These listings are part of our Anti-Bullying feature.
Bad Apple: A Tale of Friendship by Edward Hemingway. Putnam, $16.99 ISBN 978-0-399-25191-7, 2012. An apple is taunted and called names because of his friendship with a worm. Ages 3-5.
Willow Finds a Way by Lana Button, illus. by Tania Howells. Kids Can Press, $16.95 ISBN 978-1-55453-842-3, March 2013. Willow does everything she can think of to be invited to classmate Kristabelle’s fantastic birthday party, but when bossy Kristabelle un-invites some children from the party, Willow finds a quiet but sure way to say no to her. Ages 3-7.
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson, illus. by Tara Calahan King. Chronicle Books, $15.99 ISBN 978-0-8118-2778-2, 2000. A boy learns effective recipes for turning your worst enemy into your best friend. A longtime favorite for teaching strategies for dealing with bullies, more than 200,000 copies of this book have been sold, and it was featured as a Reading Rainbow book on the popular PBS program. Ages 3-9.
Say Hello by Jack Foreman, illus. by Michael Foreman. Candlewick, $6.99 paper ISBN 978-0-7636-6087-1, 2012. Things turn around for a boy who feels alone and left out when hears one small word. A tribute to the joy and relief of finding a friend when you most need one. Ages 3-up.
Stop Bullying Bobby: Helping Children Cope with Teasing and Bullying by Danna Smith Mansell, illus. by Suzanne Riggio. Small Horizons, $8.95 paper ISBN 0-88282-253-5, 2004. When the new boy in her class is being bullied, Robin tells her parents about the problem and appropriate action is taken. Ages 4-7.
I Have the Right to Be a Child by Alain Serres, illus. by Aurélia Fronty, trans. by Helen Mixter. Groundwood Books, $18.95 ISBN 978-1-55498-149-6, 2012. A picture book introduction to the concept of human rights and the rights of children as stipulated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Ages 4-7.
Leave Me Alone: A Tale of What Happens When You Stand Up to a Bully by Kes Gray, illus. by Lee Wildish. Barron’s, $8.99 ISBN 978-0-7641-4736-4, 2011. A boy feels hopeless over his daily encounters with a bully until his friends band together and come up with a solution. Ages 4-7.
Stop Picking on Me: A First Look at Bullying by Pat Thomas, illus. by Lesley Harker. Barron’s, $7.99 ISBN 978-0-7641-1461-8, 2000. An introduction to the concept of bullies that includes reassuring tips for how to deal with the experience. Ages 4-7.
Ben Rides On by Matt Davies. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter, $16.99 ISBN 978-1-59643-794-4, August 2013. In this picture book from the Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist, Ben loves his new bike, until a bully steals it and Ben is forced to chase him down and get his bike back. Ages 4-7
Bully Bean by Thomas Weck and Peter Weck, illus. by Len DiSalvo. Lima Bear Press, $15.95 ISBN 978-1-933872-05-6, 2012. Bully Bean torments Lima Bear, but he changes his bullying ways when Lima Bear saves his life. Ages 4-8.
One by Kathryn Otoshi. KO Kids Books, $17.95 ISBN 978-0-9723946-4-2, 2008. Hothead color Red is always picking on quiet Blue. The other colors don’t know what to do about it until a number called One comes along and shows the colors that they can become numbers and COUNT together. Frequently used as an anti-bullying resource this book has encouraged action in schools and communities (“It Just Takes One” “Be the ONE”), has sold more than 100,000 copies, and was named an E.B. White Read-Aloud Award Honor Book in 2009. Ages 4-8.
Sea Monster and Bossy Fish by Kate Messner, illus. by Andy Rash. Chronicle, $15, July 2013. Sea Monster encounters a bully in the follow-up to Sea Monster’s First Day, about the titular character’s challenging moments at school. Ages 4-8.
Everyone Matters: A First Look at Respect for Others by Pat Thomas, illus. by Lesley Harker. Barron’s, $7.99 ISBN 978-0-7641-4517-9, 2010. A picture book look at what it means to earn respect—and to treat everyone fairly. Ages 4-8.
Noodles: I Hate Bullies! by Hans Wilhelm. Scholastic, $3.99 ISBN 978-0-439-70139-6, 2011. Noodles the white dog cleverly gets his bone back from a bully dog in this easy reader. Ages 4-8.
We're All Different but We're All Kitty Cats by Peter J. Goodman. DreamBig Press, $16.95 ISBN 978-0-9850-6830-1, 2012. On the first day of school, a cat with no furs show up, and his feline classmates learn to show him respect and friendship. Ages 4-8.
Only One You by Linda Kranz. Cooper Square (National Book Network, dist.), $12.95 ISBN 978-0-87358-901-7, 2006. The publisher notes that this book about self-esteem and finding one’s own path in life is often used by parents and educators to help children who have been bullied. Ages 4-up.
Miss Suzy by Miriam Young, illus. by Arnold Lobel. Purple House Press, $18.95 ISBN 978-1-930900-28-8, 2004.When Miss Suzy, a sweet gray squirrel, is driven from her treetop home by a band of mean red squirrels, she befriends some toy soldiers who help her find a peaceful way to reclaim her house. First published in 1964. Ages 4-up.
Pingo and the Playground Bully by Brandon Mull, illus. by Brandon Dorman. Shadow Mountain, $17.99 ISBN978-1-60907-178-3, 2012. Chad and his imaginary friend Pingo challenge each other over who has the best imaginary friend. When a bully pushes his way into the contest, Pingo has an unusual way to save the day. Ages 4-up.
Justin and the Bully by Tony Dungy. Simon Spotlight, $15.99 ISBN 978-1-4424-5719-5, 2012. When a tall girl on his soccer team teases Justin and calls him Shorty, he isn’t sure he wants to play the sport he loves anymore. Ages 5-7.
