Bully Me Not - A Pathfinder to Resources in the Library

From Glendora High School in California, a Tartan Broadcasting video:

What is Bullying?

For an expanded list of resources on bullying
 in the Library's catalog see:

Fiction in the Catalog -or- Nonfiction in the Catalog. 

Here is a recently created list of resources: 

Publishers Weekly book list. 

Here is an article from Publishers Weekly: 

A Call to Action: Bullying and Books.

Federal Government's website: Stop Bullying.

Websites and resources compiled by the American Library Association: 

Speak OUT Against Bullying.
Teaching Tolerance at tolerance.org
MTV's:  A Thin Line
H-W Library Children's Room Bullying Prevention Resources List

The Lexile level for many of the books listed below is in parentheses (L-  ) after the book's description.  Lexile Text Measure measures how easy/difficult a book is to comprehend.  A 6th grade level book has an 850 to 1050 lexile range; a 7th grade level book has a 950 to 1075 lexile range; an 8th grade level book has a 1000 to 1100 lexile range; a 9th grade level book has a 1050 to 1150 lexile range, etc. 
 

Fiction in the Catalog About Bullying and Bullies

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, by Barry Lyga, 2006.  A 15-year-old "geek" who keeps a list of the high school jocks and others who torment him, and pours his energy into creating a graphic novel, encounters Kyra, Goth Girl, who helps change his outlook on almost everything, including himself.  (L-710)

Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver, 2010. After she dies in a car crash, teenage Samantha relives the day of her death over and over again until, on the seventh day, she finally discovers a way to save herself. (L-860)

Blubber, by Judy Blume, 1974. Jill goes along with the rest of the fifth-grade class in tormenting a classmate and then finds out what it is like when she, too, becomes a target.  (L-660)

The Body of Christopher Creed, by Carol Plum-Ucci, 2000.  Torey Adams, a high school junior with a seemingly perfect life, struggles with doubts and questions surrounding the mysterious disappearance of the class outcast. Mystery. (L-720)

Buddha Boy, by Kathe Koja, 2003.  Justin spends time with Jinsen, the unusual and artistic new student whom the school bullies torment and call Buddha Boy, and ends up making choices that impact Jinsen, himself, and the entire school.  (L-1090)

Bystander, by James Preller, 2009.  Thirteen-year-old Eric discovers there are consequences to not standing by and watching as the bully at his new school hurts people, but although school officials are aware of the problem, Eric may be the one with a solution.  (L-600)

Cornered: 14 Stories of Bullying and Defiance, edited by Rhoda Belleza, 2012. An anthology of fourteen stories illuminates the experiences of being bullied in today's world, in a volume that includes contributions from established writers such as Kirsten Miller, Jennifer Brown, and James Lecesne.  Forward by Chris Crutcher. (L-n/a)

Crash, by Jerry Spinelli,1996.  Seventh-grader John "Crash" Coogan has always been comfortable with his tough, aggressive behavior, until his relationship with an unusual Quaker boy and his grandfather's stroke make him consider the meaning of friendship and the importance of family.  (L-560)

Everybody Sees the Ants, by  A. S. King, 2011.  Overburdened by his parents' bickering and a bully's attacks, 15-year-old Lucky Linderman begins dreaming of being with his grandfather, who went missing during the Vietnam War, but during a visit to Arizona, his aunt and uncle and their beautiful neighbor, Ginny, help him find a new perspective. (L-710)

The Hate List, by Jennifer Brown, 2009.  Sixteen-year-old Valerie, whose boyfriend Nick committed a school shooting at the end of their junior year, struggles to cope with integrating herself back into high school life, unsure herself whether she was a hero or a villain.  (L-760)

Hot Hand, by Mike Lupica, 2007.  In the wake of his parents' separation, ten-year-old Billy seems to have continual conflicts with his father, who is also his basketball coach, but his quiet, younger brother Ben, a piano prodigy, is having even more trouble adjusting, and only Billy seems to notice.  (L-930)

The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes, 2004.   None of her classmates pay much attention to Wanda Petronski, a Polish-American girl, until she announces she has 100 dresses in her closet. Everyone laughs and teases her so much that she stops coming to school. Then, her classmates discover she really does have 100 dresses.  (L-870)

Indigo's Star, by Hilary McKay, 2004.  Spurred on by his youngest sister, Rose, twelve-year-old Indigo sticks up for himself and an American boy who has replaced him as the primary target of the school bullies.  (L-740)

The Misfits, by James Howe, 2001.  Four students who do not fit in at their small-town middle school decide to create a third party for the student council elections to represent all students who have ever been called names. (L-960)

My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece, by Annabel Pitcher, 2012.  With his family still grieving over his sister's death in a terrorist bombing seven years earlier, twelve-year-old Jamie is far more interested in his cat, Roger, his birthday Spiderman T-shirt, and keeping his new Muslim friend Sunya a secret from his father. (L-880)

