Books Similar to Gabe’s Guardian Angel That Were Also Movies
When I started researching books for this post, I found more than I anticipated. Here are a few that sounded like my story, although I haven’t seen the movies. Maybe I will one day. These are considered the best movies about bullying and I can see a similarity to my book.
CARRIE: 1976 – CARRIE is considered one of the best bullying movies made. Carrie is a nerd who finally reaches her limit after the jocks pour animal blood on her at a school dance. She gets her revenge that is beyond anything anyone expected. (Now I have to see this one.) In my story, Gabe gets his revenge, but in a quite different way than it sounds like Carrie does.
A GIRL LIKE HER: Did you ever have a person in your school (or office) that tormented you, but you could never quite prove they were hurting you? Bullies can be slick that way. Mick, the bully in my story, is smart and does things on the sly to keep out of trouble from the teachers.
WONDER: This movie is the true story of a boy who was born with a rare facial deformity and he suffers bullying because of it. This story shows how he overcomes the cruelty of the bullies and helped make the world a better place. Gabe overcomes his bully, too, and makes his world better.
REVENGE OF THE NERDS: This is an 80’s movie that teaches about what it’s like to be bullied. The nerds manage to beat the bullies at their own game. (This one I want to see, too.) It’s a cult classic, funny and off beat. I would say in Gabe’s story that he got his revenge.
Books about bullies are nothing new. Unfortunately, bullies seem to be around in every generation. So, what do we do about them? The books and the movies may have the answer.
Thanks for hosting me today, Alex.
I’m delighted to be participating in author Beverly Stowe McClure’s Blog Tour today for her latest release, GABE’S GUARDIAN ANGEL. The author is offering a tour-wide giveaway. More information on the giveaway is listed below.
GABE’S GUARDIAN ANGEL
by Beverly Stowe McClure
* Paperback: 214 pages
* Publisher: Freedom Fox Press
* ISBN-13: 978-1939844668
Gabe Montana is clumsy. He's overweight, and he's dyslexic. Worse yet, the bullies make his fifteen-year-old life even more miserable-so miserable he wants to die.
Charley, his guardian angel, says no to that idea and comes up with a different plan. He'll give Gabe self-confidence so he can solve his problems, not run away from them. But Gabe wonders why the angel doesn't just help with the bullies. What's with this self-confidence stuff?v Can Charley help Gabe stand on his own two feet? Will Gabe give up hope life can improve for him? Or will he finally listen to the angel's advice?
GABE'S GUARDIAN ANGEL is available at the following sites: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Nook, and Kobo
For those who aren’t familiar with the author, here’s a bit of background on her:
Most of the time, you’ll find Award-Winning Author Beverly Stowe McClure at her computer, typing stories young voices whisper in her ears. When she’s not writing, she’s snapping pictures of wildlife, flowers, and clouds.
She’s affectionately known as the “Bug Lady.” She’s not telling why. To relax she plays the piano. Her fur babies don’t appreciate good music and hide when she tickles the ivories.
Beverly is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She also teaches a women’s Sunday school class at her church.
For more on Beverly and her writing visit her at her: blog, Website, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Author Beverly Stowe McClure is giving away one print copy of GABE’S GUARDIAN ANGEL to a lucky US winner.
To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter here and follow the instructions.
Thanks for stopping by and be sure to follow Beverly on her week-long tour HERE. You never know what you might find out. Do you think Guardian Angels come in all shapes and sizes?
Music Reviews
Joe Satriani – Shapeshifting
What else can be written about Joe? How many more superlatives does one man need? Well...I have some more for Mr. Satriani because his new album is outstanding.
Shapeshifting is a great follow up to his last record, What Happens Next. There is a wild combination of styles and genres on display. Of course, Joe always assembles an amazing group of top notch musicians and they need to be to keep up with a world-class talent that is Joe Satriani. But the playing would just be that without great song writing and Joe knows how to craft instrumental songs that don’t need a singer because Joe sings with his guitar.
