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Hot Issues, Cool Choices: Facing Bullies, Peer Pressure, Popularity, and Put-Downs
Did you know that there are kids out there who don't even want to get out of bed in the morning because they know what going to school means for them?· being teased and taunted ...· being excluded and rejected ...· being afraid that you're going to be assaulted and possibly hurt...· Sometimes it can even mean that you just can't hang in there any longer, so you give up and take your own life.If you are one of the cool kids at school, this book is for you.But if you're not one of the cool kids, this book is especially for you.Emerson Elementary isn't a real school, but it could be your elementary school. And the students at Emerson aren't real kids, but the problems they face are real, and so are the choices they make.The Golden Rule is an old rule, but it's still a good rule to live by, and after reading this book, you may just possibly become a kinder, more compassionate human being, someone who treats others the way you want them to treat you.So come along and join the students at Emerson Elementary and help them make some cool choices!
- GenresSocial IssuesYoung Adult
134 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2007
2 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 24, 2009
As the parent of a child who was once bullied, I can say that this book should be read by every child and parent of children from grammar school through junior high. Sandra does a masterful job of handling a subject that is too often downplayed as "part of growing up". At its worst, being bullied can psychologically damage a child. Even at its best, being the victim of a bully leads to poor academic performance, as well as anxiety and even physical illness. This book helps open the door to conversations between parents and their children and helps kids learn how to make the best choices for themselves. A must-have addition to every kids' library.
April 12, 2009
Hot Issues Cool Choices – Facing Bullies, Peer Pressure, Popularity, and Put-Downs
Sandra McLeod Humphrey
Prometheus Books 2007
59 John Glenn Drive
Amherst, N.Y. 14228
SC 133 Pages, $13.95
ISBN# 978-1-59102-569-6
Review by Christina Francine
Maybe the first step in not leaving a child behind is to address the social climate of school. Schools have always had bullies, been a place where labels are placed, and have held groups who exclude others. More than ever before, this is a problem today. School is a nightmare for many children socially. Add that to the rising need to meet scholastic standards, and school morphs into a place of terror. Children do not learn in this kind of environment. The only thing they think about is a way out, a way to stop the pain. Adults need to step in and help. That is just what Sandra McLeod Humphrey, retired clinical psychologist, did. She is a writer and consultant for the Heroes & Dreams Foundation, which provides character education materials to grades K-8 throughout North America. Her book, Hot Issues Cool Choices: Facing Bullies, Peer Pressure, Popularity, and Put-Downs provides numerous real-life situations that will generate discussions for children, tweens, and teens. First, the main character presents their problem, they set the scene, and then they ask questions to readers. “What do you think I should do? More questions present themselves and finally a “Trading Places” questions is asked: “Have you ever felt like Kevin?” “Why do you think Alyssa still remembers Tyrone’s harassment almost a whole year later?” At the back of the book, Humphrey provides alarming statistics, website references, and a sobering note for adults.
An indispensible resource for educators, parents, counselors, and for children. Its power lies in that it asks children for solutions and strategies. This is a much needed book and I highly recommend it. After all, learning cannot take place when children worry over their safety. They then get left behind.
Sandra McLeod Humphrey
Prometheus Books 2007
59 John Glenn Drive
Amherst, N.Y. 14228
SC 133 Pages, $13.95
ISBN# 978-1-59102-569-6
Review by Christina Francine
Maybe the first step in not leaving a child behind is to address the social climate of school. Schools have always had bullies, been a place where labels are placed, and have held groups who exclude others. More than ever before, this is a problem today. School is a nightmare for many children socially. Add that to the rising need to meet scholastic standards, and school morphs into a place of terror. Children do not learn in this kind of environment. The only thing they think about is a way out, a way to stop the pain. Adults need to step in and help. That is just what Sandra McLeod Humphrey, retired clinical psychologist, did. She is a writer and consultant for the Heroes & Dreams Foundation, which provides character education materials to grades K-8 throughout North America. Her book, Hot Issues Cool Choices: Facing Bullies, Peer Pressure, Popularity, and Put-Downs provides numerous real-life situations that will generate discussions for children, tweens, and teens. First, the main character presents their problem, they set the scene, and then they ask questions to readers. “What do you think I should do? More questions present themselves and finally a “Trading Places” questions is asked: “Have you ever felt like Kevin?” “Why do you think Alyssa still remembers Tyrone’s harassment almost a whole year later?” At the back of the book, Humphrey provides alarming statistics, website references, and a sobering note for adults.