Freckleface Strawberry by Julianne Moore, illus. by LeUyen Pham, Bloomsbury, $16.95 ISBN 978-1-59990-107-7, 2007. Kids at school tease a girl about her freckles and nickname her Freckleface Strawberry. Ages 5-7.
Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully by Julianne Moore, illus. by LeUyen Pham, Bloomsbury, $16.99 ISBN 978-1-59990-316-3, 2009. Freckleface is forced to confront the school bully in a game of dodgeball. Ages 5-7.
Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, illus. by E.B. Lewis. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen ISBN 9780399246524, 2012. A girl regrets the opportunities she missed to show kindness to the new girl in school. Ages 5-8.
Wally Walrus by Barbara deRubertis, illus. by Jan Pyk. Kane Press, $5.95 paper ISBN 978-1-57565-046-3, 1998. In its 11th printing, this picture book features a walrus who is afraid to go to school because of bully Squawky Hawk—until the two discover that with respect comes friendship. Ages 5-8.
Alley Oops by Janice Levy, illus. by Cynthia B. Decker. Flashlight Press, $15.95 ISBN 9780972922548, 2005. A boy who bullies an overweight classmate and is scolded for his actions ends up bonding with his target over a shared interest in arm wrestling. This title has been included on a number of library and organizational lists of recommended anti-bullying books. Ages 5-9.
Little Zizi by Thierry Lenain, illus. by Stéphane Poulin. Cinco Puntos Press, $16.95 ISBN 978-1-933693-05-7, 2008. A boy is bullied because of the small size of his “zizi” (penis). Ages 5-up.
Say Something by Peggy Moss, illus. by Lea Lyon. Tilbury House, $7.95 paper ISBN 978-0-88448-310-6, 2008. This book by the former director of the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence depicts a girl who discovers that sympathizing with kids who are teased but standing silently by is not the best way to deal with bullies. Ages 5-up.
Gus Learns to Fly: Self-Defense Is Self-Discovery by Kimberly Richardson, photos by Adam Crowley. NewSage Press, $18 ISBN 978-0-939165-64-3, 2012. A seven-year-old boy uses his knowledge of the martial art Aikido to overcome a bully who is taunting him at school and on the walk home. Ages 5-up.
Wolfley-O’s by Sallie Lowenstein. Lion Stone Books, $17 ISBN 978-0-9658486-8-8, 2010. A precocious six-year-old finds the courage and confidence to face school bullies when he eats a bowl of magic cereal. Ages 5-up.
A Big Guy Took My Ball! by Mo Willems. Hyperion, $8.99 ISBN 978-1-4231-7491-2, May 2013. Piggie is devastated when a big guy takes her ball. Will her best friend Gerald be able to help? The 19th Elephant and Piggie adventure. Ages 6-8.
Clever Trevor by Sarah Albee, illus. by Paige Billin-Frye. Kane Press, $5.95 paper ISBN 978-1-57565-123-1, 2003. Buzz and his fellow bullies invade the playground where Trevor and his pals hang out—until Trevor works up the courage to challenge Buzz to a contest where winner takes all. Ages 6-8.
The Melancholic Mermaid by Kallie George, illus. by Abigail Halpin. Simply Read, $16.95 ISBN 978-1-897476-53-6, 2011. In this original fairy tale, two children with physical abnormalities (she a mermaid with two tails, he a boy with webbed fingers) become fast friends when they are both the target of bullies. Ages 6-9.
When I Get Older: The Story Behind ‘Wavin’ Flag’ by K’naan and Sol Guy, illus. by Rudy Gutierrez. Tundra, $17.95 ISBN 978-1-77049-302-5, 2012. Internationally known musician K’naan, whose song ‘Wavin’ Flag’ was the official anthem of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, recounts his struggle as a young immigrant from Somalia to fit in and how he was bullied for looking and dressing differently from his classmates. Ages 6-9.
Desmond and the Very Mean Word by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams, illus. by A.G. Ford. Candlewick, $15.99 ISBN 978-0-7636-5229-6, January 2013. After a group of boys shout a mean word at young Desmond, kindly Father Trevor helps him sort through his conflicted feelings and learn compassion. Inspired by an incident from Tutu’s childhood in South Africa. Ages 6-9.
The Orange Shoes by Trinka Hakes Noble, illus. by Doris Ettlinger. Sleeping Bear Press, $16.95 ISBN 978-1-58536-277-6, 2007. After elementary school bullies verbally abuse a classmate and destroy her prized possession, a girl uses her creative ability to teach an important lesson. According to the publisher, this book has been utilized in homes and classrooms, and for One School, One Book events. In Mechanicsville, N.Y., everyone, including K–5th graders, teachers and the entire school staff participated in the program. This inclusive approach insured that everyone was aware of the issues and ready to respond to bullying. Local law enforcement also spoke with teachers and parents about bullying and anti-bullying campaigns. Ages 6-10.
Better Than You by Trudy Ludwig, illus. by Adam Gustavson. Knopf, $15.99 ISBN 978-1-58246-380-3, 2011. Tyler learns that Jake’s bragging has nothing to do with Tyelr’s own abilities, while Jake realizes that puffing yourself up leaves little room for friends. Ages 6-up.
How the Moon Regained Her Shape by Janet Ruth Heller, illus. by Ben Hodson. Sylvan Dell, $9.95 ISBN 978-1607187042, 2012. In a story told through Indian folklore, the moon is bullied by the sun, and leaves the sky until animal friends help her regain self-confidence. In 2011, the book was adopted by The Peace Pizzazz, a community group based in Kalamazoo, Mich., that tries to foster kindness, empathy and inclusion among children, for use in a bullying-campaign in public schools. Ages 6-up.