The standout track Nineteen Eighty is a face-melter and proves that Joe is still at the very top of his game.
Wolfheart - Wolves of Karelia
I love me some melodeath. That’s melodic death metal for the uninitiated. How a small country can produce so many great bands and talented musicians is mind-boggling. Whatever is in the waters of Finland needs to be bottled up and sold (actually it is - there are many companies that bottle the water of Finland but they filter out the magical musical properties).
But I digress.
Wolfheart clocks in at a lean 41 minutes, but that just means all meat and no filler. The first half of the album is solid and heavy, but it’s the second half that is truly inspired. The last two tracks, Arrows of Chaos and Ashes, are truly epic.
This one gets better and better with every listen.
Movie Reviews
Extraction
Extraction is a new Netflix release starring Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth, as a merc on a mission to rescue the son of an evil drug lord from another evil drug lord.
I was psyched for this balls-to-the-wall action flick directed by Sam Hargrave, a long-time stunt coordinator, directing his first big time feature.
This film reminds me of a mix between The Raid and John Wick. The action and violence is brutal and grueling. For fun, play a drinking game where you take a shot every time someone is killed onscreen. You’ll make it about forty minutes before you pass out.
While the action is plentiful, it’s lacking in one major area—fun. Hemsworth’s character is shot, stabbed, beaten, and run over to the point you just want him to get to a hospital.
However, if brutal action flicks are your bag, there is enough here to warrant a watch.
Mortal Engines
Lackluster reviews kept me away from this release last December, but I finally checked it out on HBO free weekend. Glad I didn’t see it in the theater!
According to the IMDB: A mysterious young woman, Hester Shaw, emerges as the only one who can stop a giant, predator city on wheels devouring everything in its path. Feral, and fiercely driven by the memory of her mother, Hester joins forces with Tom Natsworthy, an outcast from London, along with Anna Fang, a dangerous outlaw with a bounty on her head.
Based on the children’s book by Philip Reeve. Yes, really.
While the story did reek of less-than-average young adult, it was certainly not that or a children’s story.
It was…boring.
Once you got over the initial wow of the special effects, the story was boring. You didn’t care about the characters. You didn’t care what happened next. And at over two hours, that’s a lot of time wasted not caring. (And with less than thirty minutes to go, my wife told me she was fine with not knowing how it ended – so we stopped watching.)
I also did not buy into the concept of cities on wheels.
So, despite Hugo Weaving, I’d avoid this snooze-fest.
Special Treat
Kathe at It’s a Snap! sent me a thank you email for just being a friend, along with this photo of her cat, Lucy. Thanks, Kathe!! You are all kinds of awesome.
What movie about bullying do you like? Have you picked up any of those new albums? Seen Extraction? Had the misfortune to see Mortal Engines? Friends with Kathe and Lucy? And are you looking forward to the day when all of the news isn’t about one thing?
Remember, not only is next week Insecure Writer’s Support Group post day, but we are celebrating the release of Voyagers: The Third Ghost and opening the next IWSG Anthology Contest!
79 comments:
Sadly bullies have thrived over the ages. I don't think there is a one size fits all solution but would love to see bullies called to account much more often than they are.
I am really, really looking forward to the next ISWG anthology.
Hi, Alex!
Yesterday was my first exposure to Beverly's book. Given the subject matter it is bound to be a popular read. I have seen Carrie and Revenge of the Nerds. The latter, upon its release, was loaded with stars and future stars including Anthony Edwards (Dr. Mark Greene on ER), John Goodman and James Cromwell, along with Playboy Playmate Lisa Welch as a cheerleader.
I love Scandinavian melodic death metal bands from start to Finnish! I'm down with Wolfheart. Regarding bullying movies I recommend the 1963 version of Lord of the Flies and the brilliant 2019 film Jojo Rabbit.
Have a great week, good buddy Alex!
