Garvey's Choice

Garvey, an overweight, bullied, non-athletic boy, has a simple desire: he wants his father to love and accept him for who he is, but his father only knows how to connect through sports. With the help of a long-time pal and his new friend Manny, who has albinism, Garvey learns that being different is not a bad thing and he discovers he does have something in common with his dad. Suitable for grades 5-9, the novel deals with bullying, self-acceptance, fitting in, individuality, and originality. Written in the ancient Japanese poetry form of tanka, each word and line is developed carefully to carry meaning and emotion, and provides opportunities for creative and critical thinking.