Alvin Bixby: Hulking, knuckles of steel, hideous breath, foul temper. Kids call him: Bubba. Nolan Byrd: Puny, power walker, math genius, can’t keep shoes tied. Kids call him: Nerd.Bubba has been the bane of Nolan’s existence for five long years. So when Mr. Green asks the class to become reporters, Nolan decides he’ll write an exposé—on Bubba. He doesn’t want to sign his name to it (that’d be suicidal), so Nolan creates a secret identity for himself—on the Internet. He launches Shredderman.com as a place where truth and justice prevail—and bullies get what’s coming to them.This hilariously triumphant story is for any kid who’s ever dreamed of unleashing their own inner superhero!(Summary from Amazon.com)well I read this book with my oldest son. And of course he liked it. I am pretty sure the fact is a easy read. And the fact it deals with some issues he might deal with in school. Is what pulled him in. Of course the little picture they had in it, would pull any kid in.Yet, while I encourage my children to pick out books on their own. I was disappointed in this book. Didn't give a very good idea of what the book was about on the back. And while I know bullying is a bigger issue, then most really realize. But why make the bully, be the one who gets bully. A child should stand up to a bully, I agree. Yet, the child shouldn't come the bully in return. I don't know. Maybe it's just cause I am a mom, and that's the reason I feel this way. The ending was a little out there to. When Nolan sees Alvin's father, pretty much verbally/mentally abusing Alvin and his mother. So this in it's self brought up another conversation with my son.I feel this is a book, talking about real life serious issues. Throw a few drawing/pictures in there, and call it a kids book. So of course my son wants to read the next one. But I am surely in no rush.
Fun story that has a good message, about a little kid who wants to stand up to his bullies and spread truth and justice through his small part of the world. The trouble is, he goes about it the wrong way, and even though it's only a story, kids who try this could get into serious trouble. He builds a website in the name of 'Shredderman' that publicises (with photos and videos) all the bad things the bully does to other people. 'Shredderman' is there with his camera waiting to catch 'Bubba' out: stealing, emptying the trash, even bending down with his back-side showing. That's really unhelpful.By the end a teacher helps him see how he could use his website to publish good things about people too, but he doesn't ever really have the danger of his site explained to him - or face realistic consequences. The students (and even teachers) just become braver in the face of the bully and things are all nice and rosy. Shredderman's identity never gets found out except by a nice teacher who won't dob him in, and there's no retaliation. Considering the style of the book is so didactic, it's far more dangerous than helpful. www.GoodReadingGuide.com
What do You think about Secret Identity (2006)?
This is a pretty fun little series. For children, it might be best, though, to use it as a guided activity. Otherwise, it might come across that you have to have a lot of money and be really intelligent to overcome bullies, which seems counter to the point. It's also sometimes a bit on the mean side. I haven't finished the fourth and last book, yet, but it seems also that one of the good points made by his teacher in this book hasn't been followed through, in that Mr. Green suggested he use the site to build people up. That would have been a good use of the site. Nonetheless, the stories are well written with likeable characters. Particularly, I like his parents' involvement, which is missing in so many young readers for "convention's" sake. Most kids really can't do everything on their own, so seeing this really smart kid needing his parents is very exemplary.
—Heidi
So I am reading a 5th grade book for the In2Books reading mentor program. Shredderman is supposed to teach kids about bullies I suppose. Bubba is the bully who picks on people and calls them names. Nolan is the Shredderman...He gets his name because his teacher likes to play guitar and on one of Nolan's paper's as a compliment he said "You Shred man"Anyways...they get the assignment to report on something so shredderman decides to do a report on Bubba and expose him to the world of what a bully he is. Shredderman takes his camera and hides it in his backpack and catches bubba in the act and starts a website called shredderman.com He prints out the website address and cuts it into small pieces and blows them all over the playground so everyone at school will be able to go check out the website. Ok Bubba is a bully and he shouldn't pick on kids right but what the heck shredderman is just as bad if not worse...making fun of someone via the internet!! Anyways I have to write to my student partner about this book and I dont know how to say anything positive about it.
—Lincoln
Shredderman: Secret Identity by Wendelin Van Draanen is a story every person who has been to school knows about. The bully seemingly runs the school until the other kids in class get fed up. Nolan Byrd, aka "The Nerd" finds a way to get back at all the name-calling, coercion, and grief that Bubba throws his way day after day. His teacher... peace-loving, ponytail-wearing, and inspiring Mr. Green excites Nolan with his clever writing/reporting project. He finds a way to expose Bubba's threatening,ugly,and mean tactics. Mr. Green catches onto Nolan's clever expose and becomes his secret side-kick. A book full of humor when the situation is not in any way funny and gives the underdog a chance to shine.
—Jackie