Trouble Talk by Trudy Ludwig, illus. by Mikela Prevost. Tricycle Press $15.99 ISBN 978-1-58246-240-0, 2008. Relational aggression expert Ludwig acquaints readers with the damaging consequences of “trouble talk”: talking to others about someone else’s troubles in order to establish connection and gain attention. Ages 6-up.
My Secret Bully by Trudy Ludwig, illus. by Abigail Marble, Tricycle Press $15.99 ISBN 978-1-58246-159-5, 2005. With the help of her mother, Monica faces her fears and stands up to the girl who has been bullying her. In addition to her books, Ludwig has written a guide for Wonder by R.J. Palacio. Ages 6-up.
The Bully Goat Grim by Willy Claflin, illus. by James Stimson. August House, $18.95 ISBN 978-087483-952-4, 2012. This duo’s latest fractured fairy tale stars a goat with “Random Hostility Syndrome” and the brave and kind Baby Troll who stands up to the goat’s bullying ways. A CD audio recording of the story is packaged with the book. Ages 7-11.
Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers by Dav Pilkey. Scholastic, $9.99 ISBN 978-0-545-17534-0, 2011. In the ninth series entry, George and Harold travel back in time to kindergarten where the worst thing they had to face was sixth-grade bully Kipper Krupp. They must rely on their smarts to put the kibosh on Krupp. Ages 7-up.
Dealing with Bullying by Susan Martineau. Black Rabbit Books, $19.95 ISBN 978-1-59920-491-8, 2012. This title in the Positive Steps series offers a sensitive approach to issues of bullying, kindness and acceptance, and includes practical strategies for dealing with difficult situations. Ages 7-up.
Bully by Patricia Polacco. Putnam, $17.99 ISBN 978-0-399-25704-9, 2012. Polacco takes on bullies and cliques in the Facebook generation in her story of a girl who stands up to online bullying. Ages 7-up.
Zinc Alloy: The Invincible Boy-Bot by Donald Lemke. Capstone Young Readers/Stone Arch Books, $8.95 ISBN 978-1-4342-4597-7. 2012. Tired of being bullied at school, Zack builds a high-tech robot suit that allows him to become an invincible superhero. Ages 8-10.
Cyberbullying by Lucia Raatma. Scholastic Library Publishing/Children’s Press, $6.95 paper ISBN 978-0-531-23922-3, Jan. 2013. In this entry to the A True Book series, readers will learn about the many types of cyberbullying, why it’s important to avoid these activities and what to do if they are victims. Ages 8-10.
Stop Bullying by Lucia Raatma. Scholastic Library Publishing/Children’s Press, $6.95 paper 978-0-531-23921-6, Jan. 2013. An introduction to how to recognize the signs of bullying and stop it from continuing, as well as how to deal with aggressive bullies. Ages 8-10.
Dear Know-It-All: Set the Record Straight! By Rachel Wise. Simon Spotlight, $15.99 ISBN 978-1-4424-5383-8, 2012. Sam is cyberbullied via threatening emails after she unwittingly gives bad advice to a fellow student in the school paper. Ages 8-12
The Second Life of Abigail Walker by Frances O’Roark Dowell. Atheneum, $16.99 ISBN 978-1-4424-0593-6, 2012. The story of a girl who is being bullied, a discharged soldier with PTSD and the ancient, mysterious fox who connects them as they find a new way to live. Ages 8-12.
Hot Spots by Marilyn Halas. 4 Sunflowers Media, $14.95 ISBN 978-0-9883562-2-1, Dec. 2013. When the class bully at her new middle school finds out Evie has two dads, she becomes the victim of a well-publicized prank. Ages 8-12.
Greenhorn by Anna Olswanger, illus. by Miriam Nerlove. NewSouth Books, $15.95 ISBN 978-1-58838-235-1. 2012. A young Holocaust survivor who carefully guards the contents of a small box he carries with him arrives at a Brooklyn yeshiva in 1946 and is teased and taunted by his fellow students. Ages 8-12.
Golemito by Ilan Stavans, illus. by Teresa Villegas. NewSouth/Junebug Books, $16.95 ISBN 978-1-58838-292-4. Feb. 2013. Jewish boys in Mexico City confront classmate bullying by creating a Golem in this story that fuses Jewish and Latino traditions. Ages 8-12.
Cal Ripkin Jr.’s All Stars: Super-Sized Slugger by Cal Ripken, Jr. with Kevin Cowherd. Disney-Hyperion, $16.99 ISBN 978-1-4231-4001-6, 2012. Overweight but talented baseball player and new kid in school Cody suffers at the hands of bullies and must prove himself when he’s falsely accused of doing wrong. Inspired by Ripken’s personal experience with high school hazing. Ages 8-12.
I Am Jack by Susanne Gervay, illus. by Cathy Wilcox. Kane Miller, $5.99 ISBN 978-1-61067-128-6, Jan 2013. A 12-year-old boy who has been bullied finally confides in his parents and gets the help he needs to work toward a solution. I Am Jack is considered the rite-of-passage book on school bullying for Australian children. Australia’s MonkeyBaa Theatre has been touring a stage production based on the book, and a U.S. tour is planned for the near future. Ages 8-12.
The Reinvention of Edison Thomas by Jacqueline Houtman. Boyds Mills, $8.95 paper ISBN 978-1-59078-951-3, 2012. Middle school science geek Eddy Thomas is a great inventor and problem solver, though he doesn’t have the easiest time relating to other kids. Now, if only he could solve his bully problem. Ages 8-12.
The Creature from the Seventh Grade by Bob Balaban. Viking, $15.99 ISBN 978-0-670-01271-8, 2012. Seventh grader Charlie Drinkwater can’t play sports, has an embarrassing middle name, and the cool kids at school won’t stop torturing him. Oddly enough, when Charlie suddenly morphs into a giant dinosaur, the cool kids pay attention. Could things be looking up? Ages 8-12.
