Books in Houghton Library
Blume, Judy
Blubber
The protagonist of "Blubber", Jill, is just an average girl who joins her class in the persecution of an overweight girl, Linda. She goes along with this persecution because she wants to fit in with her classmates and because of the sheer "fun" of it.
Cannon, J.
Crickwing
Students see what bullying would be like from the bully’s point of view.
Casanova, Mary
Chrissa
Chrissa Maxwell moves to a new school and the girls in her fourth grade class are unfriendly. Her grandmother encourages her to be nice but the bullying continues. Chrissa must find the courage to stand strong.
Holt, Kimberly Willis
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town
This book is about friendship, loss, life, love, and everything that connects them.
Johnson, Julie
How Do I Feel About Bullies and Gangs
The illustrations, photographs, cartoon strips and easy-to-read text in this book are an imaginative way to help young readers deal with the problem of bullying and to understand the differences between good and bad gangs.
Lord, Cynthia
Rules
A new girl has moved in next door to Catherine and her family. She would love to make Kristi a friend, but there’s always the threat that the new girl would be overly freaked out by David, her autistic brother. And then there’s Jason, the wheelchair bound boy she knows from the occupational therapy visits. Pretty soon Catherine’s going to have to decide what kind of friend she’s really looking for.
Ludwig, Trudy
Just Kidding
The story itself is realistic and poignant and makes the distinction between “tattling” and “reporting.” When D.J. is teased unmercifully by Vince, D.J.’s life becomes miserable and he begins to feel like a “loser.”
Ludwig, Trudy
My Secret Bully
Monica, a “tween” (8 – 12) is facing the ugly truth about subtle bullying. Her former friend Katie makes snide comments about her to other girls; excludes her from games and tells Monica who she can and cannot talk to.
Ludwig, Trudy
Trouble Talk
The book tackles the real social problems that kids have to deal with – the rumors, the difficult relationships, forgiveness, lies, trust…
Martin, Ann
A Corner of the Universe
Hattie’s universe is permanently altered the summer she turns twelve, when for the first time she meets her 21-year-old mentally ill Uncle Adam, Hattie, an introspective only child with few friends, feels alternately enchanted by Adam’s childlike exuberance and concerned that she might be somehow “like him.” She becomes protective of him as she witnesses the cruel reaction of those who deem him a “freak.”
Mohr, Nicholasa
Felita
Felita faces prejudice and harassment from the kids on her street when her Puerto Rican family moves to a new neighborhood. Her supportive relatives, especially her grandmother, encourage her to take pride in her heritage and her strength.
Philbrick, Rodman
Freak the Mighty
The novel follows the unlikely “Odd Couple” – like friendship between Max, who lives with his grandparents, and an enormous eighth grader who is on the slow side, yet has plenty of common sense.
Polacco, Patricia
Mr. Lincoln’s Way
When Mr. Lincoln discovers that Eugene, the school bully, knows a lot about birds, he uses this interest to help Eugene overcome his intolerance.
Reynolds Naylor, Phyllis
Roxie and the Hooligans
Even though Roxie Warbler is the niece of the celebrated explore, Uncle Dangerfoot, she is still the target of bullies. When Roxie is attacked by this gang of hooligans, she and the hooligans are thrust into an adventure that none of them expect, an adventure that takes them from being buried alive in the garbage to standing face to face with blood-thirsty bank robber. But, in the end, truth and justice prevail.
Romain, Trevor
Bullies are a Pain in the Brain
Nine through twelve year old children will appreciate the infusion of humor into this cartoon-like picture book. This book will help empower children who are victims of bullies and can be a tool to start conversation on the subject.
Spinelli, Jerry
Loser
A powerful character study that follows a boy from birth through 6th grade, this story helps to define who the real losers are.
Wilson, Jacqueline
My Brother Bernadette
Bernard is not thrilled with the idea of going to summer camp. Early on, Bernard tangles with the bully Big Dan and earns the hated nickname Bernadette. Eventually he finds a safe haven in the clothing design class. Bernard’s grandmother has taught him some basics about sewing, and he has a flair for design. Pretty soon he creates a jacket, draws an admiring crowd and lets these kids know that his name is Bernard. When Bernard designs the costumes for the end-of-camp play, he shows that brains and skillful fingers can overcome the bully’s brawn.
