My Secret Bully

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Summary: One of the few really good childrens' books about bullying!
Review: As a bullying prevention educator, I am always looking for childrens' books about bullying that show bullies' behavior clearly, that affirm targets' feelings, and that present helpful solutions. Reading this book to young people and discussing the issues it brings up has been a hit with young people aged 7-12 in many different schools, with teachers, parents, and children describing it as the high point of my workshop. The students at the school where I work continue to refer to this book as they talk about friendship issues. My Secret Bully captures the truth of relational bullying- bullying within friendships. It helps young people see how they expose themselves to further pain by staying in friendships with people who hurt them, and how they can get out of those friendships. The clear writing and attractive illustrations help young people connect with the characters and the story. A useful discussion guide at the end of the book helps adults talk with children about destructive friendships. Highly recommended for parents, teachers, youth group leaders, and all who work with children.
Stan Davis
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Rating:
Summary: A "must have" for every parent and every classroom
Review: Great asset for ANY library (school or home)! Bullying is one of those topics that can really challenge a parent. How do you help your child help himself? At what point should the parent become involved ... and how? My daughter enjoyed this charming, lavishly illustrated story, because Monica is a true heroine ... her mom gives her the power she needs to defeat the bully with grace and strength. I loved My Secret Bully because it was chock-full of immensely useful, practical advice and anti-bullying resources for me, as a parent.

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Summary: I love this book!
Review: I gave "My Secret Bully" to my friend, a fourth grade teacher, because it's a valuable tool for handling the ever-present problem of bullying that goes on in grade school and beyond. He's used it extensively in his classroom and has passed it on to other teachers at his school. I highly recommend this book for children of all ages and the people who love them.

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Summary: Buy this book!
Review: I read this book to my third graders just before a class meeting. The children were mesmorized by the problems faced by the characters and the discussion afterwards focused on a thoughtful account of discreet bullying going on in our school. This led to further discussions about bullying in our weekly class meetings. Trudy Ludwig has captured the essence of childhood bullying in this thoughtful book.

Rating:
Summary: A "must have" for every parent and every classroom
Review: I so enjoyed reading "My Secret Bully" with my son, a first grader. The emotionally charged content of the book prompted wonderful questions and opened the door for discussion of a very confusing, and often very painful, subject. As an involved parent in my son's school, and a member of the Board of Trustees of our local library, I will make every effort to have this wonderful, thought-provoking teaching tool available to our community's children.

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Summary: Great tool for a school counselor
Review: This is a great book for discussing bullying and relational aggression with elementary school students. Reading it with large and small groups of kids has opened the door to great discussions about friendship, personal boundaries, and strategies to cope with all forms of bullying. "My Secret Bully" is one of a very few children's books that addresses the issue of relational aggression between young friends. I recommend it for parents, educators, and counselors of children and pre-teens.

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Summary: I wish I had this book when I was a kid
Review: This subtle type of bullying is probably more universal--and definitely more insidious--than the kind we usually think of. I've never seen it addressed so explicitly before, and that alone is indispensable in helping kids to recognize what's happening to them and getting a grip on what to do about it. The subtle torture girls inflict on other girls can be extremely debilitating and damaging, not only at the time, but for the rest of their lives. Trudy Ludwig has created a beautiful book and done an extremely valuable service. I wish every girl could read it.

Rating:
Summary: I wish I had this book when I was a kid
Review: This subtle type of bullying is probably more universal--and definitely more insidious--than the kind we usually think of. I've never seen it addressed so explicitly before, and that alone is indispensable in helping kids to recognize what's happening to them and getting a grip on what to do about it. The subtle torture girls inflict on other girls can be extremely debilitating and damaging, not only at the time, but for the rest of their lives. Trudy Ludwig has created a beautiful book and done an extremely valuable service. I wish every girl could read it.

Rating:
Summary: Really Helpful
Review: This wonderful story is accompanied by beautiful watercolor illustrations to create a tone of understanding while dealing with a topic as unsettling as bullying; more specifically, relational aggression. In this book, a girl is being secretly manipulated by her best friend, a situation so common these days. What is uncommon, and sets this book apart from others on the topic, is that the girl confides in her mother, and together, they develop a solution. It not only demonstrates how adults can indeed help in situations like this, but it also reminds targets of devastating peer aggression that they do not deserve this treatment, and they do not need to tolerate it. Additionally, the book provides talking points and resources, so it is a wonderful tool to initiate conversations about peer aggression and seek solutions.