Carrie was a powerful movie! I wouldn't advise bullying her. :)
I haven't seen either of the movies and think I'll give them a pass!
Thank you for featuring Beverly and her book.
Lucy looks like a sweetie.
Carrie was memorable. Alas, I remember bullies from the past almost more than the good kids. Not fun.
I sorta watched Extraction last night - the beginning and the end. I zoomed through the mass quantities of shootings. And yes, there was no fun at all, and we count on Chris Hemsworth to crack a line with those blue eyes twinkling.
I'm seeking more fluff to watch these days. Amuse me!
Elelphant's Child, it will be out in one week!
Shady, glad you like the Wolfheart. I still need to watch Jojo Rabbit.
Elizabeth, definitely pass on the second one!
Diane, happy to!
Joanne, you didn't miss much by fast-forwarding. I'll see if I can find some fun fluff.
I well remember the film Carrie. scared the pants of me.
Thanks for the wonderful review of Beverly's book. She and I have been followers for quite some time. A lovely person.
Hope you are well Alex and take care.
Yvonne.
Bullying is tough. Teaching kids to have the confidence to find allies and to stand up to bullies and to move from being bystanders to allies is hard. We need the world to be a better place.
It's sad to think bullying is still so most a part of our culture today.
Alex, thanks for being a part of Beverly's tour and sharing this with your readers.
I think it's going to be a loooooooong while before the news isn't about one thing. I'm curious when movies will start releasing again. Not that I plan on going to the theatre anytime soon, but I like getting DVDs still.
Bullies will will go on bullying and be more brazen if the victim gives way. They are brave in a group but one to one they in reality are cowards They will stall and disperse if the victims fight back.
Hank
Thank you for hosting me on my tour today, Alex. I hope that young people learn to respect and care for others. Have a great week. Looking forward to the Anthology.
I enjoyed Beverly's Book! It's a great read for the youngsters!. We watched that movie about the moving cities. Crazy stuff, but it helped a rainy day pass! LOL, What an odd idea!
I like Hemsworth, but Extraction lacks an essential hook for me. I might still try it if my queue dries up.
My favorite bully movie is My Bodyguard (it's an oldie!). Have not picked up those particular albums but I did recently buy Fantastic Negrito (heard on NPRs tiny desk concert) and omg yes! I will be so glad when the news is about something else!
Mason, happy to!
Stacy, so many are streaming now instead of going to DVD right away.
Beverly, you're welcome!
Go Bug Lady we're with you! Furbabies, lol so hilarious, hit those shelves and tickle us pink. Never knew there was books on bullies and movies, fascinating, these beggers are sneaky. Interesting take on extraction Alex and pity about Mortal Engines, although with the neat covers I'll give extraction a shot first.
I just watched Extraction 2 nights ago. It was ugly, bloody gruesome. There wasn't much of a story, but the action was nonstop which kind of made up for it. Chis Hemsworth is always nice to watch....a plus in the movie...
Congrats to Beverly!!
Have a nice week. Stay Healthy!
Congrats to Beverly! I don't really know that she'd like some of those movies. Bullying can be pretty awful.
Too bad to hear about Extraction not being all that great.
Stay Healthy, Alex!
Is Mortal Engines the one where they took a gruesome facial injury and turned it into a minor cosmetic flaw? Yeah, not surprised that one was a stinker.
I really enjoyed Wonder. Congrats on your book, Beverly. Sorry, Alex, but neither of those movies look good to me. Glad you reviewed them for us. Thanks.
Extraction--will watch that one.
Mortal Engine, sigh. But Hugo Weaving also had some supporting actors that I love.
Carrie! We were young parents, so watching something of this nature was a heck of a thing.
Thanks for stopping by! It is like having an old friend stopping by.
I hadn't thought of those movies, but yes, they are about bullies, aren't they?
I saw the trailer for Mortal Engines and figured that was as far as I cared to get. I recorded a couple movies from the HBO free preview, but I didn't record that. Glad to know I wasn't mistaken.
