Anne-Marie Mitchell

If only I'd said something! Anne-Marie Mitchell

Fourteen-year-old Sam Wilson goes to school every day-alone and full of dread. Facing the school bully, Nick, and his gang is terrifying enough to make every day painful, whether it's from getting shoved to the ground or from the emotional trauma of being Nick's victim. One-by-one other students begin to stand up to Nick. With a new friend or two, life is getting better for Sam. But Sam's biggest hurdle is facing the shame of being bullied. It's just too hard to tell anyone about what's happening, so Sam hides the bruises and cuts that desperately need tending. With injuries that seem to get more severe each time Sam crosses Nick's path, it becomes harder and harder to hide the truth from teachers, doctors, and family. Sam needs help. But how do you ask for help when you've been hiding something for so long? Sam holds out hope for a father who has been absent since his parents split years ago. But what Sam really wants to do is face the problem alone. When Nick injures Sam so badly that life-saving surgery is required, a girl in class exposes the bully and things finally change for good. If Only I'd Said Something is a lovingly crafted story about how a young student overcomes the school bully once and for all.