Michael Shulman rated it 5 of 5 stars
Shelves: giveaway-books, won, young-adult
I won a free copy of the book through Goodreads First Reads. I absolutely LOVED this book. Even though this book is meant for kids, it is really for anybody who remembers their days as youngsters. With a plot full of many twists and turns, the book kept me at the edge of my seat.
Nancy Shepherd rated it 4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for: Teens, teachers, and counselors who deal with bullying.
Recommended to Nancy by: Goodreads
I received a copy of Mind Over Bullies free through Goodreads First Reads. As a former middle and high school teacher, I have seen bullying at close range, though not to the extent we are reading about today in our newspapers.
I did not want to put the book down; I was so caught up in the story of a group of kids who decided to show their tormenters how it feels to be bullied. Of course, add to the story a major mystery, and we are hooked.
This is a book I would pass along to my middle and high school aged grandchildren. I would also recommend that their parents read it, too
By Kai on May 17, 2015Format: Paperback
I had the pleasure of being selected to pre-read Mind Over Bullies : A Mob Forms. I must say that in a world where bullying comes in so many different forms, and negatively affects many people, ESPECIALLY youths, I found this book to be both timely and refreshing. All of The characters are both relatable and likable, the plot is well developed with mysteries through out it that will really leave you eager to know what will happen next. And the overall message of the book, don't succumb to the pressures of life but find a way to solve your problems and get help when you need it, is one that I think will appeal to both youths and adults. It's a good read. I read it in two days because whenever I put the book down, I kept thinking about the characters and wondering what they were going to do next, so I Just sped read it, haha. I hope there will be more from the series. Check out my cool reviewers packet in the pic. Compete with Book, Bookmark, and MOB Rubber Bracelet :-)
By Roro on May 23, 2015Format: Paperback
The book Mind Over Bullies, A Mob Forms,has been a real page turner, I had to complete it, because if I wasn't reading the book, I was thinking or dreaming about it. Lessons are learned by both young and old. This is similar to the Hunger Game in that you have many characters to follow and care about…or not. I also liked the fact that there are two story lines to follow, that of the counterfeit ring and bulling, yet they come together to make for intrigue and mystery. R. Roberson
I can't wait for the next book or better yet the movie (hint hint)
By Ronnie Johnson on May 24, 2015Format: Paperback
WOW! I just finished reading Mind Over Bullies (M.O.B.). The plot of this book is by no means simple. The framework of how the story is constructed takes you through a gauntlet of emotions! The book actually sends a message to all who are being bullied that they are not alone. I can't wait for the next book or better yet the movie (hint hint).
YA author, D.K. Smith was shocked by the astounding rate of teen suicides resulting from bullying. Wanting to send a positive message to bullying victims wrapped in a cleverly told fictional tale, Smith may have created the next hot YA novel.
Los Angeles, California, USA – According to a 2014 U.S. High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 14.8% of students surveyed nationwide admit being electronically bullied (including through e-mail, chat rooms, instant messaging, websites, or texting during the 12 months before the survey) as reported by anti-bullying website NoBullying.com. The act of bullycide (suicide resulting from bullying) has escalated as well, and at an alarming rate, with the trend expected to continue.
It was only four years ago that author D.K. Smith was awaiting the birth of his niece, Summer, the first grandchild of the family. Thoughts of a new addition spurred Smith to begin creating a children’s book series with characters created specifically for his niece to be. Now four years later the smith family boasts seven grandchildren, but with the joy of an expanding family came the realization that inevitably the little ones would grow up and be confronted with some of the ugly realities of life−bullying and bullycide in particular.
“It brought a measure of sadness actually,” Smith said, when asked about the possibility of his nieces and nephews being faced with bullying in its various forms. More investigation into the topic brought on more disturbing revelations. “One day I came across a story in the news about a young girl that jumped in front of a subway train after weeks of bullying. As I searched further, I was shocked at the number of similar stories I encountered. Bullycide, the news was calling it. It was happening with teens all over the world. I thought, wow, what if these young people had been shown that the pain of bullying can be handled without hurting themselves or someone else.”
The initial astonishment over the massive issue got the creative juices flowing. The result was a 108,000 word novel that has drawn comparisons by some to The Hunger Games. ‘Mind Over Bullies: A Mob Forms’ follows Latin female lead character, Margo Rios, a pretty and popular teen from Oak View High School, as she learns just how intense bullying can get.The comparisons to the wildly popular Suzanne Collins Hunger Games novel are likely born from the strong teen female lead character, robust cast of other multi-dimensional characters and the variety of engaging personalities that Mind Over Bullies puts presents.
The main character Margo, is followed closely in likeability by a group of unlikely heroes that set out to solve a citywide mystery and teach bullies a lesson in understanding through cleverly executed plans and cutting edge technology.
Ingeniously told with simultaneously unfolding plots−a mystery involving a counterfeiting ring and of course, that of bullying−that keep the plot moving and the pages turning at a steady pace, the story goes far beyond what a reader might imagine they would encounter in a novel of this nature. There are plenty of twists and turns that are unexpected.
US based book reviewer Self-Publishing Review called Mind Over Bullies “Suspenseful, shocking, and introspective,” and “an unflinching look at the problem of bullying within a page-turning mystery with an overall message of overcoming adversity.” Advance copy reviewers are already in expectation of the sequel and even a cinematic adaptation of the novel.
Still, even with much positive feedback in advance of the August release of Mind Over Bullies, Smith has kept the original goal in mind. “I recognize that the characters and situations in the book may not represent every bullying situation and that realistically the book won’t change the world, but I do sincerely hope that it sends a subtle message about there being life after bullying. If just one young person can grasp that point from the story, I will be proud. We’ll just have to see how the public continues to receive it,” Smith said.