Shady - Thanks for your kind words about my book.
Elizabeth - Yes, I wouldn't want to bully Carrie either.
Nashville Cats 2- Thanks for being such a wonderful friend, Yvonne.
Kay - You are absolutely right.
Yolanda - Thanks for your nice words about my book.
Patricia - Thank you.
Spacer Guy - Aw, thanks! Bugs are really interesting.
Cathrina - Thank you. You, too.
Tyrean - Thank you.
Natalie - Thanks to you.
Susan - Thanks, also.
My favorite on the list was Wonder. I loved the book and the movie. Although I am kind of nostaligic for Revenge of the Nerds. Congrats to Beverly! Yes, I'm so looking forward to the day when the news is different!
Spacer Guy, Extraction is at least watchable.
Cathrina, glad you got something out of it.
Tyrean, I am!
JE, you got it.
Susan, thanks!
Liz, just avoid it!
Looks like Beverly's tour is off to a good start! I enjoyed her book. It's very relevant to middle-school readers.
Revenge of the Nerds is an oldie but goodie. I also really liked Meatballs.
Have a pleasant week, Alex.
I'm hard-pressed to think of movies *about* bullying, but lots include bullying as an important element: Harry Potter, Home Alone, Forrest Gump, Full Metal Jacket - just a random sampling off the top of my head.
I've only seen Carrie, from that list. Didn't know Joe was still rockin' it out. Good on him.
Lots of good news. It's nice to be here again and to get away from the virus news.
There are so many bullying books and movies. It's a harsh reality to deal with bullying at a school district. The internet makes catching bullies a lot more difficult.
Teresa
I like Big Bully with Rick Moranis and Tom Arnold. It is a good bad movie. Ric Moranis at his awkward best.
So Mortal Engines is not a Mortal Kombat sequel? Shucks.
I love the movie My Bodyguard which is tender and intelligent. I have not seen these movies and won’t. I agree about the COVID19 being a bit too much in the news. There are more things that are going on than just this but, alas, the news is one note right now. Mind you, Nova Scotia was rocked by a horrible mass shooting this past weekend which is another news item you wish wouldn’t happen
Hi Alex - I love movies with guardian angels ... warm and cuddly. I'm with Joanne on more happiness and peace - but sadly Covid just is not good. Take care and thanks for all the updates - Beverley's book will be a great read for teenagers. Bullying takes on so many angles throughout our lives - Take care - Hilary
Robyn, Bill Murray made Meatballs.
Ivy, yes he is!
Teresa, just going to cover fun stuff.
PTM, sorry, it's not!
Birgit, that's very sad.
Hi,
I haven't seen any of the books you mentioned on bullying but I love the way you brought a positive ending to Gabe's situation. It was heartwarming and showed hope that attacking the problem from another angle could bring healing not only for Gabe but for Mick too.
Great job.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat Garcia
I adore Joe Satriani's music!
Watching Extraction was almost like watching a very brutal video game.
I haven't had any inclination to watch Extraction.
Or Mortal Engines.
And it will probably stay that way.
I no longer have any access to premium streaming services or any newer movie outlets so I haven't seen any new movies recently. Funny thing is that I don't really care and I don't miss anything new since I rarely hear about them. I'm content watching old movies on TCM and PBS or documentaries.
I guess I'm just preferring reality to fiction these days. As they say, "Truth is stranger than fiction", and ain't that the truth!
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Sounds like a good book. Bullying isn't solved by fighting but self-confidence--now there's a powerful tool!
Congrats to Beverly! It is sad that bullies are still prevalent and are worse online. I'm a big fan of Carrie, both the book and movie. I saw Mortal Engines on the HBO free weekend too, Alex! And when I mean saw, I had the volume down. It is visually stunning but the story was meh. Hope you all are safe and well.
Look at Lucy!
