Runt by Nora Raleigh Baskin

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Elizabeth Moon, helps her mom run a dog kennel out of their house. She's seen dogs snarl, claw, & fight. However, when she enters middle school, she didn't expect it to be the same. Runt, by Nora Raleigh Baskin, is about a handful of 6th graders struggling their way through their first year at middle school.

     Elizabeth, Maggie, Freida, Matthew, Ethan, Stewart, Zoe, Larissa, & Allison's life at Preston Middle School. Runt shows how hard Middle School can be, and the difference between the compassionate and the bullies, the popular and unpopular. While some Middle Schoolers struggle, the other cruise along. These kids bully, help out, exclude and include, depending on who they are. Past friendships gone, and new ones forming make life at Preston Middle School hard to manage. Runt is written from most of their perspectives, and is very realistic about how Middle School can be.

     Personally, I didn't like Runt. However, Nora Baskin manages to tell what these Middle Schoolers lives are like, all while changing perspectives throughout the story. I think Nora Baskin did a great job writing a story about life in a new world. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who likes realistic fiction or stories of Middle School kids (like Wonder). I believe Runt is a great accomplishment for Nora Baskin.

Book Review by Joshua Tu