An indispensible resource for educators, parents, counselors, and for children. Its power lies in that it asks children for solutions and strategies. This is a much needed book and I highly recommend it. After all, learning cannot take place when children worry over their safety. They then get left behind.
May 21, 2012
Hot Issues, Cool Choices: Facing Bullies, Peer Pressure, Popularity and Put-Downs (Sandra McLeod Humphrey)
I feel this book should be read by every child and parent of children from grammar school through High school (emphasis on Junior high).
I really loved how Sandra brought up the issues as "just part of growing up". That this behavior is not just part of growing up, times have changed and maybe in the past this was acceptable, but in no way do I find any form of bullying, name calling, exclusion, ridicule, humiliation, starting rumors, tormenting and physical abuse as "just part of growing up."
Told through the voice of Children, on both sides, the victim and the bully, it shows how each person felt(in their situation), and gave the reader a choice on what he/she felt would be the best choice for the child in question, on what to do.
I feel this is a must read for all children through teens, if the problem does not stop when a child is young, it will escalate and get worse as they grow. Victims of bullying and peer pressure, can lose their self esteem, become physically as well as emotionally ill. I feel this should be required reading through out all schools AND For parents as well. Most learned behavior starts at home and parents should be aware of how their children are behaving in school (whether they be the bully or the victim).
Fantastic read!
I feel this book should be read by every child and parent of children from grammar school through High school (emphasis on Junior high).
I really loved how Sandra brought up the issues as "just part of growing up". That this behavior is not just part of growing up, times have changed and maybe in the past this was acceptable, but in no way do I find any form of bullying, name calling, exclusion, ridicule, humiliation, starting rumors, tormenting and physical abuse as "just part of growing up."
Told through the voice of Children, on both sides, the victim and the bully, it shows how each person felt(in their situation), and gave the reader a choice on what he/she felt would be the best choice for the child in question, on what to do.
I feel this is a must read for all children through teens, if the problem does not stop when a child is young, it will escalate and get worse as they grow. Victims of bullying and peer pressure, can lose their self esteem, become physically as well as emotionally ill. I feel this should be required reading through out all schools AND For parents as well. Most learned behavior starts at home and parents should be aware of how their children are behaving in school (whether they be the bully or the victim).
Fantastic read!
May 16, 2008
Unfortunately, bullying and peer pressure are a part of every kid’s life. Sometimes, we are the one feeling like we just don’t fit in and sometimes we are the one trying to get others to be just like us. Often, we don’t even realize that we are hurting someone else until it’s too late.
Hot Issues, Cool Choices is an excellent resource for school or other kids programs. The book contains scenarios where the main characters must make choices. Afterwards, kids are encouraged to question the actions of the characters. Did they make the right choice? What would you do?
It is these questions that will get kids really thinking. Then, not only do they know that they have choices but that that how they react in such situations can really make a difference.
Hot Issues, Cool Choices is an excellent resource for school or other kids programs. The book contains scenarios where the main characters must make choices. Afterwards, kids are encouraged to question the actions of the characters. Did they make the right choice? What would you do?
It is these questions that will get kids really thinking. Then, not only do they know that they have choices but that that how they react in such situations can really make a difference.
September 8, 2009
I will definitely pass this on for my 9 year old nephew to read with my sister. He has dealt with feeling left out and this might be able to help him. I gave this 4 stars, because I'm not sure how effective it can be. I may change it once my nephew reads it and I'm able to asses how he felt about it.
Otherwise, the book was great in bringing to my attention something I didn't really have to deal with during school: the internet and cyber bullying. It sounds really terrible and I think the author did a good job of conveying this.
I hope a lot of kids get the opportunity to read this, and I will do my best to pass it on to as many people as I can.
Otherwise, the book was great in bringing to my attention something I didn't really have to deal with during school: the internet and cyber bullying. It sounds really terrible and I think the author did a good job of conveying this.
