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Bully
Patricia Polacco takes on cliques and online bullying
Lyla finds a great friend in Jamie on her first day of school, but when Lyla makes the cheerleading squad and a clique of popular girls invites her to join them, Jamie is left behind. Lyla knows bullying when she sees it, though, and when she sees the girls viciously teasing classmates on Facebook, including Jamie, she is smart enough to get out. But no one dumps these girls, and now they're out for revenge.
Patricia Polacco has taken up the cause against bullies ever since Thank You, Mr. Falker, and her passion shines through in this powerful story of a girl who stands up for a friend.
Lyla finds a great friend in Jamie on her first day of school, but when Lyla makes the cheerleading squad and a clique of popular girls invites her to join them, Jamie is left behind. Lyla knows bullying when she sees it, though, and when she sees the girls viciously teasing classmates on Facebook, including Jamie, she is smart enough to get out. But no one dumps these girls, and now they're out for revenge.
Patricia Polacco has taken up the cause against bullies ever since Thank You, Mr. Falker, and her passion shines through in this powerful story of a girl who stands up for a friend.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published September 13, 2012
15 people are currently reading
642 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Polacco
102 books1,071 followersPatricia Polacco is a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator with around seventy beloved and award-winning books to her credit, including The Keeping Quilt, Pink and Say, The Blessing Cup, Chicken Sunday, and Thank You, Mr. Falker. She resides in Michigan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
November 22, 2019
I was every elementary school teacher's dream, when I was a girl: a quiet kid who kept a poetry journal and made an A in every subject. By the 3rd grade, I was tasked with reading poetry aloud to a group of slow readers on a weekly basis; by the 5th grade, I was the sole recipient of the school's special award for the only child who hadn't missed a single day of school. IN SIX YEARS. Got it?
(All of this good girl business eventually landed me in a mosh pit in combat boots in college, but for now, let's get back to the story at hand).
My mother, who had been the captain of her high school's cheer squad and who I have never seen read a book in my entire life (no judgment, Mom), started to become worried. Not worried about my well-being, necessarily, more like worried I was going to be a loser.
She pushed for me to try out for cheerleading as 6th grade loomed, and, overachiever that I was, I made it onto a team. I didn't hate it, but I was so quiet, I was always lousy at making noise for the boys as they did whatever the hell they were doing out on the field, and I spent more time eavesdropping on the fast girls' stories. (Yes, some girls as young as 6th grade are giving blow jobs for social status, parents, tragic but true).
Before I knew it, I got swept up into the most popular clique at my school. These girls were never impressed with my pathetic wardrobe (my parents were hopelessly cheap Midwesterners), but I was the only cheerleader in the group and it turns out, snarky, too. The “Queen Bee” of the group was a pretty girl who was boasting a “C cup” by the 5th grade and whose parents were devoted to her every desire. Right around the time I turned TWELVE, we were drinking Kahlua and creams after school, and ripping apart every girl who had the audacity to be lower, socially, than we were.
Then came that fateful day when the girls invited some boys over and, to my horror, took off their shirts and started permitting second base. I stood up and announced to the room that they were all acting like a bunch of whores.
By the next day at school, I had both “prude!” and “lesbian!” written on my locker. Not one of my former friends would speak to me and they spread nasty rumors about me at school. At home, they cherry bombed my house and then made a VOODOO DOLL of me and SET IT ON FIRE outside my window.
My parents did nothing, my teachers did nothing. I had headaches and stomachaches for most of the remaining school year. As Patricia Polacco writes in the Afterword of Bully, “if email, text messaging, blogging, and tweeting had existed in my time, I would have felt the entire world was scrutinizing and passing judgment on me.”
Thank God I did not go through this at a time of social media, but many girls today DO, and this book, Bully, is not only incredibly upsetting, it is basically a true story that all too many girls and women can relate to.
I have been both bully and bullied. Most girls have. Most women are aware of the pitfalls.
In my opinion, far too many fathers, including my own back in the day, are oblivious to girl politics and how vicious girls can be.
This is not cute behavior; it's not a “girls will be girls" thing. This is a type of dehumanization that can inspire suicide.
As usual, Patricia Polacco's courage to tackle some our toughest social issues continues to amaze.
I think this is an extremely important book for the middle grades.
(All of this good girl business eventually landed me in a mosh pit in combat boots in college, but for now, let's get back to the story at hand).
My mother, who had been the captain of her high school's cheer squad and who I have never seen read a book in my entire life (no judgment, Mom), started to become worried. Not worried about my well-being, necessarily, more like worried I was going to be a loser.
