“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”
-Aristotle |
Bullying & LiteratureBullying. It's a term used very frequently in today's media. The reason for that is because of the consequences of bullying. As an educator, I must advocate for better solutions to bullying. One way bullying can be addressed in the classroom is through children's literature. Below you will find several books for different age levels that bring up bullying.
Click here to find activities for bullying! 1 in 4 children face some form of bullying in their k-12 school years (Ellis). It is time we act. |
The Silence ShootFor more information about the Silence Shoot and advocating for suicide and bullying awareness, please visit this site.
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Blubber
Author: Judy Blume
Page Count: 127 Reading Level: 3-5th grade Personal Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Genre: Realistic Fiction Favorite Quote: “We made Linda say, I am Blubber, the smelly whale of class 206. We made her say it before she could use the toilet in the Girls' Room, before she could get a drink at the fountain, before she ate her lunch and before she got on the bus to go home. It was easy to get her to do it. I think she would have done anything we said. There are some people who just make you want to see how far you can go.” Summary: Blubber tells the story of a fifth grade classroom where bullying occurs. The main character is a girl named Jill, who is actually one of the bullies in the book. The bullies are cruel to another heavy-set girl named Linda, who they nickname “Blubber” and the “smelly whale of class 206” after she gives a report on whales. The bullying toward Linda increases more and more throughout the story, and it is interesting because of Jill’s perspective. She doesn’t think bullying could happen to her—until it does. Jill is quite different than Linda and handles the bullying differently, she is less of a “push over” and more confrontational. The book continues as Jill realizes how it feels to be bullied. Literary Analysis: I really loved this book even though it was hard to read. The characters are so complex, especially for a book that’s less than 150 pages long. However, there are some valid controversies to the book. The bullies in the book are never really punished. The teachers continuously seem oblivious to the bullying, and the book has some very difficult scenes to read. Despite that, I did love the story. It’s quickly paced and I like that it’s told from the bully’s perspective rather than from the perspective of someone being bullied. It’s very original. The writing is fast paced and easy to understand and I feel it would grip younger readers’ hearts quite well. Why should this book be used in the classroom? This is the classic bullying story. A heavy-set girl is teased by other girls in her class, and it continues on until one of the bullies gets a turn on the receiving end. It’s powerful. Simply put, the book contains many scenes (such as the scene where Wendy makes Linda say she will “always be blubber” even if she loses weight), that can spark very deep conversation. The book brings a lot of awareness to bullying from different perspectives, and I feel that’s very important. The writing is appropriate for the age range it was written for, and there are many resources available online to pair with the story. |
Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Page Count: 487 pages Reading Level: 8th-12th grade Personal Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars Genre: Science Fiction Favorite Quote: “We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.” Summary: Divergent is a science fiction story set in a dystopian Chicago. The story follows a sixteen-year-old girl named Beatrice as she approaches her “choosing ceremony.” In the society, everyone is split up into five factions. There’s Amity (the peaceful), Erudite (the intelligent), Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), and Dauntless (the brave). These factions each hold different traits to be most valuable, and blame different traits for the way the world is. Beatrice is from the Abnegation faction. At the age of sixteen, all members of society get to choose a new faction (or stay in their current one). Beatrice is special. She is Divergent, meaning she doesn’t fit into one of the factions. This is dangerous because she cannot be controlled. Beatrice decides to choose Dauntless, where she must undergo a very harsh initiation in order to gain acceptance and full membership into the faction. While Dauntless used to be a faction about protecting people, it now seems to be a faction about recklessness and violence. The story ends with a large cliff hanger, and a looming war between the factions Erudite, Abnegation, and Dauntless—with Divergent’s being the issue. Literary Analysis: I really enjoyed Divergent. I thought the book was very well written and is incredibly fast paced. It holds readers’ attention as it constantly has very intense plot scenes, and features a lot of world building. I also really love the characters. Tris is a very well developed girl, and I like the way Roth discusses Tris’ emotions about herself and who she wants to be. Four is also an interesting character, who I found myself absolutely gripped by. The story is science fiction as it features scientific technology that doesn’t yet exist, and the idea of Divergence is all based in genetics. I also really liked the overarching theme of the story: no one is just one trait. People have good traits and bad traits, but that doesn’t make someone inherently good or evil, it makes them human. Even if someone has fears, isn’t the smartest, or has told a lie, they can overcome their “weaknesses” in the fact of challenges. I also liked that Tris is a strong female character, and is very relatable to girls. This was important for me, especially when it came to the bullying in the book. Why should this book be used in the classroom? While on the surface Divergent doesn’t seem like a book that’s about bullying, it does feature a fair amount of bullying. The initiation Tris must go through is stock full of bullying in the form of Eric and some of the other initiates. For example, Tris is mocked constantly for being a “Stiff” meaning she comes from Abnegation. Al is also mocked for being a “coward” when he didn’t want to retrieve knives while others were throwing. Christina is made to hang from the edge of the chasm simply for being too exhausted and hurt to continue a fight. These examples are just some of the larger points of bullying in the story. What makes this so fascinating is the idea of what “Dauntless” means. Dauntless is meant to represent those who are brave, who have the courage to stand up for others, yet there are many points in the book where the idea of “old” vs “new” Dauntless comes into play. This could open up to a very interesting discussion on bullying and how bravery is seen in the book. It is also very enjoyable to read, and older students would be able to see the problems with the bullying very easily. There’s also a movie, which could be good to show in the classroom for older students. |