Books in the Community
Alexander, Jill
The Sweetheart of Prosper County
This refreshing tale of a young girl who is trying to discover her true self; it discusses issues that would challenge any teen: the loss and absence of a parent, the struggles of “body image” issues, the first feelings for a boy, the realization that friends have separate lives, the struggles to find a “group” with which to identify, coming to terms with winning and losing, and hoe to handle bullies.
Almond, David
The Savage
Blue’s counselor advises him to try writing down his feelings to help deal with the pain of his father’s death, but that really doesn’t work very well. Then Blue starts to write a story about a wild child who lives in the woods who, on occasion, kills and eats people. His story tells about the savage child interacting with Blue and his sister, and how the Savage hates the boy, Hopper, that bullies Blue at school.
Bauer, Michael Gerard
Don’t Call me Ishmael
This book, set in Austria, would appeal to young teenage boys, as it deals with issues that relate to them. The story is told with a sense of humor.
Berman, B.
Dorie Witt’s Guide to Surviving Bullies
The text follows Dorie’s transitioning from grade school to middle school and then to high school. The book provides great advice for anyone who is dealing with bullying issues.
Bloor, Edward
Tangerine
Paul transfers himself from his local affluent school in the suburbs to a far more rough and tumble public facility. He makes friends with the kids in that school, faces racism on the part of his old school chums, and begins to understand a little more about white privilege. The novel deals with racism, classism, social consciousness, and environmental concerns.
Bosch, Carl W.
Bully on the Bus
Written in a “choose your own ending” format, the reader decides what action to take while dealing with a bully. The reader can choose from many alternatives that include ignoring, talking to an adult, confronting the bully, fighting, and reconciling.
Bryant, Annie
Just Kidding
Classmates learn first hand that gossip can spread quickly and cause a great deal of damage.
Butler, Dori Hillestad
The Truth About Truman School
Butler’s novel about bullying in middle school is so very close to the truth. From cyber-bullying to flat out name calling, Butler offers an unflattering, yet true-to-life view of middle school social trends.
Card, Orson Scott
Ender’s Game
This is a sci-fi adventure, with some intriguing ethical and social questions, and a good storyline that reminds us that an astounding genius is, after all, only a human being.
Carlson, Nancy
Loudmouth George and the Sixth Grade Bully
After having his lunch repeated stolen by a bully twice his size, George, with the help of his friend Harriet, finally teach the bully a lesson.
Cassidy, Cathy
Driftwood
Everyone thinks that Paul, Joey’s foster brother, needs rescuing – but no one knows how badly Paul is being bullied, but with help he can find a way to help himself.
Choldenko, Gennifer
If a Tree Falls at Lunchtime
All summer long Rory has essentially been out of contact with Kirsten. All summer long Kirsten’s mother and father, despite living in the same house, have essentially refused direct contact with each other. Kirsten has reacted to all this by putting on 30 pounds over a four month period. And now, as seventh grade begins, she finds that Rory is suddenly running with the in-crowd.
Clements, Andrew
Jake Drake, Bully Buster
A fourth grader looks back over his years in school and his early experiences as a “bully magnet.” He relates how, in second grade, he came up against SuperBully who made his life miserable. When the boys were paired up to do a Thanksgiving project, Jake was forced to do all the research. Then, moments before their class presentation, Jake discovered that Link was terrified of public speaking. Although briefly tempted to take revenge, he instead agrees to let Link be a silent participant while he give the oral presentation.
Collins, B.R.
The Traitor Game
Fifteen year olds Michael and Francis feel betrayed when a classmate learns of Evgard, a secret world they have created. When a bully becomes involves in Michael’s plan for revenge, the boys and Evgard face grave danger.
Connor, Leslie
Waiting for Normal
Addie’s mom and stepfather have just gotten divorced, and Addie is left to live with Mom in a trailer in the middle of Schenectady. Addie’s always had a way of dealing with her mom’s inconsistencies all her life and she concentrates on the things she can control – her flute playing, her hamster Piccolo. As Addie’s own world becomes more unstable, strength of character becomes her best friend.
