The Good, the Bad, and the Backstory - Melissa (Melissa Minery) Minery - Bog

Seventh-graders Ashley, Melanie, Tara, Ryan and Andrew all go to the same school. Though you can tell by looking at each of them that they are each different people, there's so much more to each student than others know. This unique story presents a timeline of events from sunup to sundown, in a day in the life of these five young people. See how each character wakes up for the day. Experience what they're home life is like. See the same event happen to each at school, and how it is felt, lived, experienced differently. When a hurtful comment is made on the bus, it starts a snowball rolling that affects all three girls in different ways. And when Ryan's day starts out rough, see its impact on Andrew and others. Over the course of the story, the reader, and characters, soon realize that there are so many more layers to each young person than one initially sees. Complex feelings for some. Complex home lives for others. The book addresses important concepts, such as making friends, building relationships, showing empathy for others, building resiliency and coping mechanisms, and making and accepting apologies. By the story's end, the reader has an opportunity to walk in each character's shoes. The author helps the reader better understand how one simple event can impact so many in different ways. This story demonstrates that there are many sides to each story.