Middle Grade book review~ "Karmack" by J.C. Whyte

Karmack by J.C. Whyte
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Source: Received to Review
Genre: Middle Grade ~ Anti-Bullying

Book Description: Everyone knows Curtis "Sully" Sullenburg is the toughest kid at Higgins Elementary. For years, he and his gang have tormented students and teachers alike with their pranks. And for the most part, they’ve gotten away with it. But all that changes when a strange little creature appears on the scene. From that point on, pranks start coming back like boomerangs, smacking Sully's gang right in their fifth grade butts! 

Sully is the only one who can see this creature, which he names Karmack. The little guy claims to be a nature spirit whose job is to balance all the bad karma the boys have amassed over the years. Because if Karmack fails, these boys will undoubtedly suffer "dreadful, awful doom". Just like that kid who shot at crows with his BB gun – one day he crashed his bike into a pigeon coop and emerged as the Abominable Snowman of bird poop! Yeah, that kind of doom.

Sully soon realizes he must save not only himself but his friends from Karmack's doom, even though they have no idea why they keep getting boomeranged!

My thoughts: Sully is in 5th grade and proud to have earned his reputation as a tough guy and the leader of a group of bullies. He figures that next year, he will be in middle school and at the bottom of the tough guy ladder, so he needs to make the most of it while he can.

As he pulls his "pranks" he begins to notice a short little guy with a big nose. No one else can see the creature, so he must hunt him down and find out what is going on. He notices that each time he bullies someone, the little guy gives him back what he gives in a larger measure.

He names the creature Karmack. Karmack was created by the universe to restore balance when it is out of whack. In Sully and his friends case, they have done so many negative things, that if Karmack doesn't help them restore balance, nature will. Nature will be tougher on them than Karmack will.

Sully begins to see the error of his ways and realize that when he does good things, he is rewarded. It is a steep learning curve for him, and it is fun to see the mischief he and his friends cause that is returned to them.

This is a great anti-bullying book. I highly recommend it. It is fun to read and has a wonderful message.

E-Book Purchase Links:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

About J.C. Whyte:  Author J.C. Whyte says she discovered a love for writing while in elementary school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Back then of course, she wrote only children’s stories. But as a grownup, she had to face the harsh reality that such writing seldom pays the bills. So she got her degrees in Journalism and Communications, and turned to Public Relations, where for many years she focused her creative energies in feature writing.   

Then after marriage, kids, several more degrees and occupations (including stints as a travel agent and paralegal), J.C. entered law school. While there, she became a columnist for the student newsletter and one of her humorous articles was even published in The National Jurist.

After graduating and passing the Bar, J.C. realized within a few years that creative writing was still what made her heart sing. So now, as a grandma, she’s returned to writing for children. And with the publication of Karmack, J.C. has truly come full circle, back to where her writing journey began. 

J.C. has visited this blog with an excerpt. Here is the link to check it out! http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/2013/07/read-excerpt-from-karmack-by-jc-whyte.html