Chapter 1 Ketchup Boy
Chapter 2: Handsome Griffin
Chapter 3 Jokes
Chapter 4: A New Beginning
Chapter 5 Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?
Chapter 6: Harlenback
Chapter 7 Lunchtime
Chapter 8: Griffin's Charm That Captivated Mom
Chapter 9 A Pack of Gum
Chapter 10 New Friends
Chapter 11: Dad's Illness
Chapter 12 Griffin's Wrinkle
Chapter 13: Pretzel Game
Chapter 14: The Scare Game
Chapter 15: The Law of the Jungle
Chapter 16: Mary and Shantel
Chapter 17: Bullying: Rumors and Gossip
Chapter 18: The Fearful Silence
Chapter 19: Harlenbeck's Decision
Chapter 20: Griffin's Provocation
Chapter 21: An Unexpected Betrayal
Chapter 22: Membership Registration Ceremony
Chapter 23: Unsent Letters
Chapter 24: The Counselor's Call
Chapter 25: Mismatched Dolls
Chapter 26: The Lost Bicycle
Chapter 27 False Reports
Chapter 28 Mary's Confession
Chapter 29: The Decisive Threat
Chapter 30: The Return of the Bicycle
Chapter 31: Draw
Chapter 32 Escape
Chapter 33 Sneakers
Chapter 34: Victory Buzzer Butter

Author's Note
Translator's Note
Reading Guide (Kim Su-ran, Korean language teacher at Busan Middle School)

Are you a bystander or the next victim?
The 'bystander' in conflict between the perpetrator and the victim
A problematic work dealing with a moral dilemma

★Junior Library Guild (JLG) Recommended Books★
★New York, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, South Carolina
Recommended Reading for Middle School Social Studies Debate Classes★

Public opinion on school violence and bullying is in an uproar following the suicide of a middle school student in Daegu.
As if he had no idea the situation would become this serious.
Accordingly, the government and various organizations are coming up with various countermeasures every day, but criticism is growing that these measures are focused on punishing the offending students and schools, and thus cannot be a fundamental solution.


Frontline experts point out that, above all, school violence prevention education is urgently needed not only for perpetrators and victims, but also for bystanders.
School violence often occurs secretly during times when teachers are not always present, such as break time or lunch time, and victims or perpetrators rarely reveal the violence themselves. Therefore, it is important to educate the "silent majority" of students to stop being silent and indifferent.


"The Bystander" is a problematic work that deals with the moral dilemma of a "bystander" who is torn between the perpetrator and victim of bullying in school.
This novel, which contains a chilling warning that “bystanders could soon be the next victims,” was hailed as “a painful but essential read” and was named a Junior Library Guild (JLG) Book of the Year after its 2009 publication.
It is also widely read as a middle school social studies discussion material throughout the United States, including in New York, Florida, and Virginia.


Eric Hayes, a seventh-grader, moves with his family from Ohio to Long Island.
Like many children who move to a new place, Eric struggles to find his place and make friends.
Then a boy named Griffin approaches Eric.
Griffin seems to be popular with his friends because he is handsome and has a good personality.
But there's something fishy about Griffin.
He always seems to be at the center of bad things, and kids who get the wrong idea from Griffin always have to watch their backs.
Because you could be his target.
Griffin, a cunning manipulative person, uses a boy named Hallenback as a scapegoat to commit evil deeds.
As Eric is drawn into Griffin's dark world, he gradually begins to discover the truth about him.


At first, Eric sees Griffin as a friend and confides in him.
However, after Griffin comes to his house to play and steals his younger brother Rudy's $27 and a CD that his father gave him, Eric learns of Griffin's true identity and tries to help Hallenbeck, who is being bullied, telling him that he shouldn't just endure it like that.
But with the unexpected betrayal of Hallenbeck, who is desperate to somehow join Griffin's gang, Eric's position suddenly changes from bystander to victim.
So what choices does Eric have now?

There have been many books exposing the seriousness of school violence.
However, this novel depicts the protagonist's moral dilemma (should I just watch unrighteous actions?) as a bystander in such a conflict situation with an extremely realistic perspective.
It also dramatically reminds us that the most terrifying enemies of school violence and bullying are ‘silence’ and ‘inaction.’

In the author's note, the author speaks out loud:


There are many famous quotes from Martin Luther King Jr., but I wanted to introduce one of them in this book.
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
We can no longer sit in silence.
Let us all rise up and raise our voices.


Eric, who initially turned a blind eye to the situation, saying it was none of his business, begins to realize the true nature of the situation as he becomes a victim.
And as you gain courage and overcome difficulties on your own, you gradually begin to gain the support and participation of your friends.
The ending, where Griffin stops bothering him after he proves his existence by retrieving the stolen items, reminds us that a fundamental resolution to the situation is impossible unless the victims/bystanders break the wall of silence and stand together.


Whether in the US or Korea, the world's lifestyles are all similar.
The same goes for school violence/bullying.
However, this novel will provide even more food for thought for children and adults in Korea, where bullying of the weak is a daily occurrence and much more severe than in the United States.
As Martin Luther King said, a friend who ignores and remains silent is a more formidable enemy than an enemy. As we and our children begin to speak out, the evil power of school violence and bullying will slowly fade away.


★ Praise for this book

In fact, the problems of school violence and group bullying have existed for a long time, but they have never been as serious as they are today.
The main character, Eric, is a blue-eyed child, but in fact, he is like a self-portrait of our children.
Because most teenagers are struggling with similar concerns.

If they stop being bystanders and take proactive action, the problems of group bullying and school violence will naturally be resolved.
I believe this book will help ease our children's worries and provide a real solution to school violence.
Shin Soon-gap (Secretary General, Youth Violence Prevention Foundation)

Countless children will find themselves in this book.
It may be a bit painful, but it's a must-read.
_ Publisher's Weekly

The author focuses on children who ignore bullying or conform to it for their own safety.
For Eric, doing the right thing wasn't easy, and it wasn't something he wanted to do in the first place.
Nevertheless, the process by which Eric takes action and gains support from his friends is described logically and in detail.
It's a perfect topic for discussion in middle school reading classes.
_ Kirkus Review

It does a great job of expressing the complex and sometimes conflicting instinctive consciousness that arises in the process of finding friends and doing the right thing.
There is no right answer, but it clearly shows that bystanders are no better than the actual perpetrators.
Middle school life is also depicted realistically.
_ Booklist

This is a must-have book for middle school classrooms and school libraries.
_ VOYA

If the true role of literature is to help us understand the human condition, read and discuss this book.
There will definitely be something for the kids to learn.
Preventing and addressing bullying is a very real and important issue.
Educators will appreciate the author's efforts to address this issue.
_ Elizabeth A.
Dolan (middle school teacher)

The tension is palpable from the first chapter.
The story begins with Eric watching David Hallenbeck run across the basketball court in fear, and it keeps you reading until the very end.
Teens will be able to connect these situations and characters and discuss what is right and what is wrong.
_ Jennifer Steele (Librarian)

Bullying is an issue addressed in every school in our country.
This was the book my son wanted to read, and I was also very impressed by it.
I plan to recommend it to my son's class teacher and school.
_Callie Boots (Parent)

I read it for my fourteen year old daughter who is being bullied.
The whole process of why children are bullied and who does it is well explained.
Read and discuss it with your children.
_ K.
Connors (parent)