The Loser List by H.N. Kowitt. Scholastic, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-545-24004-8, 2011. Comics geek Danny Shine lands himself on the loser list posted in the girls’ bathroom at the hand of bully Chantal in this journal-illustrated-with-comics-style entry. Ages 8-12.
Ghost Buddy: Zero to Hero by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver. Scholastic, $5.99 ISBN 978-0-545-29882-7, 2012. Billy Broccoli wants to be cool and fit in at his new school, but that could be a tall order when he discovers he is sharing a room with a teenage ghost with an attitude named Hoover. “The Hoove” comes in handy when he helps Billy stand up to an obnoxious school bully. Ages 8-12.
STAT: Standing Tall and Talented #1: Home Court by Amar’e Stoudemire. Scholastic, $5.99 ISBN 978-0-545-38759-0, 2012. The series inspired by NBA star Soudemire’s childhood includes this entry about taking on some bullies that try to take over the neighborhood basketball court. Ages 8-12.
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick. Scholastic, $17.99 ISBN 978-0-590-47412-2; paper $6.99 ISBN 978-0-439-28606-0, 1993/2001. A perennial bestseller featuring two boys—one a slow learner in an oversized body and one a tiny Einstein in leg braces—who team up to create one formidable force. Ages 8-12.
The Odd Squad: Bully Bait by Michael Fry. Disney-Hyperion, $12.99 ISBN 978-1-4231-6924-6, Feb. 2013. At the suggestion of a well-intentioned guidance counselor, Nick, a short seventh grader who’s frequently bullied, joins a school club. The resulting reluctant band of oddballs joins together to fight bullies and any other middle-grade challenges. Ages 8-12.
Bystander Power by Phyllis Kaufman Goodstein and Elizabeth Verdick, illus. by Steve Mark. Free Spirit, $8.95 paper ISBN 978-1-57542-411-8, 2012. New to the Laugh & Learn series, this title offers a humorous look at how kids can stand up against bullying, support kids who are targeted, and spread the word that bullying isn’t cool. Ages 8-13.
Warp Speed by Lisa Yee. Scholastic/Levine, $16.99 ISBN 978-0-545-12276-4, 2011. Marley tries to run fast enough to stay invisible to bullies all while trying not to truly disappear from his life. Ages 8-up.
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts, illus. by Laura Park. Little, Brown, $15.99 ISBN 978-0316101875, 2011. Unconventional kid Rafe navigates all the challenges of middle school, including run-ins with school bully Miller the Killer with humor, courage and sensitivity. Ages 8-up.
Slant by Laura Williams. Milkweed, $16.95 ISBN 978-1-57131-681-3, 2008. A Korean-American adoptee struggles with self-image as she faces name-calling and other challenges of eighth grade. Ages 8-up.
Confessions of a Former Bully by Trudy Ludwig, illus. by Beth Adams. Tricycle Press, $15.99. ISBN 978-1-58246-309-4, 2012. Told from the point of view of the bully rather than the bullied, this book provides kids with real life tools they can use to identify and stop relational aggression. Ages 8-up.
Lula Bell on Geekdom, Freakdom & the Challenges of Bad Hair by C.C. Payne. Amazon Children’s Publishing, $16.99 ISBN 978-0-7614-6225-5, 2012. Weary of the constant bullying from her ex-BFF Kali, fifth grader Lula Bell tries to blend in by not standing out. But everything changes when Lula Bell must face tragedy at home and the anxiety of the talent show at school. Payne says of the inspiration for this book: “I plucked the bullying plotline from my own childhood – so bullies of the world beware: your victims might just remember you forever AND grow up to be writers!” Ages 8-up.
Deal with It: Bullying by Elaine Slavens, illus. by Brooke Kerrigan. James Lorimer/Orca, $12.95 paper, 978-1-55277-516-5, 2010. Provides an explanation of the many forms of bullying, and offers strategies for taking action against it. Ages 8-up.
Finn at Clee Point by Richard Knight, illus. by Giovanni Manna. Barefoot, $12.99 ISBN 978-1-84686-401-8, 2012. When 10-year-old Finn bonds with a family considered to be “outsiders” in their close-knit fishing village, he must find the courage to stand up for his new friends. Ages 8-up.
Runt the Brave: Bravery in the Midst of a Bully Society (Legends of Tira-Nor, Book 1) by Daniel Schwabauer, Living Ink Books, $12.99 ISBN 978-089957-848-4, 2012. In this fantasy, tiny mouse Runt is the only creature brave enough to stand up to the merciless army of rats that swarm and endanger his city. Ages 8-up.
The Friendship Matchmaker Goes Undercover by Randa Abdel-Fattah. Bloomsbury, $15.99 ISBN 978-0-8027-3485-3, Aug. 2013. Lara, the self-appointed “friendship matchmaker,” is tasked with helping the reformed school bully make friends. Ages 9-11.
Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead. Random House/Wendy Lamb, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-385-73743-2, 2012. When Georges and his family move to a new apartment building, Georges is thrilled to meet a friend and ally who doesn’t tease him like all the kids at school. The adventures of Georges and buddy Safer involve spies, games and hidden truths. Ages 9-12.
Cyberbullying: Deal with It and Ctrl Alt Delete It by Robyn MacFachern. James Lorimer, $12.95 ISBN 978-1-55277-037-5. 2009. Offers fun and practical tips for safely navigating the Internet where online name-calling, rumors, and threats have great impact. Ages 9-up.
Better Than Weird by Anna Kerz. Orca, $9.95 paper ISBN 978-1-55469-362-7, 2011. Aaron has trouble getting along with and understanding other kids and worries that his father—with whom he is reunited after several years—will think he’s weird. This book is excerpted in Orca’s October 2012 Text 2 Reader language arts program, which ties in with National Anti-Bullying Month. Ages 9-up.
