Robert Hansen

Reviewed by Grandma Bev for TeensReadToo.com

Griffith Gruffly has always relied on his own power to intimidate his fellow students by his dominating will, and he considers himself the best at what he does. He is, quite simply, a bully.

When he arrives at school one morning to discover that the substitute teacher is a frail looking old man, he anticipates bullying him, too. It doesn't work quite the way Griff expects, however.

The old man, "the whisperer," begins to tell the class a story, and inexplicably draws Griff into a very strange adventure. He finds himself in a dense fog. He has no idea where he is, and doesn't know how to get back home. He tries demanding that the Whisperer send him back, but the old man has disappeared.

When the fog lifts, Griff wanders through a strange land, and comes upon a village where he meets very different people and even a creature known as a Grizzbull, resembling a dragon, who turns out to be the worst bully of all. No one pays any attention to Griff, except the great, tormenting Grizzbull.

What happens when a bully gets bullied? Griff is about to find out.

This inspirational story with a strong moral base will appeal to 8 to 12-year-olds, with its rich fantasy and compelling characters.… (mere)