I know what you think. You think I’m fixable, don’t you? You want to fix the bad guy. You don’t know the half of it. Tod Munn is a bully. He’s tough, but times are even tougher. The wimps have stopped coughing up their lunch money. The administration is cracking down. Then to make things worse, Tod and his friends get busted doing something bad. Something really bad. Lucky Tod must spend his daily detention in a hot, empty room with Mrs. Woodrow, a no-nonsense guidance counselor. He doesn’t know why he’s there, but she does. Tod’s punishment: to scrawl his story in a beat-up notebook. He can be painfully funny and he can be brutally honest. But can Mrs. Woodrow help Tod stop playing the bad guy before he actually turns into one . . . for real?
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"That cover has to grab you!! Interesting spin....this book is written as a journal from a school bully to his guidance counselor - he is in detention everyday for a month. Tod starts the journal in kind of a "grumbling mood", but soon realizes that putting his thoughts down on paper is very rewarding to him personally. Don't pick up this book expecting your "normal" school bully....Tod is a great student, honor roll, attendance is good, does his homework and participates in class. Tod explains things in his journal that he is unable to share with anyone. Good story....I bet you have a "Tod" in your school."
— Tina (4 out of 5 stars)
" The book Scrawl by Mark Shulman was a pretty good book. When I got assigned to read 30 minutes a night by not only my teacher but my parents as well I found my self reading more because I couldn't put the book down. It is an excellent plot that I could connect to. He described a school scene for a high school, but still seemed like my school. Kids thinking they are more important than others, other kids having odd hobbies or personalities. It was slow for a while but somehow the book stayed interesting the whole time. Maybe because I could connect so well. This book was even funny sometimes. The main character Todd always gave his opinions on everything, and sometimes they were pretty funny. Again this is a great book and I would recommend it for people who like realistic fiction that has one more dose of actual fiction. "
— Fitz, 2/18/2014" I was interested in this book because it is told from the point of view of the bully. Well-done. Some real insight. I recommend it. "
— Kenn, 12/20/2013" LOVED it! A young bully is forced to stay in detention after school and write in a journal every day about his life. "
— Ginny, 12/18/2013" Scrawl was good...was is my favorite? Definitely not. It was a little slow to get to the point, and once it got there it became semi-addicting. I wish it would have had more to it. "
— Emily, 12/14/2013" Interesting book told from the view of the Bully. "
— Julie, 11/27/2013" I only read A chapter or two, before it really didn't interest me and I put it back. But I don't know much about this book. "
— Lexie, 11/18/2013" Great YA book about bullying, poverty and trying to find your place. "
— Stacy, 11/14/2013" I am currently reading this book and I think it is boring. It's written in the style of a journal and I'm not very fond of those. I hate this book but I'm almost done with it. I'm on page 201 "
— Sophia, 11/11/2013" Great book. You really felt like you knew Tod. :) "
— Marina, 6/6/2013" the bully's side of the story... "
— Vickie, 4/14/2013" My new fave. Brilliant writing and very funny and true. "
— Freebird, 4/13/2013" Scrawl is an incredibly smart book for a YA. It's got a real, original voice at its core and a great twist at the end... I cannot recommend this book enough. It's great for teens, but parents will want to read it too! "
— Jonathan, 2/6/2013" A bully reveals himself through daily journal entries. Interesting and perceptive. "
— Edward, 11/27/2012" Oh, wow. This book was awesome! I loved it so much!!! "
— Chantry, 9/6/2012" A good kids book and also a reminder that things aren't always as they seem. You never know what someone else's story is. "
— Karen, 8/23/2012" Completely loving it right now! "
— Jill, 5/3/2012" I love this book. I know boys JUST like Tod. He is so real. So is the voice. Did I mention I love this book? "
— Adri, 2/15/2012" great book so far. it takes you inside the mind of a bully. it is october:) "
— Amber, 12/31/2011" This was a FANTASTIC book!!!!!!!! So smart. And funny. And true. "
— The, 11/21/2011" And yet another book that I would normally never pick up to read for myself. I had a bit of trouble getting into it at the beginning but I just fell in love with the protagonist who really does have a lot against him even though he is a really nice guy underneath. "
— Elsa, 10/25/2011" I really liked this book. It's a YA (Young Adult)book but I think a decent read for regular adults too. <br/> <br/>I enjoyed the exchange between Tod and his English teacher. The story paints a good picture of his life in a poor area and his struggles of being a bully and his conscience. "
— Ceanne, 10/22/2011" I think this is a must-read for all teachers and administrators of schools, as well as students in grades 4 or above. It makes you wonder about those students who don't fit into what we want them to fit into. "
— Leslie, 10/8/2011" My new fave. Brilliant writing and very funny and true. "
— Freebird, 9/12/2011" A wonderful YA book from the point of the bully. We assume we know why bullies inflict the pain/humiliation, etc on others. Through a written journal we get into the head of bully Tod. I will recommend this to my students. "
— Kathleen, 9/5/2011" This book was not at all what I was expecting from it. Not a bad book and I loved the last entry. "
— Brandee, 9/4/2011" Awesome! I loved the ending. This book was full of surprises and reading it was like putting a puzzle together. It really made me think. Five hundred thumbs up! "
— Ms., 8/31/2011" I wanted and expected more realistic drama! Instead I was bored. Diary format is usually pretty interesting but I felt that it just didn't work for this book. This is one I'll probably forget about since so many more titles similar to this are grittier and more memorable.<br/> "
— Zenia, 8/22/2011" KBA nominee. Excellent read. Higher level understanding needed--good tidy ending. Will appeal to boys. "
— Kimberly, 8/13/2011" I enjoyed the way it was written as a journal. I think the guidance counselor was very forward thinking in the punishment doleful out. it truly shows that we need to get to know our students and not just our impressions of them. "
— Rhonda, 8/3/2011" I read alot about this book and now I know why people liked it so much. it is not like any other teen book I have read. "
— Giulia, 7/22/2011" Interesting. I like Tod's character quite a bit. "
— Sandy, 9/16/2010" SCRAWL is a fabulous, riveting read. Tod is probably the most interesting bad boy I've ever met in YA fiction, and Mark Shulman is certainly one of the best new voices. "
— Nancy, 3/26/2010Mark Shulman is an award-winning children’s author who has written more than one hundred books throughout his career. His debut novel, Scrawl, was included in the list of Best Fiction for Young Adults by the American Library Association. He lives in New York City.
Mark Deakins is an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator and actor whose television appearances include Head Case, Star Trek: Voyager, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. His film credits include Intervention, Star Trek: Insurrection, and The Devil’s Advocate. He wrote, directed, and produced the short film The Smith Interviews.
Kimberly Farr is an actress and winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards for narration. She has appeared on Broadway and at the New York Shakespeare Festival, the Roundabout Theatre, Playwright’s Horizons, and the American Place. She created the role of “Eve” in Arthur Miller’s first and only musical, Up from Paradise, which was directed by the author. She appeared with Vanessa Redgrave in the Broadway production of The Lady from the Sea and has acted in regional theaters across the country, including a performance in the original production of The 1940’s Radio Hour at Washington, DC’s Arena Stage.