Gina Rae Mitchell

BFF: A Story About Bullycide by Lindsey G.P. Bell | $25 Giveaway, Excerpt, Review | Tragic, Yet So Important. Please Read!

A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour.

Book Details

BFF: A Story About Bullycide by Lindsey G. P. Bell
Published by Independent on May 1, 2020
Genres: Conflict Management, Educational, Family & Relationships / Friendship, Fiction, Middle-Grade, Self-Esteem, Teen, Young Adult
Format: eBook, Hardcover, Paperback
Pages: 194

Thirteen-year-old Abby and her father have just moved from a leaky old sailboat in California to an inherited mansion in South Carolina, and Abby does not fit in.

This is the story of the summer adventure she shares with her new best friend, Hollis, and two boys from their class.

But when school begins, Abby is shocked to learn that Hollis is a bullied outcast...who, pushed to the limit, takes her own life - a phenomenon known as bullycide. BFF attempts to portray the loss felt by those left behind.

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Source: Goddess Fish Promotions, Received from the author or publisher for review.

Content Warning: Suicide

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Excerpt from BFF: A Story About Bullycide

When we closed the front door, Dad yelled from above, “How was it? Was it better today?” before he could see that Hollis was with me. When he appeared, I could tell he was sorry he’d asked.

After an awkward silence, I said, “Nope. Lexie Cross is a—” and I used the same ugly word Stick had used to describe my grandmother.

Hollis burst out laughing.

Dad didn’t. But he did play board games with us. And once we’d discussed everything that had happened, he said, “People can and will say all the garbage about you they want…doesn’t make it true. Definitely doesn’t make it kind or necessary.”

I nodded.

Hollis looked like she was deep in thought until finally, she said, “It still hurts.”

Dad said, “Of course it does. But you can’t change anyone else. Your power in this situation comes from deciding how important to make Lexie’s opinion.”

Hollis smiled a little and moved her game piece.

Dad stared at the board until his eyes got huge. “You just won again, didn’t you?”

Hollis giggled and covered her mouth in embarrassment.

Dad slumped against the back of his chair and smiled. “Think of Lexie as your opponent in a game…and assume she’s going to continue saying these things. You’ve got to try to stay a step ahead of her. Don’t let her get away with it. Fight back!”

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Purchase Links for BFF: A Story About Bullycide

Amazon     Bookshop/IndieBound     Kobo     Walmart

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Book Trailer

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My thoughts on BFF: A Story About Bullycide

This book is tragic and was so very difficult for me to read. I have a daughter that was bullied in middle school. I also have a granddaughter about the same age as Abby and Hollis.

I am writing this review through my tears. Yes, it is hard to read but so very important. If this story gives a tiny spark of hope to someone that needs to read it, its purpose is well-served.

Lindsey Bell tells this story from the heart and it shows! The thoughts and feelings of thirteen-year-olds are spot-on. The writing is exceptional and the pace flows perfectly. From the slow, meandering feel of South Carolina in the summer, to the trials of middle school, this book draws you in and doesn’t let you go.

I’m not sure what else to say except… Read this book! If it’s too hard for you to read, at least watch the trailer. Buy a copy to donate to your local school, church,  or library. That’s what I intend to do. Even though I was given a digital copy to review, I want to pass this one on to anyone that might need to read these heartfelt words. I ordered several copies to give away.

I received a digital copy of BFF: A Story about Bullycide for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

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I love my Amazon Kindle Unlimited Subscription. So many books, so little time!

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Important Words from the Prologue!

Lastly, to the kids being bullied right now: Hang on. It gets better, I promise. There are billions of people in this world beyond the walls of your school… …you WILL find some who love, understand, and identify with you. But SPEAK UP. ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE FEELING HOPELESS. Tell your parents, tell your teachers, tell everyone UNTIL SOMEONE HEARS YOU. Even if you have to tell what feels like a ridiculous amount of people. YOU ARE INTERESTING AND WORTH IT.

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Purchase BFF: A Story About Bullycide online from a local book store.

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I found this quote on the author’s website and felt compelled to share it with my readers.

The Wonderful Impossible

 “So, they’ve been doing some experiments about how far a human eye can detect a candle. Turns out it’s over a mile. In the dark, in the night, you can see a candle over a mile…actually, almost 2 miles away. It would be faint, like the faintest star in the sky on a moonless night, but still visible. That seems remarkable, if not impossible. It also seems wonderful that darkness is that weak.

 When we think of the stories with the villains who can’t seem to die, the opinion-makers who can’t seem to stop talking… it’s hard to think that evil is weak. And that’s because the greatest strength of evil is separation. The objective of evil is to cause us to feel alone, separated, vulnerable. This is how people come to the end of their ropes, feeling like they have no one who cares or just being terribly, terribly frightened, and not reaching out.

 But light teaches us that darkness isn’t strong at all. One little candle can be seen over a mile. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. It can’t.”

– The Reverend Dr. Geoffrey Kohler

Please be a candle wherever one is needed.

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Giveaway!

Lindsey G. P. Bell will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit more stops on this Goddess Fish tour for extra chances to win!

Official Tour Page

Full Tour Schedule:

February 24: The Faerie Review
March 3: Fabulous and Brunette
March 10: Our Town Book Reviews
March 10: Gina Rae Mitchell
March 10: Readers Roost
March 17: Long and Short Reviews
March 17: Novels Alive

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