Small Fry by Stephenie Wilson Peterson – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

Small Fry by Stephenie Wilson Peterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Silas Fitzpatrick is used to being small for his age because of a Growth Hormone Disorder but that does not prepare him for what happens to him on his first day of sixth grade. When he walks into class the teacher mistakes him for a lost elementary school student because of his small size. When Silas tries to explain to her that he is eleven years old she still does not believe him and sends him to the Principal’s Office. The Principal also does not believe him so the first day of middle school starts off bad.

Silas does not let the mishaps surrounding his small size on the first day of middle school stop him from making friends. He joins band class where he meets a group of other students who also face challenges because they are different. These differences have resulted in the school bully, Chad, calling them names and picking on them. Although Chad still picks on the others his bullying seems to be focused solely on Silas. He follows Silas around calling him names, throws spitballs at him, and pushes him around every chance he gets.

When Silas discovers that Chad is running for sixth grade class president he decides to run as well. Along with his friends they decide to start a misfit revolution as their way of standing up to the school bully. However, Chad wants to win and will do so at any cost. Silas must be brave enough to stand up to his bully and overcome his fear of what others think of him because of his small size. As he struggles through the challenges he faces at middle school he finds small comfort in emails he sends to his grandfather. The two have always been close and his grandfather is good at keeping the secrets Silas tells him. Sadly, his grandfather is starting to lose his memory and does not always remember who Silas is.

Throughout the book Silas messages his grandfather and tells him how school is going and the struggles he is facing, not just with the school bully but with one of the teachers as well. His English teacher hates him and does not treat him well because she believes his small size is a barrier. As Silas confides in his grandfather through messages, he also struggles with how his grandfather is slowing losing his memory because of Alzheimer’s. My heart broke for Silas as he had to come to terms with his grandfather not always remembering who he was.

This was a beautifully written story as told from the point of view of an eleven-year-old boy about how he navigates through the challenges he faces because he is small for his age. It is a heartfelt story geared towards middle school children and discusses the sensitive topic of being bullied for being different. Silas might be small, but he is mighty as he does not allow the bully to get the best of him. He perseveres and overcomes anything thrown at him, no matter how difficult it may be. No matter how badly he was treated he still chose to stand up for others. Silas is a true inspiration with a pure heart and courageous nature.

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