Bullying and Me: Schoolyard Stories

What an important book. Everyone hears about how bullying has become such a problem in our children's lives whether it's in school, on the bus or on the internet. Here are real life honest stories from kids who have first hand experiences with being bullied. The stories range from girls who are bullied by other girls, a boy who has burn marks on his face from an early childhood accident, to a boy who finally hung himself. Set primarily in middle school, the scenarios ring true and sadly familiar. Each account of bullying is paired with photographs of the real human being who had the experience and with a piece of advice from Dr. Dorothy, a professor in educational psychology at the University of Illinois who "specializes in adolescent bullying." For any child who is being bullied this book would offer hope and the knowledge that they are not alone. The kids share their stories and their opinions about how to deal with bullying in the real world. Sometimes it takes the witnesses speaking up, sometimes it takes standing up to the bully yourself and sometimes it takes finding new friends. But always, as Dr. Dorothy says, "It's not your fault. The bullies are wrong." This would make a great discussion starter. 32 pages Ages 9-13