Bad Influence

We are introduced to our protagonist Amelia Bright - a smart, competitive, cello-playing student, who just wants to fit in. Amelia has been relentlessly bullied throughout the first two years of her secondary school life. The name calling began in Year 7, her peers refer to her as 'maggot', a name that she absolutely despises and dreads. There are a particular group of boys led by the despicable DJ who bully Amelia. Things become increasingly worse when Amelia discovers that her name is on 'The List' and she is rated as the ugliest girl in school. All Amelia wants is for the name calling to stop, to be popular and to shake off the reputation of 'maggot'.

Things do begin to change as she meets the new cute boy on her baseball team, Evan. He speaks to her kindly and compliments her. This is the first time in Amelia's life that a boy has been nice to her. They share the same interests and her world is rocked when he kisses her. Instantly Amelia falls for Evan and believes if the kids at school know about their relationship she will shake off her 'loser' status. However, Evan quickly realises that if he is open about dating Amelia he will become a social outcast. Amelia is desperate to hang onto Evan and he talks her into doing something that will have far-reaching consequences for her. When an image of her goes viral, Amelia must find the strength and courage to tackle the bullies head on.

Bad Influence is an absolute power-house of a novel that will leave the reader laughing, gasping and crying in equal measure. Amelia is such a likeable character, yes she has flaws, but she is kind, caring and her need to be liked and accepted is palpable. Winter writes with such clarity about Amelia's experience of being bullied and the lengths that she goes to to navigate her school life to dodge the bullies, whilst keeping it a secret from her family. She believes that Evan is the answer and the solution to all of her problems. However, we quickly discover that he adds to them and further compounds Amelia's problems.

I loved that against all the adversity that Amelia faces, she is determined not to let one mistake define her. She discovers her own strength through being courageous, facing the bullies head on and talking about her experience. This book, albeit fiction, tackles the real problems that so many young people face using social media platforms and the impact that it plays in our society and the influence good or bad that it especially has on our young people.

Amelia's story is so current and so relatable. It highlights how young people can be easily coerced into taking provocative images quite innocently. However, the book is hopeful and we see how Amelia turns a disaster into a triumph with the love and support of her family and friends. She is the hero of her own story.

384 Pages / Reviewed by Julie Broadbent, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 11+