Is a bully picking on your child at school? Or are you concerned about your son’s or daughter’s behaviour? Sometimes a book on bullying can help. You might want some advice. Perhaps a work of fiction is good. Here are a few listed below.
Bullies: Monologues on Bullying for Teens and Adults by Jim Chevalier. Amazon. £2.75 ISBN 2014. This collection of monologues looks at bullying from different points of view: those of the victims and the bullies, of teachers and parents, of bystanders who may or may not step in.
Act Against Bullying by Louise Burfitt-Dons New Century. £9.75. ISBN 978-09538522. First published in 2002 the author has updated the monologues which now include cyberbullying, exclusion bullying, sexting and parental abuse. In book form, these little plays look at bullying from the perspective of victims, bullies and bystanders. Ages 7 upwards.
Finn at Clee Point by Richard Knight, illus. by Giovanni Manna. Barefoot, £7.99 ISBN 978-1-84686-401-8, 2012. When 10-year-old Finn bonds with a family considered being “outsiders” in their close-knit fishing village, he must find the courage to stand up for his new friends.
Don’t Worry, Be Happy by Poppy O’Neill, Summersdale £10.99 ISBN 978-1-78685-236-6 is a child’s practical guide to overcoming anxiety. Combining cognitive-behavioural therapy methods with simple activities, she designed this guide to get children thinking about themselves and how they deal with worries while giving them the tools needed to recognise and overcome anxiety. It is also useful as a book on bullying. Advice for parents and carers. Ages 7-11.
You’re a Star by Poppy O’Neill, Summersdale £10.99 ISBN 978-1-78685-235-9 is a child’s guide to self-esteem. Provides tools and information about how to stay feeling good about themselves and how to develop ways to cope with things that get them down. There are sections on what self-esteem is, boosting self-esteem, controlling unhappy thoughts, looking after themselves, and plans for the future. Ages 7-11.
Runt the Brave: Bravery in the Midst of a Bully Society (Legends of Tira-Nor, Book 1) by Daniel Schwabauer, Living Ink Books, £10.05 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, £12.55 ISBN 978-0-8027-3485-3, Aug. 2013. Lara, the self-appointed “friendship matchmaker,” has a task. Help the reformed school bully make new friends. Ages 9 – 11. 
Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead. Random House/Wendy Lamb £7.75, ISBN 978-0-385-73743-2, 2012. When Georges and his family move to a new apartment building, Georges thrills at meeting a friend and ally who doesn’t tease him like all the kids at school. Useful book on bullying.
Cyberbullying: Deal with It and Ctrl Alt Delete It by Robyn MacFachern. James Lorimer, £20.65 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, £7.70 paper ISBN 978-1-55469-362-7, 2011. A book on bullying which covers family relationships. Aaron has trouble getting along with and understanding other kids and worries that his father—with whom he becomes reunited after several years—will think he’s weird. This book has an excerpt in Orca’s October 2012 Text 2 Reader language arts program, which ties in with National Anti-Bullying Month..
Eighth Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich. Scholastic/Levine, £6.18 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 as well. Ages 10-14.
Bully.com by Joe Lawlor. Eerdmans, £5.99 978-0-8028-5413-1, 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.