Orchards, Holly Thompson, 2011.  Sent to Japan for the summer after an eighth-grade classmate's suicide, half-Japanese, half-Jewish Kana Goldberg tries to fit in with relatives she barely knows and reflects on the guilt she feels over the tragedy back home.  Novel written in verse.(L-n/a)

Schooled, by Gordon Korman, 2007.  Homeschooled by his hippie grandmother, Capricorn (Cap) has never watched television, tasted a pizza, or heard of a wedgie. Circumstances force Cap to attend the local middle school, and though Cap knows a lot about tie-dyeing & Zen Buddhism, no education could prepare him for the politics of public school.  (L-740)

Some Girls Are, by Courtney Summers, 2010.  Regina, a high school senior in the popular--and feared--crowd, suddenly falls out of favor and becomes the object of the same sort of vicious bullying that she used to inflict on others, until she finds solace with one of her former victims. (L-600) 



Speechless, by Hannah Harrington, 2012. After her behavior causes her to lose her popular friends and results in one person being hospitalized, Chelsea takes a vow of silence. (L-n/a)

Tangerine, by Edward Bloor, 1997.  Twelve-year-old Paul, who lives in the shadow of his football hero brother Erik, fights for the right to play soccer despite his near blindness and slowly begins to remember the incident that damaged his eyesight.  (L-680)

Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher, 2007.  When high school student Clay Jenkins receives a box in the mail containing 13 cassette tapes recorded by his classmate Hannah, who committed suicide, he spends a night crisscrossing their town, listening to Hannah's voice recounting the events leading up to her death. (L-550)

This Is What I Did, by Ann Dee Ellis, 2007.  Bullied because of an incident in his past, eighth-grader Logan is unhappy at his new school and has difficulty relating to others until he meets a quirky girl and a counselor who believe in him.  (L-550)

Warp Speed, by Lisa Yee, 2011.  Marley Sandelski has always felt invisible at school when he is not facing bullies, but a series of unexpected events gives him a taste of popularity and insights into some classmates, well-liked or greatly-feared.  (L-620)

NonFiction in the Catalog about Bullying and Bullies

 

Bullying, by Sally Kuykendall, PhD, 2012.

Contents: Introduction - Bullying is a health issue - The definition of bullying - Prevalence - Diagnosis - Health consequences - Causes of bullying - Treatment and prevention - Controversial issues - Resources - Glossary.

The Courage to be Yourself: True Stories by Teens About Cliques, Conflicts, and Overcoming Peer Pressure, by edited by Al Desetta with Educators for Social Responsibility, 2005. Essays by teenagers describe their personal experiences with and thoughts on discrimination, harassment, stereotypes, and self-esteem.
 

Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories,
 edited by Carrie Jones and Megan Kelley Hall, 2011.
Presents top authors for teens as they share their stories about bullying--as silent observers on the sidelines of high school, as victims, and as perpetrators.

How to Beat Psychological Bullying, by Jennifer Landau, 2012. 

How to Beat Social Alienation, by Jason Porterfield, 2012.

How to Beat Verbal Bullying, by Liz Sonneborn, 2012. 

Please Stop Laughing at Me, by Jodee Blanco, 2003. The author shares the cruelty that was heaped on her by her classmates when she was labled a freak in high school, describing what it meant to be an outcast among one's peers, the realities and consequences of bullying, and her struggle to overcome the torment.

Teen Cyberbullying Investigated: Where Do Your Rights End and Consequences Begin?, by Tom Jacobs, 2010.  Presents a collection of landmark court cases involving cyberbullying, including sending threatening emails, writing hateful comments on blogs, and sending threatening messages using a false identity.


Vicious: True Stories By Teens About Bullying, edited by Hope Vanderberg, 2012.  Twenty teens share true experiences from different perspectives of bullying at school, on the street, and online.

We Want You to Know: Kids Talk About Bullying, by Deborah Ellis, 2010.  Presents interviews with students who have been bullied, as they describe their experiences with peers, parents, teachers, and school administrators, along with advice on the best methods that can be used to stop bullying behavior.

Star Wars Symposium

Calling all Star Wars Geeks: 

 Feel the Force at the Library!   

Saturday, October 13, 1 pm to 3 pm

Costume Contest, Trivia Contest, Show and Tell, Xbox Gaming, and Historical Presentation. Revel in all things Star Wars. Appropriate for ages 6 and older.  Children under 8 must have a parent or guardian present.  Experience this fun event, run by Scituate Teen Librarian Peter Struzziero, that over 2000 Star Wars fans in Massachusetts are already raving about. 

There will be lots of things going on, like: 

• Star Wars games set up on XBOX360 to play.
• Show and Tell - bring toys, collectibles, anything Star Wars - a prize will be given for the best item.
• Dress Up - feel free to dress up like a Star Wars character, a prize will be given for the best costume.
• Presentation from a Star Wars expert, so bring your Star Wars questions, anything you've always wondered, something you need explained, Peter Struzziero will be here to chit chat with you about it.
• We will also have Star Wars Trivia - whoever answers the most questions correctly will win a prize.

 Shop the Library's online catalog for all things Star Wars.