BFF: A Story About Bullycide by Lindsey G. P. Bell - Book Tour - Book Trailer - Book Review - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hi, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Lindsey G. P. Bell and her new book, “BFF: A Story About Bullycide,” here on FAB!!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Lindsey and to increase your chances of winning!!

Thanks for stopping by!!  Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!

BFF: A Story About Bullycide

by Lindsey G. P. Bell

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GENRE: Young Adult

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BLURB:

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 adventures she shares with new best friend, Hollis, and two boys from their class rescuing an injured heron. 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.

WARNING!!: This book deals with suicide, which may be triggering for some readers.

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BOOK TRAILER:

Check out the book trailer for Lindsey’s new book, “BFF: A Story About Bullycide,” below:

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EXCERPT TWO:

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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MY BOOK REVIEW:

This book is an incredible, inspiring, strong emotional, and with all the feelings kind of read!!

I absolutely love this book’s messages and the overall story line!!  I love that the author is shinning a bright light on bullying and showing there should be zero tolerance – no exception.

If you are a regular follower on my book reviews, you won’t find it surprising that I chose to read, review, and host this book tour.  I have always had strong feelings about this topic and truly appreciate authors like Lindsay G. P. Bell helping lead the charge to create safe places for all children and not permit these horrendous bullying acts to continue to occur.

I was completely swept up in this story as I read and finished this book in just a mere few hours.  I couldn’t look away even as tears dripped down my face reading the last few chapters.  Even though I knew ahead of time, as it’s mentioned in the book blurb, tragedy was imminent and was quickly approaching as I was nearing the end of the story.  And regardless of fair warning, the sadness, heartbreak, and sorrow came flooding across the pages as I reached the inevitable conclusion.

This book starts out with Abby, a sweet, young 13-year-old girl, and her father getting settled into their new home as they just relocated to South Carolina from California.  While unloading boxes they observe a girl, Hollis, getting pulled and well, dragged away by a big stray dog she was trying to capture and take home.  Abby jumps in to help, and the two girls instantly become friends.  A very sweet meet cute indeed!

The first half of this book is devoted to the new friendship between Abby and Hollis and their fun, exciting, and ever so entertaining adventures that take place over the summer.  The second half of the book focuses on the beginning of the school year, adjusting to a new school, and the bullying events that lead up to and ultimately cause one of the girls to commit suicide – known more technically as bullycide.

While at first I was surprised that the suicide occurs at the very end of the book, and nothing is mentioned or hinted to that final outcome.  I assumed this book would use “look back,” writing as it reflected on the bullying events and how it led the character to choose bullycide.  This is not the case, but I must admit I think I enjoyed this writing style set up more as it gave the reader a better chance to get to know Hollis.  It’s hard to not to totally fall in love with this sweet, smart, charming, polite, adorable, kindhearted, considerate, animal lover, who just truly seems like a girl you’d wish you were friends with.  At least the big animal lover in me couldn’t help but awe and smile at the kind and loving help and support she was providing local wildlife.  Not to mention all the people she also went out of her way to assist and take care of.  Hollis had a big heart filled with so much love wanting to help others.  She was the type of person who actually made a difference every day and made the world a better place.  Her selflessness was inspiring, encouraging, and touching!!  When the school year begins, and it’s revealed that Hollis is the main target of bullying I just wanted to hug Hollis and tell her it’s going to be okay.  It was hard not to feel the pain of every horrendous bullying act against Hollis and Abby.  The viciousness of the three mean girls, Lexie, Ava, and Leah were crude, cruel, and obscene.  These girls attacked Hollis and Abby physically, mentally, and emotionally.  And not surprisingly they receive very little discipline for their actions, even when it becomes clear that their behavior directly led to their victim's bullycide.

The bullying behavior mentioned in this book includes religious, cultural, racial, socioeconomic, and disability-related slurs and insults.

Unfortunately, this book is written thirty plus years ago, when bullying was still considered just a part of growing up.  Girls will be girls; boys will be boys’ kind of thing.  And in a small town like fictional Kissimah, talk is cheap, and you can’t escape the gossip or unfounded rumors.

This book tells a beautiful, but tragic story about two best friends being bullied which ultimately leads to one of the girl’s seeing no way out and choosing bullycide as her only way to escape the torment.   No child should ever experience bullying, harassment, or discrimination, especially at school – a place where they should feel safe, focusing on higher education, making friends, developing social skills, and striving to reach their highest potential.

This book has fantastic characters, that are so well written, realistic, and relatable.  Many times, I felt like I could have been reading about me and my friends when we were kids, running around our small town going on exciting, silly adventures.

This book is also filled with many enjoyable LOL moments!!  I loved the Dolly Parton references, especially Abby’s dad’s yard sale t-shirt, or really all of his amusing outfits lol!!

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and would absolutely recommend it!!  I think all young adult readers will like this book too!!  So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading – you won’t be disappointed!!

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations**

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AUTHOR BIO:

Lindsey G. P. Bell wrote BFF: A Story About Bullycide after seeing numerous articles online about kids aged 9 - 14 who’d taken their lives in the face of bullying. Bell was also bullied in elementary school and wanted to pen the book she would have benefitted from. BFF: A Story About Bullycide is her thirteenth book but the first one she’s published.

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CONNECT WITH LINDSEY:

Website:

https://www.lindseygpbell.com

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20712382.Lindsey_G_P_Bell

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55378680-bff

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

BFF: A Story About Bullycide is available through wholesaler IngramSpark…so, should be findable through most large and small book sellers, including:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/33KuRLH

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/33HkDvg

Amazon US Hardcover:

https://amzn.to/33HkPdY

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/BFF-Story-Bullycide-Lindsey-Bell-ebook/dp/B08DF717RP

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/BFF-Bullycide-Lindsey-G-Bell/dp/1733874801

Amazon CA Hardcover:

https://www.amazon.ca/Bff-Story-Bullycide-Lindsey-Bell/dp/173387481X

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bff-lindsey-g-p-bell/1137309506?ean=9781733874823

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bff-lindsey-g-p-bell/1137309506?ean=9781733874809

Barnes and Noble Hardcover:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bff-lindsey-g-p-bell/1137309506?ean=9781733874816

Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Bff-Lindsey-G-P-Bell/9781733874809

Book Depository Hardcover:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Bff-Lindsey-G-P-Bell/9781733874816

Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Bff/Lindsey-G-P-Bell/9781733874809

Books-A-Million Hardcover:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Bff/Lindsey-G-P-Bell/9781733874816

Bookshop Paperback:

https://bookshop.org/books/bff-a-story-about-bullycide/9781733874809

Bookshop Hardcover:

https://bookshop.org/books/bff-a-story-about-bullycide/9781733874816

Kobo US eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/bff-5

Kobo CA eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/bff-5

Walmart Paperback:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bff-A-Story-About-Bullycide-Paperback-9781733874809/968397596

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Lindsey will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.