She pushed for me to try out for cheerleading as 6th grade loomed, and, overachiever that I was, I made it onto a team. I didn't hate it, but I was so quiet, I was always lousy at making noise for the boys as they did whatever the hell they were doing out on the field, and I spent more time eavesdropping on the fast girls' stories. (Yes, some girls as young as 6th grade are giving blow jobs for social status, parents, tragic but true).
Before I knew it, I got swept up into the most popular clique at my school. These girls were never impressed with my pathetic wardrobe (my parents were hopelessly cheap Midwesterners), but I was the only cheerleader in the group and it turns out, snarky, too. The “Queen Bee” of the group was a pretty girl who was boasting a “C cup” by the 5th grade and whose parents were devoted to her every desire. Right around the time I turned TWELVE, we were drinking Kahlua and creams after school, and ripping apart every girl who had the audacity to be lower, socially, than we were.
Then came that fateful day when the girls invited some boys over and, to my horror, took off their shirts and started permitting second base. I stood up and announced to the room that they were all acting like a bunch of whores.
By the next day at school, I had both “prude!” and “lesbian!” written on my locker. Not one of my former friends would speak to me and they spread nasty rumors about me at school. At home, they cherry bombed my house and then made a VOODOO DOLL of me and SET IT ON FIRE outside my window.
My parents did nothing, my teachers did nothing. I had headaches and stomachaches for most of the remaining school year. As Patricia Polacco writes in the Afterword of Bully, “if email, text messaging, blogging, and tweeting had existed in my time, I would have felt the entire world was scrutinizing and passing judgment on me.”
Thank God I did not go through this at a time of social media, but many girls today DO, and this book, Bully, is not only incredibly upsetting, it is basically a true story that all too many girls and women can relate to.
I have been both bully and bullied. Most girls have. Most women are aware of the pitfalls.
In my opinion, far too many fathers, including my own back in the day, are oblivious to girl politics and how vicious girls can be.
This is not cute behavior; it's not a “girls will be girls" thing. This is a type of dehumanization that can inspire suicide.
As usual, Patricia Polacco's courage to tackle some our toughest social issues continues to amaze.
I think this is an extremely important book for the middle grades.
March 16, 2020
It was ready at the library today. I picked it up today. I read it today. Now I’ll have to wait ½ year for her next book. I’ve been caught up for a while with all Polacco’s books so I’ve been waiting book to book. This was a worthwhile one to wait for.
I think this story does an admirable job of addressing the subject of cyber-bullying, in this case among some sixth graders.
I realize that this book and several other books by this author-illustrator could (almost) go on my san-francisco shelf. I actually liked the pictures in this book quite a bit, including some fabulous illustrations of the San Francisco area, so onto that shelf it goes. I guess when I have some time I should add more Polacco books to that shelf.
I really appreciate how Polacco engages her readers to think about bullying, how she encourages them to put themselves in the situation the characters experienced, and at the end asked them a direct question to contemplate. On the back inside cover she writes a note to her readers about the bullying she experienced when she was young and notes the bullying she’s witnessed in two decades of school visits, with bullying, particularly cyber-bullying, drastically increasing.
Looking at the ratings on Goodreads, I seem to appreciate this book more than most other readers. I was engaged, touched, and I’d happily share this with a child or group of children. 4 ½ stars And this might be a first for me: It’s possible I like the pictures more than the story. I don’t think that’s ever happened with me and a Polacco book, but I liked the story just fine too.
I’d recommend this to girls and boys in kindergarten through 7th grade, and anyone who’s been the victim of a bully or knows someone who has, or someone who has bullied others.
I think this story does an admirable job of addressing the subject of cyber-bullying, in this case among some sixth graders.
I realize that this book and several other books by this author-illustrator could (almost) go on my san-francisco shelf. I actually liked the pictures in this book quite a bit, including some fabulous illustrations of the San Francisco area, so onto that shelf it goes. I guess when I have some time I should add more Polacco books to that shelf.
I really appreciate how Polacco engages her readers to think about bullying, how she encourages them to put themselves in the situation the characters experienced, and at the end asked them a direct question to contemplate. On the back inside cover she writes a note to her readers about the bullying she experienced when she was young and notes the bullying she’s witnessed in two decades of school visits, with bullying, particularly cyber-bullying, drastically increasing.
Looking at the ratings on Goodreads, I seem to appreciate this book more than most other readers. I was engaged, touched, and I’d happily share this with a child or group of children. 4 ½ stars And this might be a first for me: It’s possible I like the pictures more than the story. I don’t think that’s ever happened with me and a Polacco book, but I liked the story just fine too.
I’d recommend this to girls and boys in kindergarten through 7th grade, and anyone who’s been the victim of a bully or knows someone who has, or someone who has bullied others.
