Bully Route Home is a coming-of-age story which follows protagonist Robert William Robertson, aka "Pooch," a young man who learns some of the hard lessons of life including racism, standing up for what's right and learning how to handle different situations. As he does tasks that seem mundane such as taking a catfish off a hook, he is taught valuable lessons. The story focuses on the effects of racism on a small town in a time where hatred ran rampant. As Pooch tries to avoid a beating from the bully, he inadvertently creates chaos within the town. He finds a new friend in Carver, a black boy from the "quarters", and in turn Pooch's father hires Carver's father as a supervisor, much to the dismay of the town. The after effects of Lee's decision are experienced not only by Lee and the plant ,but also by the children at school. Havlin provides an honest and uncensored look at the negative aspect of the human species.