Beverly did a wonderful job on a difficult subject.
Stay safe. Stay healthy.
Congratulations to Beverly!
Another good film about bullying is Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995).
Howdy Captain!
I appreciate the cautionary aspect of your movie reviews ; -) Nothing wastes a big batch of popcorn like a boring movie.
I first heard of Satriani after Blackmore left Deep Purple. The guy’s incredibly talented.
Karate Kid comes to mind…
I can’t wait to talk about anything BUT that – oh wait, I have been ;-)
Beverly, I just know this will be another winner – Congratulations!
Kathe, what a fantastic picture! Lucy is gorgeous ;-)
I know Carrie was a "scary" movie, but it always made me cry. Congrats Beverly!! I want to give Lucy a hug! So cute!
Congrats, Beverly!
Revenge if the Nerds........loved itback in the day, not seen it for years, probably a bit dated now?
I haven't watched the film Carrie, but I liked the book. My first Stephen King. All the best for Gabe's success. And best wishes also for the anthology.
Damy, exactly!
Christine, that's exactly when I watched it. Glad neither of us wasted money on that film.
Diedre, he's the best in the world.
Ray, I'm sure it is.
Don't get me started on bullies.
Ooo. Gorgeous cat!
You are a good friend, Alex. :)
Congrats to Beverly! So happy to see her and her latest book here today. When I think of bullying movies and books I do think about the ones mentioned. Also- Heathers comes to mind. Wishing Beverly much success!
~Jess
I just finished a new series called Home After Dark that touched on bullying. It was well done and something I hope my grandchildren appreciate. As for the new Extraction, darn, I don't know about you, but I'm tired of the violence. I watched a really old movie last night because I love the author. The First Deadly Sin. The movie keeps you on the edge of your seat, but there isn't one gory scene. The year was 1980. Doesn't seem that long ago.
I've seen Carrie and Revenge of the Nerds. Wonder is on my TBW list. I like the premise of this book. Hope the tour has been a success.
Lucy is so cute. Wish I wasn't allergic to cats.
I forgot about some of those classic movies. What' about Easy A, another bullying movie. Congrats to Beverly on her new book.
Lucy is cute. I've always liked Carrie as a movie.
Congrats to Beverly on her new book release! Unfortunately, bullying never seems to go away. I did see Carrie. She definitely got her revenge. I remember there being bullying in the beginning of the original Jumanji movie where the main character as a boy gets beat up by a gang of bullies. And I did read Wonder. I considered watching Mortal Engines, being a fan of Peter Jackson's LOTR/Hobbit movies, but it just didn't look interesting enough to make the time to watch it. I'm glad I didn't. What a disappointment. Cute kitty!
Beverly's bio is one of the best I've seen. It shares who she is and also gave me a chuckle. What a great sense of her writing style too. Her book sounds fantastic. Best wishes, Beverly!
And yes, I really am looking forward to the day when no matter what show I turn on, the same news topic isn't on it. I mean, I get it, we need to be informed, but ugh, I'm getting fatigued.
Stay healthy and safe,
Elsie
I saw Carrie once. Even though I found it disturbing, especially the very end, it had some good moments and good suspense. The title character was well-made too. I've been trying to get a hold of a vintage paperback version of the novel (1970s through '80s), but they seem hard to find. (I'm a collector of vintage paperbacks.) Something tells me that I would like the novel more than I did the movie.
I cannot watch Thor get abused. ;) Bullies are prevalent and no fun. I guess they'll never entirely go away but thankfully there is a bigger level of awareness than there was back in my day.
Congratulations, Beverly!
Hmm, Stand By Me is about bullying, in a way, that's a good one!
Beverly's book sounds delightful. It's a shame that bullying is still such a big problem, but books like hers can help.
Since I've always been a bit of a nerd, "Revenge of the Nerds" is my face anti-bully flick.
Yes, a thousand times YES, I'll be glad when the news isn't about that One Big Thing. Recovery and hope make much better stories.