The Watson's Go to Birmingham, 1963
Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Page Count: 224 pages Reading Level: 6th-8th grade Personal Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Genre: Historical fiction Favorite Quote: “It was real embarrassing but tears just exploded out of my face and even though I knew she was going to be disappointed in me I told Momma how I'd hurt Rufus's feelings.” Summary: The Watson’s are the feature family in this historical fiction. As the title suggests, the story takes place in the year 1963, first in Michigan, and then in Alabama. The story follows the Watson family as they navigate their daily lives living in Michigan. It features rather funny scenes such as Byron getting his tongue stuck to a cold window, and then more upsetting scenes such as the climax at the church in Birmingham. The plot follows the Watson’s as they travel from Michigan to Alabama because of Byron, the main character Kenny’s older brother, who cannot behave himself. The parents believe a summer in Birmingham will help fix that. However, when the family gets to Birmingham they are present during a very upsetting attack. Told from Kenny’s perspective, the book is very fast paced and a great read. Literary Analysis: Overall, I felt that this book was well done. My biggest critique is that the climax of the story happens far too late in the book, and there’s not enough wrap up to be satisfying after. However, it is still a very valuable read. The characters (especially Kenny and Byron) are well developed, realistic characters who children are able to relate to. I also like that the book is about an African American family as it displays diversity. The themes of the story include acceptance and tolerance (it takes place during the Civil Rights movement), doing the right thing even when it’s scary (Kenny’s guilt for hurting Rufus’ feelings, his guilt in the church scene), and themes of family and sticking together (Byron being protective of Kenny). These themes are great for the classroom and students can take a lot from them. While the story is not incredibly fast paced to begin with, it picks up quickly and is very engaging. I also like that while not solely about bullying, the scenes that do involve bullying are very well written and thoughtful, especially the relationship between Kenny and Byron. Why should this book be used in the classroom? While the book is more about racism than bullying, bullying is a very present part of the story. Kenny is bullied at school, and is bullied by his older brother and his friend. Kenny also witnesses bullying of others, particularly his new friend Rufus who’s from the south and made fun of for it. What I like most about the bullying in this book is the way Kenny feels toward it. He’s experienced it, but fear and a desire to let the bullying happen to others lets him make a poor decision. This is a valuable lesson for children to learn about. I also like that it’s so easy to talk about why people bully, and what might fuel bullying. Is it a racial thing? Is it because someone doesn’t have enough to eat at home? These questions can easily be discussed with this book. There’s also a great movie, and it’s a book that can easily open up into other discussions and topics outside of bullying as well. |
The Bully Blockers Club
Author: Teresa Bateman
Page Count: 32 Pages Reading Level: 1st-3rd grade Personal Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Genre: Beast Tale/Folklore Favorite Quote: “How do you feel when someone’s bullying you?” She asked. “Sad” said Laurie. “Scared,” Lotty whispered. “Sick,” Barney added. “Lonely.” “Angry,” other children said. Grant was silent.” Summary: This story follows a young girl (raccoon) who attends a new school. At first she’s very excited, until a boy named Grant starts to bully her. He’s quite mean to her, calling her names and pushing her around. She continuously asks her older sister and younger brother for advice, and tries each of their suggestions but nothing seems to be working. One day, Lotty, the main character, notices that Grant bullies other people too—and only when teachers or adults aren’t looking. She comes up with an idea to form a club with other people who are being bullied. Whenever the club sees Grant doing something mean, they speak up and draw attention to the situation so that adults notice. The club is successful, as their teacher then decides to have a class meeting about bullying. Lotty is nice in the end to Grant as well, and he seems remorseful for how he treated people. Literary Analysis: This book is fantastic. What I love most is that Lotty finds ways to deal with the bullying that don’t involve violence, even when that’s suggested to her by her younger brother. Lotty uses kindness and peaceful means to stop the bullying. The illustrations are very well done and help convey the emotions of the story (such as Grant’s remorsefulness at the end), and are beautiful. The story is easy to read and would make for a great read aloud book. I thought Lotty was a well-developed character for being in a picture book, as children are quickly able to see her emotions and relate to her. Overall, I definitely plan to use this story in my future classroom. Why should this book be used in the classroom? The way bullying is discussed in this story is so well done. Lotty fears being a tattletale, and she seeks advice several times for stopping the bullying. This is very relatable to children. I also love the classroom meeting (see activity #1), as it can promote many class discussions on bullying. It’s easy to read, cute, and does a fantastic job talking about difficult issues in a way appropriate for younger children. I also like that things are honest—teachers cannot follow each student around every second of every day, so this book talks about ways children can handle bullying on their own, and reminds them that telling an adult is important and not tattling. This book is probably one of the best bullying books for younger elementary students, and should definitely be used. |