I hope a lot of kids get the opportunity to read this, and I will do my best to pass it on to as many people as I can.
September 8, 2009
I won this book as a goodreads giveaway and was interested in reading it since I'm a middle school teacher. How Issues, Cool Choices gives various scenarios that school-aged students may find themselves in and includes discussion questions about how they would act in the situation. As a teacher, I found this book to be a good resource for discussing bullying and other social issues with my students.
October 17, 2009
Hot Issues, Cool Choices is a collection of 26 vignettes depicting various forms of bullying with thought questions following each vignette. All the vignettes are based on true experiences related by students, and the book is dedicated to a 12-year-old Minnesota boy who took his own life as a result of bullying. Recipient of a 2008 Mom’s Choice Gold Award and the 2009 Young Voices Foundation Silver Award.
January 7, 2010
This book was a great book!
Every child should read this book. It doesn't matter what side of the story you would be on. Once I started reading it I didn't stop until I was finished with the whole book. I think there is a lot of children that could learn from this book. It might even possibly save someones life. It teaches how to deal with bullying situations.
I highly recommend this book!
Peggy Headings
(Author of The Adventures of the Muffin Family)
Every child should read this book. It doesn't matter what side of the story you would be on. Once I started reading it I didn't stop until I was finished with the whole book. I think there is a lot of children that could learn from this book. It might even possibly save someones life. It teaches how to deal with bullying situations.
I highly recommend this book!
Peggy Headings
(Author of The Adventures of the Muffin Family)
October 9, 2009
I like how this book makes you think about what you would do in different situations. Hopefully with this book it will make kids think about what is right and what is wrong.
August 19, 2012
Hot Issues, Cool Choices
By Sandra McLeod Humphrey
Prometheus Books 133 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59102-569-6
PROMETHEUSBOOKS,com
At the beginning of “Hot Issues, Cool Choices”, author Sandra McLeod Humphrey opens with a biblical quote: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”; (Luke 6:31 NIV). Such a simple solution to an ongoing problem. Yet parents, educators, young adults and bullied children know that it isn’t that easy. Bullying goes back as far as Cave Man times. The biggest, strongest (and often stupidest) have always picked on the smaller, weaker or different, often for no other reason than they can—feeding their own bruised egos like parasites.
The increase of suicides caused by bullying led author Humphrey to offer a book written directly to children from grades K-8, that sets up short scenarios for the diverse types of bullying and other cruelties directed toward school children. Her book is not just geared to the bullied kids and the “cool’ kids, but is relegated to all of the problems children face in school. Kids will especially relate to the cartoon graphics within the book, showing the emotions on the faces of the children-anger, sadness, confusion and hurt. They may see themselves in many of these situations, but if they are hoping for an answer—which they’d probably not buy into, they won’t find it in the book. Rather, they are given five questions at the end of each story, requiring them to think about the best possible solution—no one answer is right for all children. The “What would you do?” questions are not easy. They do give the young readers a lot of choices and things to think about.
Children who don’t bully can give some thought on how to choose not to hurt a classmate’s feelings or make a friend feel rejected or unwanted. Humphrey notes that while some bullies may be self-centered and spoiled, many others come from abused households and are bullied at home. She aims this animated page turner book at young children because this is usually the first time they enter into a societal hierarchy—and for them this book can be a survival kit.
What does a nice boy like Eric, a sports enthusiast, do when Jeremy, whose interests lie in protecting the earth, asks if he can come to Eric’s Halloween Party? Eric is torn by not wanting to lose Jeremy as a friend or his sport’s buddies. Readers can try to find a viable solution to Eric’s problem.
In her afterword, Sandra McLeod Humphrey discusses bullying at length and how children can be guided by teachers and parents in helping them deal positively with being left out or bullied. She feels that children’s school years should not be miserable and bullies need to understand that they don’t need cruelty, exclusion or violence to make them feel accepted.
Once again, award-winning author of many children’s books, Sandra McLeod Humphrey, has written a well-researched in-depth book that should be required reading in schools and a tool for educators showing children how to find their way in the often biased, cruel world of schooling. Her follow-up to her beginning quote from the bible is perfectly summed up by her quote by Martin Luther King Jr.: “The time is always right to do what is right.”
