Product Description

A phenomenal story of teen courage

After his parents lose everything - their jobs in the factory, their beautiful country home with the white picket fence, and their dreams, Bobby's family is forced to leave all their family and friends behind. They move into the city with high hopes of finding jobs and starting over.

But for Bobby, the struggle is about acceptance, not only from his new friends, but of his new circumstances. He must reach inside himself to find the inner strength necessary to make new friends, live in poverty and stand up to the big, red-haired bully.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #445150 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-01
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Review
This belongs in EVERY bully-proofing program in the United States!!! It is in ours!!! --Administrator Santa Barbara Schools.

Review
Empower your kids to stand up for what is right. It is the right thing to do. This book helps open that discussion and helps show them how they can make a difference. --Capri

About the Author
J. Richard Knapp was born in the Pacific Northwest in a small rural community beside the banks of the great Snake River in the fall of 1949. It was one of those communities where everyone knew each other, and often worked side by side picking fruit to be sent by train to New York City, Chicago, or even Boston. Everyone was either picking fruit or packaging it to be sent by train somewhere in America. The stories told by Knapp often reflect his experiences as a young boy in this small community exploring the banks of the large river and his community with his closest friends. His adventurous nature and creative mind often led to great tales of the river and fantasies enjoyed by all.

In the early 1960's the United States allowed fruit from Asia to be sold in America for the first time. The small community on the banks of the Snake River could not compete in this new world market. As the months passed by, they could not find any place to sell their fruit. Eventually, apples were left unpicked or rotting on the ground. Workers began to lose their jobs. Small businesses were forced to close their doors forever. Families had to sell everything they owned and move away in hopes of finding work elsewhere. The trains stopped coming. Knapp's parents soon found themselves without jobs and no future. They sold everything they owned and moved to a nearby city in hopes of starting over again. The months and years ahead were hard, as the family struggled in deep poverty just to survive. Knapp's book, Bobby's Story, is based upon this time in his life.

J. Richard Knapp graduated from high school in 1967. His accomplishments as an athlete earned him a scholarship to college, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree, Master of Arts Degree, and a pre-doctorate. He has spent the past thirty two years as a writer, elementary teacher, administrator, graduate school instructor, and recognized leader in education. Knapp has served as a member of the International Symposium on Education with leaders from Great Britain, Japan, Canada, China, Germany, Australia, and the United States of America. Additionally, he has lobbied for schools and youth both in Congress and in his home state of Oregon for over a decade.

J. Richard Knapp lives with his wife of thirty two years in a small community along the banks of the beautiful Umpqua River in western Oregon. He continues to share his stories with children everywhere, and tells them about his adventures along the banks of the great Snake River.

Customer Reviews

Bobby's Story Empowers Students
Bobby's Story immediately engages the reader with characters who come alive and compel one to learn more about them. On his first day at a new school Bobby is dressed poorly and is the object of obvious derision by other students and Bobby soon becomes a victim of a notorious school bully. Bobby's adjustment to his new school might have continued to be difficult, but Bobby is smart and strong in character. He links up with other students who are tired of the bullying and with Bobby's leadership a plan to abolish all bullying in their school emerges.
The actions of Bobby and his friends are developed in a thoughtful, creative way that empowers students to stand up for what is right. With passivity there is an assumption that others accept or condone the bullying behavior. They found they were not aloe in longing for justice and respect in their school. They draw on their study of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution as a foundation for their principles of a safe, bully-free school experience. With the realization that they have the potential to stop bullying by joining together. Bobby's Story has a powerful, positive message for students and an emotional impact on the reader.

Great teaching tool!
Great for the classroom!
As I read this story to my 4th grade students, they were completely engaged. This book is easy to read aloud, and my students hated it when we had to stop! As a teacher, I love the message it shares: bullying is NOT ok! This story really helps students understand what bullying does to another person.

Fantastic - every teen aged boy needs to read this!!!
Bobby is every-boy USA.

This should be used in bully-proofing programs everywhere!