Destroying Avalon by Kate McCaffrey
Every now and then in my job I encounter a book that every person dealing with adolescents ought to read. And this is my most recent.
Avalon is 14. She has been raised in a country town in WA, but suddenly her parents find new jobs in the city and Avalon finds herself in a new school. This is scary enough for any 14 year old, but Avalon’s first day is a disaster. Within days she finds herself at the centre of a vicious cyberbullying campaign. She gradually begins to emerge, but then the focus turns to one of Avalon’s few friends, with tragic results.
Cyberbullying is the latest catch cry in education. I never thought much about it, assuming it to be the latest variation on classic schoolyard bullying. However, this book demonstrated to me that cyberbullying is even more invasive and destructive because the victim can never get away. Either the mobile phone, or the internet is always with adolescents today.
Reading this book made me think again about websites like myspace where young adults spend so much time. Do these sites encourage self expression or provide another whole dimension to peer pressure, thereby stifling any individuality.
I love it when a book presents a new idea.
