It's never easy to be the new kid. But in Bullyville, Bart's not just the new kid at Baileywell, he's the Miracle Boy—the son who saved his mother from dying in the World Trade Center on September 11. While everyone knows a version of the story from the newspapers, no one has any real insight into what Bart is going through. He's alone with his feelings of sadness, anger, and guilt, and to make matters worse, he's also friendless. This is partly because he's the new kid, but partly because he's keeping a secret: His dad left his family six months before he died. The only person who knows is his mom, and she won't really talk about it, so Bart's left to stew on all this alone.
Well, until he meets Nola.
Questions About Isolation
- Why do you think Bart's mom doesn't tell anyone that, prior to Bart's father's death, he left the family? Give evidence from the text to support your answer.
- Why does Bart choose to confide in Nola, of all people? Be specific.
- Which contributes more to Bart's sense of isolation—his secret about his father, or his lack of friends at school? Explain your answer and back it up with evidence from the book.
Chew on This
Bart could have better through his grief better he had never gone to Baileywell.
The plot of Bullyville shows that talking about your problems is key to working through them.