Say Something
Author: Peggy Moss
Page Count: 32 pages Reading Level: K-3rd grade Personal Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Genre: Realistic fiction Favorite Quote: “When I went home, I told my big brother I was mad at the kids at the table next to mine. He shrugged and said, “Why? They didn’t do anything.” “Right.” I said.” Summary: This picture book follows one young girl as she witnesses bullying at school. Repeatedly she sees various children bullied in different ways, from teasing, to being left to sit alone, to being laughed at. Each time she thinks that she’s okay because she’s not doing the bullying, she’s not teasing or laughing. One day, she is left alone in the cafeteria because her friends are out, and some children pick on her. She realizes there are kids next to her and they aren’t doing anything, which makes her angry until she realizes she’s been doing the same thing. At the end, she makes efforts to befriend others who were being bullied, and tries to speak up. Literary Analysis: One of my favorite things about this picture book is the illustrations. I absolutely loved the pictures. Not only do the pictures feature diverse students, but they are also very reflective of the feelings in the story and are beautiful. I also loved the theme of this story: speak up for others if you can, and treat others the way you want to be treated. This message is great for young readers’. This is also a perfect read aloud story as it’s very engaging and relatable and isn’t very long. There are also many very good readings online! I also liked the main character, even though she isn’t named. It’s told from her perspective and she is very real. Many children feel that they aren’t doing anything wrong when they just witness bullying and do not participate. I like that this story discusses whether or not that’s true. Why should this book be used in the classroom? Being a bystander is a good topic to discuss when talking about bullying. This book is all about being a bystander—witnessing bullying and doing nothing. This is a different point of view than many other books about bullying, and can lead to interesting discoveries for children. It can also encourage children to try to speak up for others, or at least to treat others as they wish to be treated. I also think the diversity in this book is fantastic as it shows many children are bullied, and it’s not just one race or religion or “type” of child. This will help children to feel even more connected to the story. It’s very well-written and a great read for lower elementary grades. |
Wolf by Wolf
Author: Ryan Graudin
Page Count: 379 pages Reading Level: 8th-12th grade Personal Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Genre: Science Fiction/Alternate History Favorite Quote: “I'm tired of fixing things that always break.” Summary: This story is an alternate history story in which the Axis powers won World War Two instead of the Allied powers. The story takes place in 1956 from the viewpoint of a young girl named Yael. Yael was placed in a concentration camp when she was younger, but due to something that happened in the camps, she is now able to change her appearance. This ability helps her in the story as she is able to join the resistance in hopes of ending Hitler’s reign. The story starts off with the Axis Tour, a cross-continental motorcycle race featuring teenagers from Hitler’s territory, and teenagers from the Japanese territory. Yael impersonates a victor from the previous year in hopes of winning the race and being able to assassinate Hitler at the victory ball. The story is a thriller with plot twists, danger, and excitement at every turn. Literary Analysis: I could not put this book down. From the very first page I was completely engrossed with the story. Yael is such a strong female character. She is by far one of the strongest characters I’ve ever read. She is extremely developed, and though her story is far different than many individuals, she is very relatable. She feels guilt, she struggles with her conscience, she has fears, she is courageous, she is strong and weak, and all sorts of things mixed together. That makes her real. I also love the other characters, especially Felix, who is the twin of the girl Yael impersonates. Not only are the characters extremely well developed, but so is the plot. The plot is so fast-paced; it makes you hold your breath the entire time you’re reading. The action scenes are incredible, the descriptions are beautiful, and it feels very real. I also love that this is an alternate history for young adult readers. There are not many young adult alternate history’s, and that opens high school readers to a new genre. On top of that, I loved the themes throughout the story. There are themes of hope, courage, fear, loss, hatred, compassion, all intertwined in a story that is both heartbreaking and endearing at the same time. Graudin is incredible, and the world she created will stick with me for a very, very long time. Why should this book be used in the classroom? This book should only be used in high school, but it is absolutely a great book to use. Setting aside the historical context, the themes of hatred and war, and even the science fiction aspect of Yael’s abilities, the book is still jammed pack with good discussion points. One of these points is bullying. Yael is bullied by the other racers. There are physical fist fights in the story, cheating, sabotage, and verbal fights. This is all mixed in with the overarching hatred that comes with Nazism and the World War Two era. The bullying in this book is almost subtle, but the important and interesting part is the opportunity to discuss whether or not someone’s upbringing is an excuse for behavior. This is definitely a more difficult book to read, and a deeper conversation, but I think it is important. It provokes the question “why do people bully” in a very severe way. Not only that, but the book has so many valuable lessons and historical components that it would easily become a book that could be discussed repeatedly for different lessons. |
Other Books to Consider
Ellis, Ross. "The Issue Of Bullying." STOMP Out Bullying ::. Love Our Children USA/STOMP
Out Bullying, 2007. Web. 06 Apr. 2016.
Out Bullying, 2007. Web. 06 Apr. 2016.