On the Shelf: The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen

THE RELUCTANT JOURNAL OF HENRY K. LARSEN | SUSIN NIELSEN | TUNDRA BOOKS | 2012

A middle grade novel about the ultimate cost of bullying with a cast of fabulous characters, dark humour, and a lovable, difficult protagonist struggling to come to terms with the horrible crime his brother has committed.

I was lucky enough to receive a signed copy of The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen in a Twitter giveaway right before Susan Nielsen won the Governor General's Literary Award for this book. The story looks at bullying from multiple perspectives, showing how it impacts all the people involved (including a young boy's decision to only communicate in a robot voice). The book is about living, pushing on regardless of how terrible of a situation life may throw in your direction. 

Henry is completely likeable, even if at times incredibly annoying. The journal is his way of coping with reality and writing down his thoughts and it does seem to help (even if he thinks it is pointless). Readers of every age can learn a lot from Henry. His problems are vast and at a level most adults don't ever need to comprehend, but they are extremely real for today's youth.

While I appreciated the psychological backstory and the way Nielsen's novel deals with the subject of bullying, I had a difficult time connecting to the other elements of the story. Henry's interest in wrestling isn't anything that I personally enjoy and the humour in the book definitely isn't my thing. Then again, I'm also not a pre-teen boy.

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"INTRIGUING FACT: The word 'psychology' comes from the Greek word 'psyche.' It means the study of the mind.

I don't want anyone to study my mind. That's just creepy. But Dad says I no longer have a choice.

Cecil doesn't look like a psychologist. For one thing, his name is Cecil. On his door at the Coastal Health Center, a plastic plaque says DR. LEVINE, but when I called him that at our first session, he said, 'Please, call me Cecil.' When I got home, I looked up his name, and do you know what it means? Dim-sighted or blind.

Not a good sign."