The Boy Who Hated Alexander Pope

IT'S 1976, AMERICA'S BI-CENTENNIAL, AND RIVERVIEW, A SMALL AGRICULTURAL TOWN IN CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL VALLEY, LIKE MOST OF AMERICA, IS CAUGHT UP IN THE EXCITEMENT OF THE NATION'S CELEBRTION. BUT SOME EIGHTH GRADERS AT JOHN MUIR ELEMENTARY ARE MORE CNCERNED ABOUT THEIR OWN PROBLEMS, THAN IN THE FESTIVITIES. ALEXANDER POPE, A BIG, MEAN, NASTY BULLY, HAS TERRORIED KIDS FOR YEARS. DOING SOMETHING ABOUT ALEXANDER IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MAKING POSTERS OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY. BUT WHAT CAN A GROUP OF EIGHTH GRADERS DO AGAINST A BULLY WHOSE FATHER IS AN EVEN BIGGER BULLY? ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT FATHER IS THE LEADER OF A MILITANT HATE GROUP WITH GUNS? HIRE A HITMAN?