Journal of a Schoolyard Bully: Notes on Noogies, Wet Willies, and Wedgies and Journal of a Schoolyard Bully: Cyberbully by Farley Katz. St. Martin’s Griffin, $12.99 each, ISBN 0-312-68158-5; 0-312-60658-3; 2011; 2012. Bully Niko Kayler is forced to keep a journal of his activities to help curb his bullying ways, but he secretly turns the project into a how-to for aspiring bullies. He continues his evil ways in Cyberbully, until the technology is ultimately turned against him. Featuring the cartoon-and-text style of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Ages 9-up.
Fight for Justice by Lori Saigeon. Coteau Books, $7.95 ISBN 978-1-55050-405-7, 2009. When Justice is the target of bullying he’s afraid to tell anyone, but a visit to his grandparents may just change his mind. Ages 9-up.
My Feet Aren’t Ugly: A Girl’s Guide to Loving Herself from the Inside Out by Debra Peck. Beaufort Books, $12.95 ISBN 978-082530602-0, 2011. This how-to book instructs young women on a variety of personal topics and helps them build self-esteem and confidence. Ages 10-14.
Eighth Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich. Scholastic/Levine, $16.99 ISBN 978-0-545-09676-8, 2010. An unfortunate incident at middle school has earned Reggie the nickname Pukey and a “nothing” reputation. It looks like another grim year until the clients at the local homeless shelter where Reggie volunteers give him the confidence to think about entering the race for school president and maybe turn his image around in the process. Ages 10-14.
Bully.com by Joe Lawlor. Eerdmans, $8 ISBN 978-0-8028-5413-1, Apr. 2013. A mystery novel about a brilliant student who, after being falsely accused of cyber bullying, struggles to find the true bully and prove his innocence within seven days. Ages 10-14.
The Revealers by Doug Wilhelm. FSG hardcover/Square Fish paperback, $16.99/$7.99, ISBN 978-0-374-46243-7/978-0-374-36255-3, 2003/2011. Tired of being bullied, three seventh grade outcasts join forces to create a new atmosphere at their middle school. Ages 10-14.
Hot Issues, Cool Choices: Facing Bullies, Peer Pressure, Popularity, and Put-Downs by Sandra McLeod Humphrey, illus. by Brian Strassburg. Prometheus Books, $14.98 ISBN 978-1-59102-569-6, 2007. A collection of stories told from the point of view of kids facing bullying that asks readers what they would choose to do if they were in the same situation. Ages 10-up.
Bystander by James Preller. Feiwel & Friends, $16.99 ISBN 978-0-312-37906-3, 2009. Eric, a new kid in seventh grade befriends school bully Griffin and has to choose between being a bystander or Griffin’s next target. Preller does hundreds of school visits a year talking about the “bystander effect” in bullying. The book boasts over 100,000 copies in print (hardcover and paperback editions). Ages 10-up.
Losing It by Erin Fry. Amazon Children’s Publishing, $16.99 ISBN 978-0761462200, 2012. When Bennett’s father suffers a health crisis and he’s taken in by his aunt and uncle, Bennett is forced to get serious about his obesity. He takes on the tough challenge—while facing a wicked school bully and even joining the cross-country team—hoping he’ll save both his own life and his dad’s in the long run. Ages 10-up.
Popular Clone by M.E. Castle. Egmont, $15.99 ISBN 978-1-60684-232-4, 2012. A 12-year-old science genius who is constantly tormented by a group of schoolmates decides to clone himself to outsmart the bullies and escape their wrath. Ages 10-up.
Please Stop Laughing at Me... One Woman’s Inspirational Story by Jodee Blanco. Adams Media, $12.95 ISBN 978-1-4405-0986-5, 2003; revised 2010. A survivor of school bullying chronicles her experiences as a class outcast from fifth grade through high school. Both editions of the original title have sold a combined total of more than 300,000 copies. This success has inspired a sequel and a companion journal. The author presents her day-long anti-bullying program called INJJA (It’s NOT Just Joking Around!) at schools and in communities nationwide. Ages 10-up.
By the Time You Read This, I’ll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters. Disney-Hyperion, $16.99 ISBN 978-1-4231-1618-9, 2010. Peters explores what might make a teenager want to kill herself after a lifetime of being bullied, as well as how she might bring herself back from the edge. A discussion guide and resource list prepared by “bullycide” (suicide by bullying) expert C.J. Bott are included at the end of the book. Ages 11-14.
The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen by Susin Nielsen. Tundra Books, $17.95 ISBN 978-1-77049-372-8, 2012. A boy and his parents struggle to cope after the boy’s brother kills classmates and takes his own life after being the subject of merciless bullying. Ages 11-14.
Bullying by Lori Hile. Capstone Young Readers/Heinemann-Raintree, $9.49 ISBN 978-1-4329-6539-6, 2012. A book designed to help kids understand and deal with bullying and explodes some myths about the topic. Ages 11-15.
Bullying by Anne Rooney. Black Rabbit Books, $24.95 ISBN 978-1-84837-703-5, 2010. Written in an advice-column formate, this Teen FAQ book provides facts and statistics about bullying and offers support and advice for dealing with bullies. Ages 11-up.
Surviving Gangs and Bullying by Michaela Miller. Black Rabbit Books, $24.95 ISBN 978-1-84837-692-2. 2011. Real-life, first-person accounts detail stories of various bullies and victims, and how those individuals coped with their situation. Ages 11-up.
121 Express by Monique Polak. Orca, $9.95 paper ISBN 978-1-55143-976-1, 2008. Looking to have a cooler image at his new school, Lucas joins in the dangerous antics of bullying troublemakers on the bus. Ages 11-up.
