Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories [Paperback]

If you have ever been bullied, pick this book up!

If you've ever been a bully and wondered if your words and actions really effected the person you bullied, pick this book up!

If you've ever thought bullying doesn't really effect anyone, than you REALLY need to pick this book up

If you're dealing with a bully or know someone who is, GO PICK THIS BOOK UP, because you will realize you are not alone! In fact, you're far from it. There's a whole slew of authors who know what you're going through and believe me, their stories will effect you one way or another.
They'll do more than make you realize you do have a friend in all this, they'll inspire and empower you to rise above the crap you're having to deal with, and help you to realize you are far better than those who are or are trying to bring you down.

Normally when I read a book like this I like to talk a little about each author's story, but this book is different. There are so many stories that one, there's no way I could fit it all in one post, or even two, and two, this entire book is one that at times made me cry, made me smile, made me think, made re-count my middle grade years, and more. Dear Bully made me think of my bullying experiences and made me think of the things I've done to others that may have effected them in ways I was effected by a bully, not that I was a bully, but this book makes you realize that all the things we do and say no matter how big or how little effect someone.

You know the old saying, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but your words will never hurt me!" Well many of us know that words are far more powerful than that saying indicates and have a longer, lasting effect than a broken bone. The stories included in this book are real experiences these authors have had, and each of them made me reflect, but the two more powerful stories came from Ellen Hopkins, who's story is the first in the book and than Heather Brewer's story. If I could send her message to every person I know who's been effected by bullying I would, but instead I'm going to close my review with a quote from her story that made me cry, and I'm not a crier:

"Bullying is a horrible thing. It sticks with you forever. It poisons you. But only if you let it. See, there's a secret that no one ever tells you when they're filling your head that this "will build character" or just completely go away when you're an adult. You have the power to decide what hurts you and what doesn't, what sticks with you, and what you use as fuel to pull yourself out of the muck. You can make the needed change in your life and give yourself happiness and joy, despite what the bullies have tried to instill in you. You can succeed at anything, at everything. But you can't let them see you cry. Instead, when they want to see those tears, when they're doing everything possible to break you down, I want you to smile and remember that they're just picking on you because they wish they were just like you, but they don't have the guts.

Remember that minion, because everyone deserves a happy ending"- pages 69 & 70

GO PICK THIS BOOK UP! Every tween, teen, teacher, parent and so forth NEEDS TO READ THIS! Bullying IS A PROBLEM and it's one that's not going away. It's at every grade level, in every school, in every town across the US (and through out the world) and it's time to change that. Thank you to each of 70 authors who not only shared their own experiences with bullying, but have now connected with their fans on a whole new level. This is a book that everyone needs to read.

Finally got my copy of Dear Bully. I dont agree with rate this book because you cant judge other's experiences or stories. I did give it a 5 so other's will take a look at this book. There is a lot of emotion in this read. I wish everyone who has been bullied or who is a bully to read this book.

This book is POWERFUL!!!!! Everyone has dealt with a bully sometime in there life. I encourage you all to write your own Dear Bully letter........
Here's mine

Dear Bully,

I use to love swimming, I remember spending all my summer at the pool with my best friend. I was only trying to "be cool", like you. Join in on your conversation, maybe make a new friend. You kept me underwater for what seemed like hours. By the time you let go of me, my lungs were burning from the lack of air, the water, and just fear. I never told anyone, not even to this day. You took a joy away from me, but you did give me something in return. You put such a deep fear of drowning in me that when I had kids, swimming was one of the first things to learn. My husband taught each one to swim. Not just for fun, but for survival. So thank you, thank you that my kids know what to do if they are ever in a situation where they are held underwater. They know how to save someone else's life. They know the importance of swimming safety. Maybe one day I'll even try to go back into the water, who knows.

Your not to funny joke,

Me

As the subtitle states, seventy authors provided their story of either being bullied or bullying someone. There is a common theme that it will get better once you are an adult so hang in there, but also admit that is not easy for a middle school student to wait a decade to be free. Other themes include finding an adult who will listen and act though once again that is not easy to achieve. The target audience of teenagers will struggle to read more than a few entries as most are too short and never quite drill down deep. The exceptions to prose are the comic strips; Cecil Castellucci and Mo Willems provide insightful looks at bullying that the younger teens especially will appreciate. Few of the contributions provide insight into the motives of why they were bullies though some of the victims offer their opinions. Bottom line is this anthology is a terrific tool for the counselor who can customize the entries to the needs of the victimized student.

Harriet Klausner