The Benefits of a Bully
A child narrates a tale of bullying, video games, and supernatural disappearances.
The narrative begins in a school setting where Sedale and Sterling face intimidation from Dexter. The conflict moves to a video game tournament as a battleground for their confrontation. This mundane competition is interrupted by the arrival of strangers and the mysterious disappearance of children. An entity called the Moja, referred to as The closet walker, is responsible for these vanishings. Kendrick uses this premise to explore how young people handle fear and aggression. The story does not rely on complex adult perspectives but stays within the limited understanding of its eleven-year-old protagonist. The inclusion of moral lessons provides a framework for the characters' actions. The plot combines elements of youth fiction with horror tropes, creating a unique hybrid genre experience that appeals to readers interested in both social dynamics and supernatural mystery.
Published in 2016 by iUniverse, this work sits within the tradition of American horror fiction aimed at younger audiences. It blends contemporary school life with gothic elements like unseen forces and closet monsters. The text reflects early twenty-first-century concerns about bullying and digital culture through the lens of supernatural adventure.
📝 Description: The Benefits of a Bully
💎 Our verdict on The Benefits of a Bully
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
Readers interested in the intersection of juvenile social struggles and supernatural horror will find this title compelling. It appeals to those who enjoy narratives that use genre elements to explore ethical conduct, pride, and manners through the limited but grounded perspective of an eleven-year-old protagonist. The book offers a unique hybrid experience for audiences seeking moral frameworks within frightening scenarios, particularly regarding how young people process aggression and fear. Those fascinated by the cultural shift where video games became battlegrounds for real-world conflicts may also appreciate this specific focus on digital versus physical intimidation.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
Kendrick successfully constructs a narrative that bridges youth fiction and horror by anchoring supernatural events in the relatable anxieties of schoolyard bullying. The use of an eleven-year-old narrator provides a distinct voice, occasionally mimicking adult speech to highlight the child's attempt to comprehend complex threats like the Moja. By integrating moral lessons on ethics and pride directly into the plot, the story avoids becoming purely sensationalist, instead offering a structured exploration of character development. While the premise relies on familiar tropes of disappearances and closet-dwelling entities, the specific focus on video game tournaments as a site of confrontation gives it a unique contemporary edge suitable for readers who appreciate genre-blending tales with clear ethical underpinnings.
📖 Read on the blog
✍️ More books by this author L a Kendrick
🏛 Books from this publisher iUniverse
You might also like
See more →
Have a question about this item?
Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.
