Fight To The End - Tapa blanda

Michael reluctantly returns to school from being on summer holidays. He's now in year 11, but being a senior carries no weight for him. Michael has been relentlessly bullied for years. As a consequence he has no friends and the teachers couldn't care less about the problem, happier to ignore what happens and pretend it doesn't exist, rather than do anything about it. He's at the point where he's about to give up on everything when he meets an annoying year 9 by the name of Xavier. Michael at first is reluctant to talk to Xavier, however, their paths cross through being on detention, for things they weren't really responsible for. Michael eventually stops being hostile and starts to talk. Soon, the boys find they have a lot in common and although Michael is extremely cautious about trusting Xavier, the two become friends. The story sees Michael's life tossed about, as he is continually bullied, abused and beaten up. Michael struggles to keep it together as there seems to be no escape from being bashed up and humiliated. His friendship with Xavier starts to make a real difference to his life, but it's not an easy path, little does he know Xavier is receiving the same treatment. The effects bullying has had on Michael, becomes more and more apparent, as he feels increasingly insecure and uncertain about everything. Xavier however, reawakens Michael's confidence and brings out his fighting spirit. Through their friendship the boys do their best to battle through their school days. Eventually, things come to ahead as the bullies and the school try to destroy the boys' friendship...

David Gregory is an Australian author who grew up in rural NSW. Having gone to a school that was riddled with bullying that was condoned by the teachers, he used this experience to create a series of characters and write a number of different stories. Fight To The End is his first full-length novel depicting the harsh reality of bullying at school. His other writing includes several short stories and he occasionally writes for a political blog.