Boy bullied over his love of books gains 150,000 Instagram followers

He has received messages of support from best selling authors including Malorie Blackman and Caroline Kepnes

Callum Manning, from South Sheilds, Tyne and Wear, created an Instagram account to review books.

The 13-year-old was left “devastated” after other pupils at the school began to mock the reviews in a group chat he had joined.

“I don’t tend to cry that often but I think that was the first time in a while I’ve actually cried,” Manning told PA Media.

After hearing about the incident, his sister Ellis Landreth tweeted: “Can’t believe how awful kids are.

“My little brothers made an Instagram reviewing and talking about books and kids in his new school have seen it and have created a group chat calling him a creep slagging him off about it and added him to it so he could see”.

Within a few hours, he had gained 150,000 followers on Instagram. High-profile authors such as Malorie Blackman, Matt Haig and Caroline Kepnes have sent messages of support as well as copies of their books.

“People saw it and people just thought ‘it’s not right’ because it isn’t,” Manning said. “Then I started getting loads of comments from everyone showing their support. I just think it’s really nice that there’s still people in the world who are nice.”

Manning has reviewed a wide range of book titles on his Instagram including Jane Austen, George Orwell and Mary Shelley, alongside Harry Potter and Twilight novels.

Manning's mum, Carla Landreth, 43, said: “He’s a very, very clever kid.

“He’s been reading since he was really young but he reads like Crime And Punishment and stuff that probably not your average 13-year-old would be interested in reading.

“He reads everything and anything.”

Ms Landreth hopes her son's story will help spread the message that bullying should not be tolerated. She said: “On Friday night he was in tears, and since this has been happening, his confidence has just soared. He’s a lovely kid, he’s a very loving kid, and he’s just saying, ‘I can’t believe these people want to follow me on Instagram and want to send me stuff’.

“We’re just so shocked. It’s been absolutely brilliant. He’s just over the moon.”