Review: Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories

Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: September 1, 2011
Format: Paperback
Pages: 352
Source: Borrowed from Julie at Book Hooked

From Goodreads: You are not alone

Discover how Lauren Kate transformed the feeling of that one mean girl getting under her skin into her first novel, how Lauren Oliver learned to celebrate ambiguity in her classmates and in herself, and how R.L. Stine turned being the “funny guy” into the best defense against the bullies in his class.

Today’s top authors for teens come together to share their stories about bullying—as silent observers on the sidelines of high school, as victims, and as perpetrators—in a collection at turns moving and self-effacing, but always deeply personal.

My review: This is a very hard book for me to review, in part because the Mama Wolf comes out in me thinking of my daughter being bullied at some point in her future. Sammie already has glasses, has a life threatening peanut allergy, and has one scar (will be more in the future) above her right eye from her droopy eye-lid repair. She is a walking billboard for a child to make fun of and pick on. Which, breaks my heart…but also lights a fire under us to start building her self-worth and self-esteem now. We want her to know that she is smart, beautiful, intelligent, and worthy of respect. Of course, much of that is hard to express to a toddler, but we try every day.

Guys, this book tore me into pieces. I wanted to cry, but I didn’t cry very much because I was seeing red in my eyes. I was irate for these authors as children. I realize that today things are different – better in some aspects but worse in others. If I ever hear of a teacher in this day-and-age telling a child to suck it up instead of reporting obvious bullying I will not rest until that teacher has gone before their school board to be held accountable. The whole cyber-bullying thing freaks me out – like makes me sick to my stomach freaks me out.

Anyway, enough about me – everyone should read this book. In fact, this should be required reading for all parents. Really – read this!