Aven’s traumatic experience being bullied results in damaging mental and emotional effects. Bowling highlights the serious problem of school bullying and through Aven’s example, shows how important it is for victims to take back their power. Bowling illustrates how cruel words can both wound an individual’s self-image and worldview, and how loving words can help repair that damage.

Bullying is fundamentally a power imbalance. A bully repeatedly exerts their power over another to intimidate and humiliate. Joshua, a good-looking, popular football player, is at the top of the school social hierarchy. He uses the power conferred by his elevated social status to aggressively torment Aven and Zion. Aven and Zion know that they are not on the same social level as Joshua, and do not share his popularity. They are new freshmen, have few friends, eat alone, and are both self-conscious of the physical features that make them different. Their difference from other students, lack of social clout, and lack of self-confidence make them prime victims for Joshua. Joshua targets Aven primarily because of her disability, and he sees her as “inferior.”

Joshua is a verbal bully and a social bully. He says cruel things, calls Zion and Aven names, and taunts them about their differences.