The Revelation of Saint Bruce (Venture-Health & the Human Body) - Hardcover

Seymour, Tres

2.87

23 ratings by Goodreads

9780531301098: The Revelation of Saint Bruce (Venture-Health & the Human Body)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0531301095 ISBN 13: 9780531301098

Publisher: Orchard Books, 1998

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

When high-school senior Bruce Wells inadvertently snitches on his friends, he learns painful lessons about being true to himself and different from his classmates

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

Squeal. Snitch. Rat. Whatever you call it, teens have always regarded betraying your peers by giving incriminating information to the authorities as the ultimate moral crime. Even dedicated nonconformists like cynical Ellis, sharp and witty Jack, brilliant Carrie, and wannabe Teresa are shocked when Bruce, the trusted fifth member of their outsider posse, answers a teacher's questions about the day the other four shared a bottle of Jack Daniels in a schoolroom where they had been left alone on their honour.

Bruce is appalled when his friends are suspended from school and banned from graduating. They blame him for the harsh punishment they received--and eventually, so does the whole student body. He is ostracized and left alone to ponder his crime. But while Bruce regrets what happened because of his actions, he can't apologise. For him, truth is the only way there is. True to his uncomfortable nickname--"Saint Bruce"--he is moral simply because it's his nature. "Why?" his friends keep asking. But how much of the blame is their own in the first place? Should Bruce have lied to win their approval? And shouldn't the teacher who protected her job by betraying Bruce's confidence bear some of the guilt?

Wisely, Tres Seymour brings this short and intense story to a satisfying conclusion, but leaves the ethical dilemma unresolved. Teens will be fascinated with the novel's delicate and intricate examination of a moral issue that has real meaning for them, and savvy parents and teachers will find it an open door to some provocative discussion. (Ages 12 and older) --Patty Campbell, Amazon.com

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.