See No Evil by Diane Young. Orca, $9.95 paper ISBN 978-1-55143-619-7, 2006. Shawn and Daniel struggle with what to do after they witness a violent gang beating of another boy behind a local mall. Ages 11-up.
Tessa Masterson Will Go to Prom by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin. Walker, $16.99 ISBN 978-0-8027-2345-1, 2012. After Tessa comes out as a lesbian and plans to go to prom in a tuxedo with her girlfriend, an outraged community bans her from attending the dance unless she goes in a more conventional way. Ages 12-up.
Between by Jessica Warman, Bloomsbury, $17.99 ISBN 978-0-8027-2182-2, 2011. After her death, popular girl Elizabeth is trapped on earth with Alex, a boy that she bullied, and the two of them investigate the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Ages 12-up.
Freak by Marcella Pixley. FSG, $16.99 ISBN 978-0-374-32453-7, 2007. A seventh grade girl is bullied almost to the breaking point, but dares to confront the rigid conformity of junior high. Ages 12-up.
The Goats by Brock Cole. Square Fish, $7.99 paper ISBN 978-0-312-61191-0, 2010. A boy and a girl are stripped and marooned on a small island for the night. They are the “goats.” The kids at camp think it’s a great joke, just a harmless old tradition. But the goats don’t see it that way. First published in 1987, this novel is currently #30 on the ALA’s list of frequently challenged titles. The film version (titled Goat Island) debuted at Cannes in May 2012. Ages 12-up.
Scrawl by Mark Shulman. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter, $17.99 ISBN 978-1-59643-417-2, 2010. In this novel told in a journal format, a bully gets busted at school and is forced to write his story down during detention. Ages 12-up.
The Sweetest Spell by Suzanne Selfors, Bloomsbury, $16.99 ISBN 978-0-8027-2376-5, 2012. In this retelling of The Ugly Duckling, Emmeline is bullied by her entire village—including her family. Ages 12-up.
Girls Against Girls: Why We Are Mean to Each Other and How We Can Change by Bonnie Burton. Zest Books, $12.95 paper ISBN 978-0-9790173-6-0, 2009; revised edition in 2013. Includes scientific theories about why girls are cruel to each other; girls’ fighting tactics outlined and debunked; steps to take when things get out of hand; and positive advice for girls on how to unite and become more empowered. Ages 12-up.
Dear Teen Me: Authors Write Letters to Their Teen Selves, edited by E. Kristin Anderson and Miranda Kennedy. Zest Books, $14.99 paper, $14.99 ISBN 978-936976-21-8, 2012. Many of the personal letters included in this anthology have a bullying theme. Ages 12-up.
Envy by Gregg Olsen. Sterling, $9.95 ISBN 978-1-4549-0180-8, 2012. Debut title of the Empty Coffin series was inspired by the real-life story of a girl who killed herself after being the target of vicious cyber-bullying. Ages 12-up.
A Good Clean Edge by Vincent Caldey. Hodder & Stoughton/Orchard, dist. by IPG, $8.99 ISBN 978-1-4083-1302-2, 2012. Vincent must endure a war of nerves and a tragic turn of events when he encounters a knife-wielding bully at his new school. Ages 12-up.
Leaving Fletchville by Rene Schmidt. Orca, $9.95 paper ISBN 978-1-55143-945-7, 2008. Brandon is feared at the biggest toughest bully at his small-town school. When three new kids arrive in Kingsville, and are the only black people in town, Brandon learns more about their situation and tries to protect them from harm. Ages 12-up.
Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti. Viking, $17.99 ISBN 978-0-670-01225-1, 2012. As a survival mechanism Noelle doesn’t let anyone know the true extent of the torment she suffers from classmates’ bullying and her mother’s neglect. But when the animosity takes a dramatic turn and she realizes she must stand up for herself. Ages 12-up.
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Razorbill, $10.99 paper ISBN 978-1-59514-188-0, 2007. Asher’s debut novel that features the dual narratives of high school junior Clay and his recently deceased classmate Hannah has sold 1.5 million copies and become an integral part of anti-bullying literature. It’s one of the first books to tackle teen suicide from bullying in such a direct manner. Ages 12-up.
Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronn-Mills, Flux Books, $9.95 paper ISBN 978-0-7387-3251-0. 2012. A transgender boy finds his voice on the radio with the help of his best friend, his next-door neighbor, and Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll. Ages 12-up.
But I Love Him by Amanda Grace. Flux, $9.95 paper ISBN 978-0-7387-2594-9, 2011. Formatted using a series of flashbacks, Grace tells a haunting tale of a teenage girl’s year with her abusive boyfriend. Ages 12-up.
Butter by Erin Jade Lange. Bloomsbury, $16.99 ISBN 978-1-59990-780-2, 2012. A lonely obese boy everyone calls “Butter” plans to escape his bullying by committing suicide by eating himself to death, live on the Internet. Ages 12-up.
Freaks Like Us by Susan Vaught. Bloomsbury, $16.99 ISBN 978-1-59990-872-4, 2012. When Jason “Freak” Milwaukee’s best friend – whom he tries to protect from bullies – vanishes he’s determined to find her, but the voices in his head (a symptom of his schizophrenia) make it hard for him to help, and may even implicate him in her disappearance. Ages 12-up.
Jepp, Who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh. Hyperion, $16.99 ISBN 978-1-4231-3500-5, 2012. A teen dwarf in the 16th century who is mistreated and humiliated because of his appearance eventually rises to favored status when he gets a new master and is seen for his true self. Ages 12-up.
