Erin Jade Lange

When Dane, a bully, refuses to hit Billy D because he has Down syndrome, Billy takes that as a sign of friendship and enlists Dane's help in solving riddles left in an atlas by his missing father, an endeavor that sends the pair on a risky adventure.

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Erin Lange

Dane Washington and Billy D couldn't be more different. Dane is a bully. He says he has 'standards': he doesn't hit girls, and he doesn't hit special ed kids. Billy D is too kind to hit anyone. He has Down syndrome and hangs out with teachers in his lunch break. But one chance encounter leads them to realise that they have more in common than they think.

Eleanor Luhar

This is just going to be a brief review.
Erin Lange is a great author, with a really enjoyable style that makes her books easy to read.
This book follows a young boy named Dane, who makes a surprising friend; Billy. Dane is feared by the other kids at school due to his violent reputation. But Billy manages to use Dane is a way of deterring other bullies, leading to an unexpected friendship between the boys.
Their friendship involves a sort of deal, where Dane promises to help Billy find his father. But as Dane learns more about Billy's past, he starts to wonder whether he's doing the right thing.
Like I said, Lange's writing is really easy to read. This story was surprisingly heart-warming, with a rather bittersweet ending. It tackled some serious issues that I think are so important for kids to learn about, too.
Overall, I'm giving this 3.5 to 4 stars out of 5.

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