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Behaving Bradley
Bradley Gold is against the policies and practices of his school and sets out to change them once and for all, embarking on a campaign to promote his right to wear a baseball hat and use the restroom upon demand.
- GenresYoung Adult
240 pages, Board Book
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 16, 2023
This is an interesting one. For starters it's so old my library doesn't even have a physical copy anymore, and the things that made it a contemporary teen read in 1998 make it dated and almost retro now.... BUT this novel has had the power to stick in my mind ever since I read it 15 years ago, and if you can get past the so-realistic-it's-almost-boring plot, this book has a lot to offer.
Why does it stick out to me, even now in 2023? 1) It's the only book I've ever read that managed to really nail the personalities, attitudes, relationships, and language of high school kids without seeming fake or corny, and without exaggerating or oversimplifying their characteristics.
2) The idea of right vs wrong being thrust upon you, having to make a choice between action and inaction, and face the consequences therein, gives Behaving Bradley a timeless quality that I think might be even more relevant today than when it was released.
3) Adults man. I thought dealing with adults was difficult when I was a teen? Now that I have joined the ranks of the mature 9-5ers I have twice as much difficulty in dealing with these so-called adults sometimes. And honestly, Behaving Bradley prepared me for this in ways I'm only now beginning to understand.
If you've ever joined a committee, signed a petition, held up a sign, or just generally cared more about a cause than some of the people around you, I think you might find a reason to like Behaving Bradley. At the very least it's a quirky retro teen book that takes you back a couple decades. And if you're the kind of reader that wants to punch Holden Caulfield in the mouth, I think you might find Brad Gold a much more palatable option.
Why does it stick out to me, even now in 2023? 1) It's the only book I've ever read that managed to really nail the personalities, attitudes, relationships, and language of high school kids without seeming fake or corny, and without exaggerating or oversimplifying their characteristics.
2) The idea of right vs wrong being thrust upon you, having to make a choice between action and inaction, and face the consequences therein, gives Behaving Bradley a timeless quality that I think might be even more relevant today than when it was released.
3) Adults man. I thought dealing with adults was difficult when I was a teen? Now that I have joined the ranks of the mature 9-5ers I have twice as much difficulty in dealing with these so-called adults sometimes. And honestly, Behaving Bradley prepared me for this in ways I'm only now beginning to understand.
If you've ever joined a committee, signed a petition, held up a sign, or just generally cared more about a cause than some of the people around you, I think you might find a reason to like Behaving Bradley. At the very least it's a quirky retro teen book that takes you back a couple decades. And if you're the kind of reader that wants to punch Holden Caulfield in the mouth, I think you might find Brad Gold a much more palatable option.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews