of them already have social media accounts at 10/11 years old . That exposes them to a lot of dangers online.

Ezra miller is your average fifth grader who likes telling jokes and making friends laugh . He feels lonely though , because his peers are on social media . He creates an instagram account and quickly gains likes and followers . One day he posts a photo of his butt on a dare and it quickly goes viral. He is sent packing on a trip to the principal's office . His counsellor, parents and principal make him aware of the dangers of posting inappropriate photographs online as what's online stays online for a long long time . This is an important lesson to learn as we are unmindful of how online activities can sometimes be negative to our reputation .

Highly reccomended

[Pete Springer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ezra is one of the last in his class to get a phone. He's very excited and soon worries about minor details (accurately portrayed) about the number of followers he has on social media and receiving likes and comments from the popular kids. He begins finding objects that look like butts and posting them to garner more "friends." He doesn't think about the consequences despite believing it is harmless fun. Everything doesn't seem so funny when the police get involved. Not only does he face the possibility of getting into serious trouble with the juvenile corrections, but he also loses privileges at both home and school with the possibility of irreparable friendships.

My favorite part of the book was learning how and why the author decided to write this book. There are many valuable lessons for kids and parents—the biggest is to be careful with whom one shares their things. Other important themes include taking responsibility for one's actions and being yourself instead of trying to be someone you're not.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

10yo Ezra finally got a cell phone! He's gone all of 5th grade without one and feels left out of a lot of the fun his friends have had - texting, chatting and sending pictures to each other. One of the first things Ezra does with his phone is to send his friends a funny picture of a couple of chicken nuggets breaded together that looks like a butt. The picture gets shared and before long, other kids are following Ezra's account. He keeps finding things that look like a butt and sending funny pictures, but before long Ezra takes a photo that turns his world upside down. He's in real trouble and so are the kids who received it.

Feldman's debut is a great story. 10-year-olds learning about sexting seemed super young to me, but, unfortunately, they aren't. Ezra Exposed presents the topic in an age-appropriate, kid-relatable way. It's funny, engaging, a great read, and a perfect conversation starter.

[Amanda Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to find good middle grade books for the younger middle grade readers. They might find many of the books readable, but elementary age students struggle to connect with middle school aged characters since their lives change so much in those few short years. I've added this book to my collection for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students, who will relate to Ezra's world.

Hopefully, although Ezra learns the hard way about what should and should not be shared online, our readers can learn from his mistakes. And for anyone worried that the content of the photo might be too inappropriate for their students, it's not.

Universal themes of fitting in alongside messages of online safety feel natural, not preachy. This book would make a wonderful conversation starter as part of a book club, guided reading group, or read aloud.

Thanks to netgalley, the author, and publisher for sharing an ARC of this very relevant story.

[Donna Metler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is based on an ARC

Ezra is looking forward to a school trip and 5th grade graduation. But even more than that, he is looking forward to getting a cell phone for his birthday. He’s the last of his friends to get one. When posting a picture of two chicken nuggets stuck together that look like a butt gets him likes on Instagram, he wants to continue the trend and become more popular. Except that internet fame is fleeing, and it escalates.

Like several other books I’ve reviewed, I wish this were a book that didn’t need to be written. But internet safety is a real issue, and kids need to know the legal and social ramifications of their actions, and this is an age appropriate way to introduce and explain this to kids.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful middle reader book.
As mom and librarian I was happy to read a book based on actions that could truly happen - - real world stuff with real world consequences.
Ezra, our central character, is a typical fifth grader who's focus is on friends and phones. Ezra makes an innocent mistake by sharing a photo with a boy to impress him. Unfortunately, this innocent mistake results into some real consequences for Ezra and friends.
Handled nicely for it's targeted group, this book discusses the responsibility that comes along with cell phone usage as well as the fact that good people-all people- make mistakes that are only momentary in the grand story of life."This too shall pass", is quoted in the book which is wonderful advice for us all.

[Carlee Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ezra Exposed tells the story of 10 year old Ezra who gets a phone for the first time. He starts posting funny photos of foods, especially fruits, that look like butts and gets attention on social media and from his peers at school for it. When he takes things a little too far, Ezra gets a lesson in internet safety and being careful with what he does on his phone. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and thought it would be a great read for any middle grade reader because of the important lesson it shows.Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC and the opportunity to share my opinions on the book!

[AllyP Reads Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was so funny! I was listening to it at work and trying not to bust up laughing. It was nice and short. It moved along well and I didn't think it was too preachy or anything like that with the message that kids need to be careful about what they post online and what can happen with pictures on their phone even if they don't post online.
"You might want to go to the supermarket to get another pair of those gloves. . . Also, I think they might be running low on Finesse." My favorite quote from the book. Clearly out of context but it's hilarious.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book deals with series issues and responsibilities of having a phone. Ezra (5th grade) is trying to get followers on his social media and begins to take pictures of things that look like rear ends. When he is accused of having a rear end of a raccoon, he takes a picture of his own. Unbeknownst to Ezra, his picture gets shared and there are some serious consequences.

This could be a good book for parents to share with their children that will open up conversations about what is and is not appropriate for phone use.

[Samantha Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really hoping to make this a novel study because it hit a serious topic but also talked about butts which fifth graders think is hilarious. There is one scene where Ezra is in health class and he mentions something about seeing the outline of the male anatomy. This may not seem like much but with the current climate of books in classrooms, this scene makes it so I can't use this book in my classroom.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this story with my ‘I want a phone’ on repeat 9 year old son. It’s a funny, gentle introduction to digital safety and integrity, appropriate for early middle grade readers.

If you’re reading to a younger child who doesn’t know about puberty yet, be prepared to explain what a maxipad is used for!

[Karen Hammond · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book just makes me glad that we didn't have mobile phones in my childhood. It addresses many relevant modern issues , I discussed the book and issues with my older teen grandchildren who then went on to read the book and thought it 'really true'. They enjoyed it .

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be required reading for every student (and parent) in middle school prior to owning their own device (cellphone)! An excellent portrayal of how a seemingly innocent action can have major consequences, but written in a thoughtful and approachable manner.

[Sara Farmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book for teaching kids about phone safety. It’s funny, interesting, and relatable, but really gets the point home. My kids liked it and want to read more about Ezra.

[Aanya Sachdeva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the theme and the message the story sends out. Internet safety and importance of being private on the internet is expressed prudently in this book, a must read for everyone!

[Sharon the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important book. It’s full of boy humor, craving popularity, navigating social media as a new phone owner, and frenemies. The message is vital, but presented in a non-preachy way.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a fun story and timely, helps teach good digitable citizenship.