Review of Mind Over Bullies: A Mob Forms by DK Smith

Before I go to my review, I'd first like to share a wonderful and heart-warming thing I have experienced with Khamicom Publishing...and the tour in general. 

When I signed up for the tour of Mind Over Bullies: A Mob Forms, I wasn't really expecting anything. I assumed it would be like all other tours I have been a part of; I'll get the tour materials, get an ebook copy of the book, and do the review. So imagine my surprise when I was notified by our local post office that I have a package I needed to claim. I was like, "What? I wasn't expecting anything to arrive." 

The paperback, wristbands, and bookmark I received

I picked it up a couple of days later, still clueless as to what it could be. When I got home, I opened it up and teared up a bit. Inside was a signed paperback copy of the book, three wristbands with the MOB logo, and a MOB bookmark. I was so touched by the gesture, especially since it's my first ever signed copy of a book. It may be a small thing for other people so let me point out that I am from the Philippines. Publishers or tour organizers don't usually send us stuff in the mail. It's too expensive and risky. Anyway, I just wanted to share that. 

Onto my review!

Title: Mind Over Bullies: A Mob Forms

Author: DK Smith

Expected Publication Date: August 31, 2015 

Published by: Khamicom Publishing

Genre: Young Adult, Suspense

Source: ARC Given by Publisher and Tour Organizer

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25532789-mind-over-bullies

 

SYNOPSIS:

People that feel bullied just need to toughen up. That’s what Margo Rios used to think. Margo is pretty, popular and unsympathetic to just how intense bullying can get. As a counterfeiting plot sweeps through the city of Oak View however, life for Margo changes dramatically. 

 

With the mystery unfolding, an unlikely group of heroes emerges. Bullied teens love them, the police hate them and bullies fear them. Together they will try to get to the bottom of the counterfeiting mystery while ingeniously teaching a few bullies a lesson or two along the way… that is, if the police don’t catch them first. 

“Mind Over Bullies: A MOB Forms” follows the lives of several teens chronicling the emotional and psychological changes they experience as a result of their encounters with bullying. The lives of the characters play out while an elaborate counterfeiting mystery unfolds making for a fast paced, action-packed read. 

REVIEW:

Mind Over Bullies tackles two big subjects: bullying and counterfeiting. Not the combination one would normally expect, but it works. Though a little extreme, I still liked how the members of the MOB were all trying to make a real difference and stop bullying. Their tech skills were awesome; I'm not even going to question if their abilities are plausible in real life because kids nowadays are just...talented, I think is the word I should use. Now the money laundering scheme added a lot of darkness and danger to the story. It's still connected to the bullying though so it didn't really feel like reading two different books. 

From the very first page, Mind Over Bullies already moves at a fast pace. Characters were introduced here and there, plots unravel at every chapter, and someone is being beaten-up somewhere. To be honest, I had a hard time relating to the characters, especially Margo. We had one thing in common: the mature way we think. We both don't like to dwell on typical high school drama. However, she came off as a cold and unfeeling character for me. But that was just in the first few chapters. Eventually, she grew on me and I saw her blossom into a more likeable person. All of the characters in the book are important to the story's entirety, just like each and every one of us plays a crucial part in the betterment of the world. 

The book is kind of long though. I don't have anything against books that are lengthy, considering I've read the entire Harry Potter Collection in three days. It's just that there are scenes that could have been cut from the book or even shortened, at least. But that's just a minor thing, nothing to change my perspective on the book.

SUMMARY:

Mind Over Bullies is a complex, mysterious, and exciting book. I was very entertained and at the same time encouraged to help stop bullying. I give it 5 stars, and I'm looking forward to reading DK Smith's following book which is already underway if his answer in Goodreads is anything to go by. 

P.S. Still no picture of the author? Dang, it. I wanted a face to go with the voice I heard in his interview. You should go listen to that snippet guys. It's short (because it's a preview) but very enlightening. 

RATING:

IMPORTANT LINKS:

Read the first three chapters! http://tiny.cc/MOBPreview 

Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A 38-year-old native of Los Angeles, Mr. Smith began his writing career after getting news that he would soon become an uncle. Wanting to create stories and characters for his expected niece, he created the children’s book series “Sock n Boots Adventures.” The two characters (three-year-old Sock and five-year-old Boots) began to make names for themselves, generating downloads in countries around the world. 

 

When asked about his motivation to tackle the subject of bullying in a 108,000-word novel Smith said, “One day I came across a story in the news about a young girl that jumped in front of a subway train after weeks of bullying. As I investigated further, I was shocked at the number of similar stories I encountered. Bullycide, the news was calling it. I thought, wow, what if these young people had been shown that the pain of bullying can be handled without hurting themselves or someone else.” 

Ultimately it was thoughts of his now four nieces and three nephews dealing with bullying as they get older that weighed heavily on the decision for Smith to write the story about bullying. “I recognize that the characters and situations in the book may not represent every bullying situation and that realistically the book won’t change the world, but I do sincerely hope that it sends a subtle message about there being life after bullying. We’ll just have to see how the public receives it,” Smith said. 

 

A lover of mystery and espionage stories, Smith is a fan of everything James Bond. A favorite scenario is to see a character in an impossible situation get out of it at the last second or have the odds against them and see he or she turn the tables. Acting on the love of espionage and mystery, Smith has a new novel in the works centering on a James Bond-type character of his own creation. 

 

IMPORTANT LINKS:

Website: http://www.mindoverbullies.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-MOB/382907091790733

Twitter: https://twitter.com/A_MOB_Forms

TOUR ORGANIZED BY:

Book images provided by iRead Book Tours