Summary: 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.
Review: This book blew my mind as I knew it would. I'm not familiar with even half of the authors that contributed, but it was still incredible knowing that so many authors suffered from the similar issues growing up. My favorite story might be Luz by Melodye Shore or Frenemies are not Friends by Michelle Zink. Those stories stuck out for me. It was nice to read so many different perspectives. Some authors were bullied, some authors were the bullies, and some authors just stood there in the background watching others getting tormented.
I didn't think about it until I started reading some of these stories, but I was bullied and I even WAS a bully. It was not a very nice realization. Of course I was one of those people that didn't realize I was doing it, but now that I look back I wish I hadn't said anything. I also realized that my parents are bullies and that was a hard thing to swallow. I'm not close with my parents, but I never put them in the same league as the kids that found it fun to pick on me and make me feel like crap.
This was a wonderful read and I will certainly be sharing it with my kids in the future.
5 howls
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