Cormier, Robert
The Chocolate War
Jerry Renault, a freshman at Trinity Catholic High School for boys, refuses to sell chocolates for a school fundraiser. Jerry’s refusal causes uproar at Trinity, and it also causes a sad ending. This book definitely gives a sense of how hazing and initiation can be cruel in schools today.
Evangelista, Beth
Gifted
Arrogant and mentally gifted George Clark has dreaded the 8th grade class camping trip and its inevitable bullying, but a hurricane and a friend’s loyalty make him realize what’s important in life.
Fox, D. and Beane, A.L.
Good Bye Bully Machine
This book helps students see how bullying starts and how it grows and gives advice on how to make bullying stop.
Gardner, Graham
Inventing Eliot
Elliot, a victim of bullying, invents a cooler self when he changes schools in the middle of his freshman year, but soon attracts the wrong kind of attention from the Guardians who “maintain order” at his new school.
Gatto, Patricia and De Angelis, J.
Milton’s Dilemma
Milton struggles to fit in, but is teased by the school bullies. With the help of a mischievous gnome, he learns the difference between right and wrong and the consequences of his actions when he vows to take revenge.
Getz, David
Thin Air
Jacob is a sixth grader who’s trying his hardest to be just a normal kid, but his asthma keeps him from his goal for most of the time. When Jacob goes to a new school, he makes a great new friend, Cynthia, but goes through discrimination against kids who are a little different.
Howe, James
The Misfits
Both touching, cutting edge, real and gutsy, the Misfits in the title are a band of four friends, each one with a trait that society unfairly and immediately judges them on: being too tall, too fat, too gay, too greasy, and all of them too smart for their peers. The kids band together for survival, security, and to experience something they all yearn for, acceptance.
Kehret, Peg
Escaping the Giant Wave
Thirteen year old, Kyle, tries to save his sister, a boy who has bullies him for years, and himself from the aftermath of an earthquake.
Kinsey-Warnock
The Night the Bells Rang
Mason is the victim of bully, Aden Cutler, and often takes his frustration out on his own younger brother. But an unexpected act of kindness from Aden, followed by his death in WWI, makes Mason reevaluate his treatment of his sibling and his perceptions of his tormentor.
Koja, Kathe
Buddha Boy
Buddha Boy is a realistic fiction story of a religious young boy named Jinsen, who is new at Rucher High School. The kids make fun of him for his dragon t-shirts and peaceful ways.
Koss, Amy Goldman
The Girls
Maya’s life is going good, until one morning when she is told by her Dad that they are going to Magic Mountain and she is allowed to bring one friend. She calls all of her “friends” and finds out that Darcy is having a sleepover that she wasn’t invited to. Friendless and confused, Maya goes through her day not knowing where she went wrong.
Koss, Amy Goldman
Poison Ivy
The story is told by eight different points of view. In a government class at school, a group of girls goes on “trial” for their bullying of a classmate they call “Poison Ivy.” This story will give you eight different points of view from each girl on the same event.
Ludwig, Trudy
Confessions of a Former Bully
The text is written from the bully’s point of view. The reader truly understands the effects of bullying.
Ludwig, Trudy
Sorry
Jack, a tween in the early grades feels that his identify is enhanced by being friends with Charlie, a bully. Charlie exacts cruelties on others and tosses off a casual “sorry.” Many let him skate by with his insincere apologies. Jack resents this, but does not feel he can challenge Charlie on this. A girl named Leena is the recipient of one of Charlie’s more cruel pranks. When he destroys her science project, she tells him in no uncertain terms that she does not buy his insincere apology. Jack, touched by genuine remorse helps Leena rebuild her project.
McNamee, Graham
Nothing Wrong with a Three-Legged Dog
Keath and his best friend, Lynda, are in the fourth grade. Some kids call Lynda “Zebra” because her mother’s black and her father’s white. And Keath is “Whitey.” “He’s vanilla in a chocolate school” where Toothpick, a bully, has it in for him. Lynda and Keath both love dogs. Dogs don’t care about what color is the right one. Dogs don’t hate anybody. Their favorite dog is Leftovers, Lynda’s three-legged beagle. When he got hurt, his first owners gave up on him, but Lynda and Keath turn him into a winner, a pooch that shows Keath that sometimes it’s good to stand out, to be special, and that even when you look different, there are ways to fit in.
