Overview

Paul Adams has always been short, but he's an excellent rock climber. And his small size means he can hide from the bullies that prowl the halls of his high school. Top on his list of ""People to Avoid"" are Conor, from his Language Arts class, Hunter, who hangs around the climbing gym, and Lily Small, who happens to be the tallest girl in school. But he might be able to be friends with a new kid from Hawaii who insists that everyone call him ""Big."" He's got a way of bringing everyone into his circle and finding the beauty in even the worst of situations. When the three of them--Paul, Big, and Small--are assigned to the same group project, they form an unlikely friendship. And Paul realizes that maybe Lily isn't so bad after all. He might even actually like her. And maybe even more than like her. Paul and Lily team up for a rock-climbing competition, but when Lily is diagnosed with leukemia, Paul ends up with Conor on his team. And when Paul learns that Conor is dealing with bullies of his own--as well as some deep emotional pain--he realizes that the bullying in his school has got to stop. Paul, Big, and Small is about the turbulent, emotional lives of young adults who are struggling with life's challenges openly and sometimes in secret.

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9781629726021

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Paul is hardly five feet tall which makes him the perfect target...in high school. He encounters Lily Small, a tall, athletic black girl, and Big, a triple-X Hawaiian shirt-wearing Polynesian. The trio are partnered up for a project on Of Mice and Men...this assignment is the seed for the strongest friendships he has ever had. Through this project and at the local rock climbing gym, Paul, who is white, learns to recognize others' issues that cause them to pick on those weaker than themselves. While much of the book focuses on the mental strength and physical agility necessary to be a successful climber, the subplots demonstrate how this sport can provide the therapy needed to overcome bullying, grief, and trauma. This book shows how friendships can be found when least expected. Perfect for libraries building their sports collections, as it clearly explains the fundamentals of rock climbing not often found in other YA books. --School Library Journal

Paul is hardly five feet tall which makes him the perfect target...in high school. He encounters Lily Small, a tall, athletic black girl, and Big, a triple-X Hawaiian shirt-wearing Polynesian. The trio are partnered up for a project on Of Mice and Men...this assignment is the seed for the strongest friendships he has ever had. Through this project and at the local rock climbing gym, Paul, who is white, learns to recognize others' issues that cause them to pick on those weaker than themselves. While much of the book focuses on the mental strength and physical agility necessary to be a successful climber, the subplots demonstrate how this sport can provide the therapy needed to overcome bullying, grief, and trauma. This book shows how friendships can be found when least expected. Perfect for libraries building their sports collections, as it clearly explains the fundamentals of rock climbing not often found in other YA books. -- School Library Journal

Author Information

David Glen Robb lives in the Rocky Mountain West with his wife, two sons, and two dogs and is an avid rock climber who also coaches youth rock climbing teams. He taught high school English, art, and creative writing for eleven years before deciding to pursue writing full time.

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