In Bullyville, Bart deals with profound change in every area of his life, much of which can be traced back to the terrorist attacks on September 11. On a personal level, he lost his dad that day, and more broadly, American society was changed by it, too. On top of all this, Bart's day-to-day life gets way worse when he changes schools and becomes the target of a nasty bully.
Much of the novel is about Bart coming to terms with these changes. Eventually he accepts the fact that these external shifts have transformed who he is as a person. This doesn't mean he thinks he's changed for the better, though. Bart doesn't have any grand realizations or heroic moments—nope, instead he gets kicked out of school. Finally, a change that Bart can get behind.
Questions About Change
- In what ways do you think Bart's time at Baileywell changes him?
- Do you think that Bullyville rejects the idea that change is a normal part of life? Why or why not?
- Which major character in Bullyville seems to change the least over the course of the novel? Explain your answer.
Chew on This
In Bullyville, change is portrayed as a negative force.
Though she ultimately dies, Bart's friendship with Nola changes him for the better.