Trevor: A Novella by James Lecesne. Seven Stories Press, $12.95 ISBN 978-1-60980-420-6, 2012. Author, actor, activist and founder of the Trevor Project (the 24-hour crisis intervention and suicide prevention lifeline for LGBT and Questioning teens) Lecesne brings to life the fictional character who first appeared in a one-man show and an Oscar-winning short film before becoming the inspiration for the organization that bears his name. A portion of the proceeds from this book will benefit the Trevor Project. Ages 12-up.
A Certain Strain of Peculiar by Gigi Amateau. Candlewick, $16.99 ISBN 978-0-7636-3009-6, 2009. Done in by name-calling and bullying at her school, 13-year-old Mary goes to live with her grandmother in rural Alabama where she heals and becomes confident enough to defend another girl who has her own “peculiar” difficulties dealing with life. Ages 12-up.
The List by Siobhan Vivian. Scholastic PUSH, $17.99 ISBN 978-0-545-16917-2, 2012. Eight high school girls are suddenly under a harsh spotlight when they appear on “The List,” the annual anonymous ranking of the prettiest and ugliest girls in each grade. Ages 12-up.
The Letter Q: Queer Writers’ Notes to Their Younger Selves, edited by Sarah Moon with contributing editor James Lecesne. Scholastic/Levine, $17.99 ISBN 978-0-545-39932-6, 2012. An anthology that includes 64 award-winning LGBT authors and illustrators’ letters to their younger selves, designed as a project to reach out to vulnerable youth to offer hope, encouragement and community. Ages 12-up.
My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher. Little, Brown, $17.99 ISBN 978-0-316-17690-3, 2012. Ten-year-old Jamie struggles to make sense of his torn family after a terrorist attack claims the life of his sister. Constantly bullied by classmates at school, the one person who befriends him is Sunya, a Muslim. But Jamie is scared to death that his father, who blames all Muslims for the death of his daughter, will find out. Ages 12-up.
How to Be a Hater by Caprice Crane. Feiwel & Friends, $16.99 ISBN 978-1-250-00846-6, Aug. 2013. While moving to a new school, Hailey finds a notebook from her sister called “How To Be a Hater,” full of information about how to be popular. Armed with her new knowledge, she decides to dethrone the popular crowd from the inside out. Crane is prominent on social media and is a former screenwriter for 90210 (the new version) and MTV programming. She’s passionate about this project and getting girls to talk about high school bullying, and Macmillan is setting up teen pizza parties with bookstores and libraries to help start the conversation. Ages 13-up.
Vicious: True Stories About Teens and Bullying by Hope Vanderberg. Free Spirit, $11.99 paper ISBN 978-1-57542-413-2, 2012. A collection of real-life accounts from inner-city teens which will hopefully offer courage and hope to readers. Ages 13-up.
The Blood Lie by Shirley Reva Vernick. Cinco Puntos Press, $15.95 ISBN 978-1-933693-84-2, 2011. Inspired by true events in 1928 Massena, N.Y., the town engages in hostile bullying of its Jewish citizens when a Gentile girl goes missing in the woods. Ages 13-up.
The Dream Where the Losers Go by Beth Goobie. Orca, $8.95 paper ISBN 978-1-55143-455-1, 2006. A girl in treatment for self-destructive behavior learns that her so-called friends may be the reason she hurt herself. Ages 13-up.
The Downside of Being Charlie by Jenny Torres Sanchez. Running Press, $9.95 paper ISBN 978-0-7624-4401-4, 2012. Even after losing weight at fat camp over the summer, Charlie is still called “Chunks” when he returns to school for senior year. If only he could forget about his years of being bullied, and about his problems at home, maybe he could win the attention of the new girl in class. Ages 13-up.
Hate List by Jennifer Brown. Little, Brown, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-316-04144-7, 2009. This debut novel explores the aftermath of a tragic school shooting, told from the perspective of the shooter’s girlfriend. In an interview with YALSA Brown said: “I used personal experience to fill out the characters’ emotions. I was bullied in school, and I understand that feeling of embarrassment and loneliness and, at times, hatred.... Some of those emotions really never go away. They may hide for a number of years, but it doesn’t take too much to tease them back out in the open.” Ages 13-up.
Tap Out by Eric Devine. Running Press, $9.95 paper ISBN 978-0-7624-4569-1, 2012. A boy stuck in the cycle of poverty, bullying, drugs, and abuse all around him, finds a way to hope when a friend and the high school principal get him to enroll in a local mixed martial arts program. Ages 14-up.
Camp by Elaine Wolf. Sky Pony Press, $16.95 ISBN 978-1-61608-657-2, 2012. In this coming-of-age novel, a teen girl is bullied while at sleepaway camp for the first time and learns of dark family secrets that may help explain her mother’s harsh behavior. Ages 14-up.
The Beckoners by Carrie Mac. Orca, $9.95 paper ISBN 978-1-55143-729-3, 2007. Zoe has no idea how bad things can get when she is initiated into the cool girls’ group at her new school. A chilling portrait of school bullying and violence. Ages 14-up.
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina. Candlewick, $16.99 ISBN 978-0-7636-5859-5, March 2013. Piddy learns that a girl at her school wants to beat her up because Piddy’s considered stuck up, gets good grades, and doesn’t appear Latin enough. Piddy must decide who she wants to be and find a way to survive the harassment without running away or closing herself off from everyone Ages 14-up.
Fat Angie by e.E. Charlton-Trujillo. Candlewick, $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6119-9, Apr. 2013. After a suicide attempt, Angie struggles at high school as kids torment her about her weight, and her mother shows no interest. Luckily, a new girl arrives at school and looks beyond the “packaging” and appreciates Angie for her true character. Ages 14-up.
Cracked by K.M. Walton. Simon Pulse, $16.99 ISBN 978-1-4424-2916-1, 2012. A teenager and the boy who bullies him are roommates in the psych ward – one for having attempted suicide, and one for having attempted murder. Ages 14-up.
