A Push and a Shove

A Push and a Shove follows Benjamin Reilly, a high school English teacher in Staten Island who becomes entangled in the lives of two students involved in a schoolyard fight. The incident forces Ben to confront his own past as a bullying victim and sets him on an unexpected path. The novel alternates between Ben's present-day experiences as a teacher and his memories of being terrorized by a bully during his teenage years. His obsession with these parallel situations leads him to cross professional boundaries and make increasingly questionable choices. This Lambda Literary Award-winning debut combines elements of psychological thriller with an exploration of identity, power, and sexuality. The story examines how childhood trauma shapes adult behavior and questions the true nature of justice and revenge.

This novel about bullying and its long-term effects resonates with readers who faced similar experiences. Most reviews describe intense emotional reactions to the complex relationship between the protagonist and his former bully. Readers highlighted: - Nuanced exploration of revenge vs. redemption - Realistic portrayal of lasting trauma from bullying - Well-developed character psychology - Unpredictable plot developments Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in middle sections - Some found the ending unsatisfying - A few readers felt uncomfortable with how certain violent scenes were handled Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (62 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (28 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (14 ratings) One Amazon reviewer noted: "The author captures the complexity of being both victim and perpetrator." A Goodreads reviewer wrote: "The story made me confront my own experiences with bullying in ways I wasn't expecting."

The Secret History by Donna Tartt A dark academia narrative following a college professor and students whose complex power dynamics lead to violence and moral compromise.

Notes on a Scandal by Zoë Heller Chronicles a teacher's inappropriate involvement in a student's life through the lens of obsession and past trauma.

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver Explores the aftermath of school violence while examining how past experiences shape present reactions to crisis.

The History Boys by Alan Bennett Depicts the relationships between teachers and students in ways that blur professional boundaries and question educational ethics.

Project X by Jim Shepard Examines school violence and bullying through interconnected perspectives of students and teachers while exploring cycles of victimization.

🏆 The novel won the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Debut Fiction in 2008, joining the ranks of celebrated LGBTQ+ literary voices. 📚 Staten Island, where the story is set, has one of the lowest bullying rates in New York City's public schools, despite the novel's intense focus on school bullying. 🎭 The protagonist's role as an English teacher mirrors author Christopher Kelly's own background in education, lending authenticity to the classroom scenes. 🧠 Studies show that adults who were bullied as children are 6 times more likely to develop serious illness, mental health conditions, or social relationship problems. 📖 The book's exploration of revenge parallels classic literary works like "The Count of Monte Cristo," but uniquely focuses on the modern school environment and LGBTQ+ themes.