Mead, Alice
Junebug and the Reverend
In this sequel, Junebug moves from a New Haven housing project into a new apartment building and is confronted with a series of challenges. Junebug attends a different school where he has no friends and is harassed by bullies; his mother has little time to spend with him because of her new supervisory position; and every morning he has to walk with Reverend Ashford, a cranky retired minister. By the end of the story, Junebug uses his resourcefulness and courage to make the best of his situation – he faces up to the bullies, males new friends, and learns valuable life lessons from a group of elderly people.
Millman, Dan
Secret of the Peaceful Warrior
When Danny’s family moves to a new neighborhood, he is confronted by a frightening bully. One night in a dream, Danny meets an old man with shining white hair – a man who will soon appear in real life and share a wonderful secret. Socrates shows Danny that the best way of dealing with a bully is the way of the peaceful warrior, through courage and love.
Moss, Marissa
Amelia Takes Command
In this fourth title in the series, Amelia is beginning fifth grade and is the target of the class cully. Through candid notebook entries and captioned drawings, readers share Amelia’s frustration and anger at being ostracized and cheer when she gains the necessary confidence at Space camp to stand up to her intimidator back home. The format resembles a hand-written, blue-lined composition book filled with full-color childlike drawings.
Peters, Julie Ann
“Define Normal”
Antonia, a straight-A student, a teacher-pleaser, and a “priss,” is assigned Jasmine, a punker, an “in-your-face” non-conformist, for peer counseling in their middle school.
Sacher, Louis
The Boy Who Lost His Face
David receives a curse from an elderly woman he has helped his classmates attack, and he learns to regret his weakness in pandering to others for the sake of popularity. New friends help him to become a stronger more assertive person.
Spinelli, Jerry
Stargirl
Eleventh grader Leo Borlock narrates this story about life at Mica Area High School in Arizona, forever changed after the arrival of a new student, sophomore and former homeschooler, Stargirl Caraway, whose nonconformist ways alternately yield reactions of disdain and awe from her classmates.
Spinelli, Jerry
Wringer
The story takes place in the rural town of Waymer, a community known for a yearly event: Pigeon day, during which sharp-shooters fire at pigeons as they are released from cages. Those unfortunate birds which fall to the group wounded, but not killed, have their necks wrung by boys known as “wringers.” Traditionally, a Waymer boy becomes a wringer at the age ten. The novel follows the story of Palmer who does not want to become a wringer, but faces intense peer pressure to join in the tradition. Wringer is an intense student of social pressure, gender roles among children, bullying, and the rationalization of violence.
Tarshis, Lauren
Emma-Jean Lazarus Fall Out of A Tree
She’s not like other girls. She doesn’t burst into tears every day in middle school or giggle about boys with her friends. Come to think of it, she doesn’t seem to have all that many friends to begin with. That’s okay, though. If Emma-Jean is anything, she’s comfortable being herself. That’s something Colleen Pomerantz would probably pay anything to be. When Emma-Jean finds Colleen sobbing in the girls’ bathroom she vows to help Colleen out any way she can.
Van Draanen, Wendelin
Shredderman: Secret Identity #1 in a Series
Fifth grader, Nolan Byrd, tired of being called names by the class bully, has a secret identity – Shredderman!
Wilheim, Doug
The Revealers
Russell, Catalina, and Elliott are all victims of different bullying. Catalina gets bullied emotionally by the mean “popular” girls writing lies and rumors about her. Elliott gets bullied physically be the mean “jocks” and Russell gets bullied physically and emotionally by the tough guy in school. When they all get bullied they can’t stand it so they decide to take a stand and stop it.
Winerip, Michael
Adam Canfield, Watch Your Back!
After middle-grader, Adam, is mugged by high school bullies he becomes the focus of media attention just as his co-editors at the school newspaper are launching a contest to out the bullies at their school.
Zindel, Paul
Attack of the Killer Fishsticks
Four friends – two girls, two boys – routinely gather in the cafeteria, keep a file of facts that are “shocking, amazing, or gross,” and trade jokes. When they see that Max, a new kid, has been targeted by the class bullies (“the Nasty Blobs”), they decide to protect him, and then ask him to join their group. Soon they nominate Max to run for class representative against one of the Nasty Blobs, in the process helping Max to hear his grief at his mother’s recent death.