Lunch Every Day

Instead of telling this story about bullying from a victim’s point of view, Otoshi (Draw the Line) relays it in the voice of a bully. In the early pages, readers watch the narrator identify and depersonalize the victim (“Skinny neck... slumping... Is there a face behind all that hair?”), then grab the boy’s lunch. Why? The figure can’t face queuing for a free meal: “No way am I standing in that line.” The lunch thefts continue for weeks, as the child reveals that things can be tough at home (“Bet his home is better than mine too”), then is sent to the principal’s office on one occasion. Soon, every classmate is invited to a party at the victim’s house—including the bully, who retreats to the living room, where photographs reveal that the victim’s father has died. When he meets the birthday boy’s mother, she makes a startling, generous offer. Rendering each child in a bright washed hue and employing crayon textures, Otoshi bases her tale on the true story of educator and anti-bullying advocate Jim Perez, whose personal story follows this one and offers a springboard into conversations about bullying and community care. Age 4–10. (Sept.)