Thanks, Melissa!
Joylene, it doesn't, and yet it was forty years ago.
Lori, he only produced it, and probably now wishes he hadn't.
Steven, that would be something if you found the book!
Susan, amen!
wowo! Lucy made your blog- thanks ! Very fun!
Joylene - Sounds interesting
DMS - Thank you
Melissa - OK we won't
Nilanjana - Thanks
Juneta - Thank you
Magic - Thanks
Sandra - Ah, thanks
Carrie - Thank you
Christine - Yes, it is sad
Jacqui - Exactly
Pat - I'm so happy for what you said.
Rhonda - Yes, there are a lot.
Toi - I haven't een Wonder either. Thank you.
Mary - Haven't see Carrie either.
Magic - thanks, you touched mysoul.
Diedre - Wow. I hope you're right.
Hilary - Thank you fory your kind words.
Botanest -Yes, there are quite a few.
Jenni - hanks. Maybe some day.
Sherry - Thank you
Lori - Thanks
Susan - I hope it can.
Elsie - Thanks for your kind words.
Revenge of the nerds is a fun one. Its sequels, not so much.
So two dud movies this week. Not sure I need more John Wick rip offs. Those movies just get hard on the head after a while.
Sounds like a great and very inspiring book from Beverley. Congrats!
It's surreal to see any news story that is about anything else these days.
Steven - I'd like to read my book too. Thank you.
mail 4rosey - Maybe someday bullies will be gone.
Deniz - Thanks
Susan - Bullies will pay in the end, I believe.
Kathe - Fun is good.
Nick - Thank you.
Beverly's book sounds terrific! And now I want to rewatch Carrie and Revenge of the Nerds.
Joe Satriani! Seriously, he's like the homecoming king of guitar. Every year. There really need to be more inventive superlatives so he can get his due.
Bullying is such a tough one. In some cases eliminating poverty, abuse, and neglect in homes would reduce the number of bullies we see. So sad.
Looking forward to Voyagers!
Awwww, such a cute kitty... :)
Congrats Beverly!
I didn't care for Extraction. I was okay but it was missing something. It was very one note, but it kept alluding to more.
I'm disappointed to hear that about Extraction, but not surprised. I wanted to watch it but was afraid the violence level would be above my quota. I'll steer clear.
YOU stay safe. Stay healthy.
Congratulations to Beverly Stowe McClure on her book release - may it soar. Her piece on bullies got me thinking, although with movies I missed Carrie so have to say Revenge of the Nerds - but there have to be others. I was bullied at school and tried to rise above it, although I eventually out-witted one bully. That has to be one reason behind my WIP MC creating a school vigilante group to tackle the bullies - before she becomes a cop.
What to do about bullies? That's an interesting question. I think my answer is to embrace Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones and go out the way she went. That (however) may not be the best solution, because that kind of makes you a monster.
I need to watch Extraction, but I've been distracted by Clone Wars and a few other things that recently caught my attention.
Bullies have always been with us. We usually only think about it with kids and teens, but adults are bullied also. I worked with a principal who was a bully and I've met bullies in writing groups I belong to.
Extraction was brutal. Lots of action but like you said, no fun. Hemsworth was wasted. I skipped Mortal Engines. Sounds like a great choice.
Bullies, are, unfortunately, nothing new under the sun. I was bullied as a kid and teen. I'd love to say it strengthened me and gave me character, but it mostly helped me cut and sandpaper the chip on my shoulder to a glossy, faceted shine. Where'd the chip come from in the first place? Well, it's been so long I couldn't even begin to know lol!
I just saw Extraction and was slightly surprised at the level of death-defying feats that occurred. It reminded me of an anime where you just know that at some point the people should be dead, but they keep living, and moving, and limping like the only thing that happened was a simple twisted ankle.
Congrats for the release of Gabe's Guardian Angel. Wishing Beverly the best :-)
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