Bullying

         We hear so much about the cruelty of bullying.  There are many helpful books that explore this important topic.  Here are two which pair nicely together and which I think are really good.

Bystander by James Preller

         Most of us are not bullies, but are likely to be bystanders.  We see and hear someone being bullied, but we try to ignore it…to not get involved… and we don’t stand up to the bully.

         Eric is the new kid in seventh grade. Griffin wants to be his friend. When you’re new in town, it’s hard to know who to hang out with—and who to avoid. Griffin seems cool, confident, and popular. But something isn’t right about Griffin. He always seems to be in the middle of bad things. And if Griffin doesn't like you, you’d better watch your back. There might be a target on it.
       As Eric gets drawn deeper into Griffin’s dark world, he begins to see the truth about Griffin: He’s a liar, a bully, a thief.  Eric discovers there are consequences to standing by and watching as the bully hurts people. In one shocking moment, Eric goes from being a bystander . . . to being the bully’s next victim.

Cornered: 14 Stories of Bullying and Defiance edited by Rhoda Belleza

       It does not necessarily take a fist to create a punch in the gut. Fourteen short stories by well-known young adult authors delve into the experience of being bullied—socially, emotionally, physically, psychologically, and sexually. The school hallways, walking home, and house walls are no longer boundaries for intimidation and harassment. With social media and smartphones, bullying has lost all limits, and the lines among truth, lies, and real accountability have become blurred.
     Cornered includes stories by Jennifer Brown (Hate List), Elizabeth Miles (Fury), and Josh Berk (The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin).

Books can help us understand ourselves and others.

Happy reading,
Connie