A Troublesome Boy by Paul Vasey. Groundwood Books, $16.95 ISBN 978-1-55498-154-0, 2012. A veteran journalist takes on the subject of institutionalized abuse at a boarding school for “troublesome” boys. Ages 14-up.
I Swear by Lane Davis. S&S, $16.99 ISBN 978-1-4424-3506-3. 2012. Leslie commits suicide after years of abuse from her classmates and her tormenters now are dealing with the fallout and the consequences of cyberbullying. Ages 14-up.
A Touch of Scarlet by Eve Marie Mont. K-Teen, $9.95 ISBN 978-0-7582-6949-2, Apr. 2013. In Mont’s novel, contemporary teenager Emma finds her life echoing that of Hester Prynne, who suffers great torment in Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Ages 14-up.
Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King. Little, Brown, $9.99 paper ISBN 978-0-316-12927-5, 2012. Lucky Linderman escapes the bullying of a classmate by escaping into the dreams of the war-ridden jungles of Laos, where his grandfather, who never returned from the Vietnam War, is still trapped. King has said that this book sprang from “an idea that we are all prisoners. An idea that bullying is a widely ignored form of torture. An idea that only we can choose to escape our own prisons. An idea that no one can take something from you if you don't give it. These are the ingredients.” Ages 14-up.
Pieces of Us by Margie Gelbwasser. Flux Books, $9.95 ISBN 978-0-7387-2164-4, 2012. Each summer two sets of teen siblings, brothers Alex and Kyle and sisters Katie and Julie, leave behind their “normal” lives to become other people while visiting their grandparents in the Catskills. But a dark secret that makes Katie the target of cyberbullying may be the breaking point for them all. Ages 14-up.
Don’t Let Me Go by J.H. Trumble. Kensington, $15 ISBN 978-0-7582-6927-0, 2012. Nate takes efforts to stamp out bigotry in his high school after becoming the target of anti-gay bullying when he blogs about missing his boyfriend who has graduated and moved to another city. Ages 16-up.
FOR EDUCATORS AND PARENTS
Circle in the Square: Building Community and Repairing Harm in School by Nancy Riestenberg. Living Justice Press, $20 ISBN 978-0-9721886-7-8, 2012. This offering from a nonprofit all-volunteer publisher provides examples and ideas for cultivating a healthy school environment by using the Circle process (a sharing/discussion model that promotes restorative dialogue).
Empowered YOUth: A Father and Son’s Journey to Conscious Living by Michael Eisen and Jeffrey Eisen. Hay House, $15.95 ISBN 978-1-4019-3938-0, 2012. A father and son eventually build a strong new relationship after they are torn apart when the son is bullied and the father doesn’t know how to help him.
No Place for Bullying: Leadership in Schools That Care for Every Student by Jim Dillon. Corwin, $39.95 paper ISBN 9781452216690, 2012. Describes the paradigm shifts a school principal needs to create in order to develop and lead a school-wide bully prevention program.
STAND TALL, Grades 4-6: Lessons That Teach Respect and Prevent Bullying by Suzanne W. Peck. Corwin, $69.95 paperback with DVD ISBN 978-1-4522-4105-0, 2012. This video-based educational program shows teachers how to create a positive learning environment in which all students feel respected.
Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard: Preventing and Responding to Cyberbullying by Sameer Hinduja and Justin W. Patchin. Corwin, $39.95 paper ISBN 978-1-4129-6689-4, 2008. With a focus on how technology can facilitate or magnify bullying behavior, this resource provides proactive strategies, current research, and legal rulings to protect students from cyberbullying.
Asperger Syndrome and Bullying: Strategies and Solutions by Nick Dubin. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-84310-846-7, 2007. Provides a range of effective strategies to address bullies and bullying that can be used by parents, professionals and schools and offers individuals with AS who are being bullied the opportunity to see that they are not alone.
Surviving Girlhood: Building Positive Relationships, Attitudes and Self-Esteem to Prevent Teenage Girl Bullying by Nikki Giant and Rachel Beddoe. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, $29.95, ISBN 978-1-84905-925-1, Dec. 2012. A resource for preventing girl bullying that addresses the root causes and helps girls to be strong, positive individuals. Through five key themes, from “Being Me” to “Conflict Resolution,” girls will also build self-awareness, self-esteem, and strong relationship skills.
Bully: An Action Plan for Teachers, Parents and Communities to Combat the Bullying Crisis, edited by Lee Hirsch and Cynthia Lowen, with Dina Santorelli. Weinstein Books, $15.99 paper ISBN 978-1-60286-184-8, 2012. The companion book to the acclaimed documentary, Bully takes readers beyond the closing credits of the film and empowers them with step-by-step solutions to constructively approach the bullying problem in their own families, schools and communities.
The Essential Guide to Bullying: Prevention and Intervention by Cindy Miller and Cynthia Lowen. ALPHA, $15.95 paper, ISBN 978-1-61564-206-9, 2012. An extensive reference guide that offers specific advice on how to protect children and teens from physical, emotional, and online bullying.
Bullying: Replies, Rebuttals, Confessions, and Catharsis, ed. By Magdalena Gomez and Maria Luisa Arroyo. Skyhorse Publishing, $16.95 paper, ISBN 9781616087272, 2012. An anthology of original essays, poetry, plays and commentary from real-life bullies and victims.
Hey Back Off!: Tips for Stopping Teen Harassment by Jennie Withers with Phyllis Hendrickson. New Horizon, $14.95 paper ISBN 978-0-88282-365-2, 2011. Real-life examples demonstrate effective strategies for combating teen bullying. For educators, parents and teens.
Bullying In a Cyberworld. Didax. A collection of activity books (for grades 4-8) and poster sets (for grades 2-8) addressing the impact of cyberbullying on children and designed for classroom use.
