About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is struggling with self-consciousness or feeling targeted by peer 'teasing' that feels more like bullying. It is particularly effective for children who have a big personality or a 'quirk' that has suddenly become a source of embarrassment at school. The story follows Mac, a talented soccer goalie whose confidence is shaken when an anonymous cartoonist starts mocking his talkative nature in the school paper. While it is framed as a sports mystery, the heart of the book explores the emotional sting of betrayal and the difficulty of staying true to oneself when others are laughing. It is an accessible, realistic look at middle-grade social dynamics that provides a safe space to discuss how to handle public embarrassment and how to identify true friends versus fair-weather ones.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book deals with peer-to-peer teasing and mild bullying. The approach is direct and secular. The resolution is realistic: Mac identifies the culprit and learns to manage his emotional response, though the social friction isn't magically erased.
