I think this is probably a great children's book, but I was reading for a committee in 2021 and had to choose which books to spend my time on. This was not for list but good for reader's advisory.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I read this book several weeks ago but forgot to log it in Goodreads, and when I read the description just now, I had to really think if I'd actually read the book.
I have not read Bystander, and I don't think you really need to have read it to get the full effect of this book. It's a great delve into social issues happening at most middle schools.

This companion book to Bystander is a pretty realistic picture of the problems that middle school students encounter today. Kids all over are suffering from the effects of substance abuse in their families and this book, while it won't solve it- will make them feel less alone.

This is my first (but by no means last) James Preller book. As a companion to an earlier work "Bystander," "Upstander" works well on its own. Mary O’Malley is losing all that is important to her. Her single-parent mom is struggling to make things work, Mary's brother is struggling with drug addiction, and friends at her school aren't being very nice. I was impressed by the author's ability to tackle tough topics with an honest, yet middle-school appropriate approach.

I am a huge fan of James Preller. His stories are always real and honest, though gritty and tough to read (in a good way). In Upstander, which is a companion novel to the previous released Bystander, we learn Mary's story. Mary is much like any other middle school student- she wants to be liked, get good grades, and stay away from conflicts of any kinds. It just so happens that life isn't always that simple. She lives with a drug addicted brother, there's always drama with kids at school, and there's seemingly nothing she can do to avoid any of it.

This book will have readers eager to see how Mary handles each conflict in her life and also, hopefully, cause them to question what they would do in similar situations. I think every kid will be able to identify or relate to something that Mary is going through in this book and that is one of the biggest reasons I think this book will be crazy popular with my students!

I strongly urge every teacher to talk this book up and every student to find it and read it!

Sixth-grader Mary O’Malley’s family is falling apart. Her older brother is struggling with drug addiction, and Mary’s mom, a single parent, is doing her best to hold things together, but it’s tough. To make matters worse, Mary isn’t sure she has friends she can really count on. Where can she turn for help? In this companion book to his earlier work, Bystander, the author tackles the difficult topics of substance abuse, bullying, and having the courage to stand up for what’s right. This novel would be an excellent addition to any middle-grade fiction collection.

A girl stuck in various situations, having to decide what to do. Mary is dealing with taking care of her 19 year old drug addicted brother and facing the decision of whether or not to bully one of her friends. Mary’s brother is getting worse and worse and Mary can’t help but hate to love him. In her friend group, two of the girls decide to bully one of the other girls and Mary is stuck with deciding to tell the other girl or just letting it happen and not doing anything. The story deals with bullying, dealing with a family member who has an addiction, and figuring out what is right and wrong. The story is a stand alone companion to the book Bystander and features the main character of that book (Eric) in this one and also the bully in that boo ( Griffin) in this one. Overall it was a quick read and it deals with a lot of complicated issues.

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

James Preller's follow-up to Bystander will be well-received in a middle school or elementary library. Our students read Bystander as a part of their 6th grade English and writing classes, and they connect with the content in a big way.

Upstander starts before the events of Bystander take place, and the focus is on the character of Mary. Mary is dealing with some upheaval at home-- an older brother addicted to drugs-- and she is trying to find her place in the 7th grade social scene. Mary is tangentially involved in the take-down of Chantel, and she is drawn to the new kid in school, Eric (main character of Bystander). Mary has to find a way to be herself, live up to the moral code in her heart, and also to find friends who are there for her.

While this is not the most exciting book in the library, it has a place for students who like to read about realistic social problems facing middle school aged kids. Like Bystander, it has a somber tone and a message that everyone in middle school is going through a hard time.