Reviewer: Micki Peluso, writer, journalist and author of . . . And the Whippoorwill Sang
By Sandra McLeod Humphrey
Prometheus Books 133 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59102-569-6
PROMETHEUSBOOKS,com
At the beginning of “Hot Issues, Cool Choices”, author Sandra McLeod Humphrey opens with a biblical quote: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”; (Luke 6:31 NIV). Such a simple solution to an ongoing problem. Yet parents, educators, young adults and bullied children know that it isn’t that easy. Bullying goes back as far as Cave Man times. The biggest, strongest (and often stupidest) have always picked on the smaller, weaker or different, often for no other reason than they can—feeding their own bruised egos like parasites.
The increase of suicides caused by bullying led author Humphrey to offer a book written directly to children from grades K-8, that sets up short scenarios for the diverse types of bullying and other cruelties directed toward school children. Her book is not just geared to the bullied kids and the “cool’ kids, but is relegated to all of the problems children face in school. Kids will especially relate to the cartoon graphics within the book, showing the emotions on the faces of the children-anger, sadness, confusion and hurt. They may see themselves in many of these situations, but if they are hoping for an answer—which they’d probably not buy into, they won’t find it in the book. Rather, they are given five questions at the end of each story, requiring them to think about the best possible solution—no one answer is right for all children. The “What would you do?” questions are not easy. They do give the young readers a lot of choices and things to think about.
Children who don’t bully can give some thought on how to choose not to hurt a classmate’s feelings or make a friend feel rejected or unwanted. Humphrey notes that while some bullies may be self-centered and spoiled, many others come from abused households and are bullied at home. She aims this animated page turner book at young children because this is usually the first time they enter into a societal hierarchy—and for them this book can be a survival kit.
What does a nice boy like Eric, a sports enthusiast, do when Jeremy, whose interests lie in protecting the earth, asks if he can come to Eric’s Halloween Party? Eric is torn by not wanting to lose Jeremy as a friend or his sport’s buddies. Readers can try to find a viable solution to Eric’s problem.
In her afterword, Sandra McLeod Humphrey discusses bullying at length and how children can be guided by teachers and parents in helping them deal positively with being left out or bullied. She feels that children’s school years should not be miserable and bullies need to understand that they don’t need cruelty, exclusion or violence to make them feel accepted.
Once again, award-winning author of many children’s books, Sandra McLeod Humphrey, has written a well-researched in-depth book that should be required reading in schools and a tool for educators showing children how to find their way in the often biased, cruel world of schooling. Her follow-up to her beginning quote from the bible is perfectly summed up by her quote by Martin Luther King Jr.: “The time is always right to do what is right.”
Reviewer: Micki Peluso, writer, journalist and author of . . . And the Whippoorwill Sang
August 13, 2016
This topic really hit home for me, my nephew is being bullied in school and we’re unsure how to handle it. You hear about teenager who commit suicide because they were being bullied, it has reached epidemic proportions.
I really like how each chapter is a different character with different problems, personalities, likes & dislikes. Plus at the end of every story, there are great questions to facilitate a conversation with your child about what happened in the story and too ask themselves what would they do if they were the person being bullied.
I really like how each chapter is a different character with different problems, personalities, likes & dislikes. Plus at the end of every story, there are great questions to facilitate a conversation with your child about what happened in the story and too ask themselves what would they do if they were the person being bullied.
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June 23, 2014Set at Emerson Elementary, this text offers students a broad exposition of the various types of bullying that exist in today’s schools. The text offers students solutions to bullying based in treating others with kindness and sensitivity. The school is designed to be a relatively standard environment, giving kids reading the text a more practical image of the situations they may confront on a day to day basis and how to make good choices.
Want to read
August 3, 2012Author's guest post at my blog:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2011/09/...
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2011/09/...
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September 20, 2018An amazing resource for classroom or home. These are scenarios our kids face every day, and Sandy's writing is such that it instantly opens discussions (peer-to-peer, adult-to-peer, and peer-to-adult).
Read more of our thoughts in the full review.
Read more of our thoughts in the full review.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews