edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones
Publisher: HarperTeen
Released: September 6, 2011
Genre: Nonfiction, Anthology
Pages: 352
Source: ALA
You are not alone.I love anthologies. It's really easy to place the authors we love on pedestals and forget they are real people, just like us. But with books like Geektastic, Sixteen, and Crush, we are allowed glimpses into the lives of some of our favorite people. We are reminded they are, indeed, a lot like us. In Dear Bully, over 70 authors share their stories of being bullied, bullying others, or standing by while others were tormented.
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.
Obviously there were some stories I enjoyed more than others, but overall I was very impressed by this collection. Having such a large group of authors collaborate on a single project is inspiring, especially when it's for a cause such as this one.
I think it's fair to say most of us have been bullied at some point in our lives. And a lot of us, though we'd like to forget it, have probably victimized someone else, too. Growing up, it's hard fitting in if people think you're the least bit different. Dear Bully reminds us that it's okay to be different; it's worth embracing, even. Because if you can just get through it, life does get better.
I chose to feature this book today because it is World Suicide Prevention Day. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates over 3000 people commit suicide daily and with every death there are ten to twenty more attempts. Suicide is one of the three leading causes of death among people ages 15-34 in every country in the world.
That hurts to type. But we can change that by spreading awareness, fighting for equality, and standing up for ourselves and for those who can't. Bullying is a huge factor in youth suicides, and we must not allow it to continue. Spread the message. Buy a copy of Dear Bully for your school library. Reach out to those in need. Kids need to know they're not alone.
Awesome review. (: I've been waiting and wanting this book for such a long time now because like many, I was a victim to bullying, have bullied others, and stood by while someone was bullied. I'm mostly likely going to cry while reading this book. But there's not doubt, whether I read it or not I'm going to tell everyone I know to read this.
ReplyDeleteGuen @ Ezine of a Random Girl