February 9, 2021
Being bullied does not feel well. It feels awful. It feels nasty. It feels obnoxious. Lyla, the main character, was friends with a boy named Jamie after she moved to a new school. At the same time, she was friends with the popular squad. However, the squad bullies Jamie and told Lyla not to be friends with him. Lyla still chose Jamie over them. Jammie and Lyla's friendship is hard as metal, not even fire can break them apart.
February 9, 2020
The ever-prolific Patricia Polacco, who now has fifty-six picture-books to her credit, was inspired to create this latest title after witnessing the dramatic rise of bullying amongst students, over the twenty years she has been visiting schools to talk about her work. Following the story of Lyla, whose family has just moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, and who is anxious to fit in, it sets out a series of events that is as believable as it is sobering. Initially making friends with fellow new-comer Jamie, Lyla finds herself suddenly part of the "in crowd" when she takes a leading role in the academic and sports life of her new school, winning an award for her grades, and gaining a much-coveted spot on the cheer-leading team. When her new friends put pressure on her to dump Jamie, she tries to compromise by only spending time with him in secret. But when their bullying extends to a Facebook campaign, Lyla knows that she can't continue to stay silent, but what price will she be forced to pay, for doing what is right...?
Although I wouldn't describe Bully as one of my favorites, when it comes to Patricia Polacco's work - her best books tend to be about her own family, and almost invariably have me sniffling into the pages as I read - I do think it is an incredibly valuable work, one that explores an important issue from a variety of perspectives, and offers a sensitive depiction of young person being faced with some difficult situations. The open-ended nature of the conclusion would make for an excellent starting point for classroom discussion, in which a variety of questions - should Gage's loss (which occurs before the book begins) be taken into account, in judging her conduct? will the students' behavior to Lyla change, once the truth comes out, or has a toxic pattern set in? and of course, should Lyla and Jamie switch schools? - could be explored. The artwork, which is characterized by Polacco's trademark use of color and energetic motion, captures the emotional register of each scene, making this is as expressive of a story visually, as it is textually. Recommended to young victims of bullying, to bullies themselves, and to children who are bullying bystanders, perhaps in conjunction with a title like Peggy Moss' Say Something .
Although I wouldn't describe Bully as one of my favorites, when it comes to Patricia Polacco's work - her best books tend to be about her own family, and almost invariably have me sniffling into the pages as I read - I do think it is an incredibly valuable work, one that explores an important issue from a variety of perspectives, and offers a sensitive depiction of young person being faced with some difficult situations. The open-ended nature of the conclusion would make for an excellent starting point for classroom discussion, in which a variety of questions - should Gage's loss (which occurs before the book begins) be taken into account, in judging her conduct? will the students' behavior to Lyla change, once the truth comes out, or has a toxic pattern set in? and of course, should Lyla and Jamie switch schools? - could be explored. The artwork, which is characterized by Polacco's trademark use of color and energetic motion, captures the emotional register of each scene, making this is as expressive of a story visually, as it is textually. Recommended to young victims of bullying, to bullies themselves, and to children who are bullying bystanders, perhaps in conjunction with a title like Peggy Moss' Say Something .
February 9, 2014
Raise your hand if you can tell us what cyber bullying means. Who has seen or experienced cyber bullying? What if you finally became a member of the popular crowd but then realized you didn't agree with the choices they were making. This is what happens to Lyla in "Bully" by Patricia Polacco. Lyla is left with a choice and must make some difficult decisions in her sixth grade year to do the right thing. However, every choice has a consequence...
Opening Moves-
-Tell the meaning of a key word
-Invite personal connections
Rationale-
I picked this book because the main character is a sixth grader which my students can relate to. More importantly, this book includes cyber bullying through Facebook or texting which is a huge issue now especially with the age group I teach.
(2012,August 1). School Library Journal. http://www.booksinprint2.com.leo.lib....#
Opening Moves-
-Tell the meaning of a key word
-Invite personal connections
Rationale-
I picked this book because the main character is a sixth grader which my students can relate to. More importantly, this book includes cyber bullying through Facebook or texting which is a huge issue now especially with the age group I teach.
(2012,August 1). School Library Journal. http://www.booksinprint2.com.leo.lib....#
March 6, 2014
I found this a shallow and inauthentic story about standing up to a school bully. The characters just didn't click with me at all and the plot was the same as Mean Girls, but not funny.
May 21, 2014
I'm a new and now forever fan of Patricia Polacco. Her book, Bully truly touched my heart. Immediately after I sat the book down, my 15 year old daughter picked it up, and read it immediately. Once she finished reading it, we conversed on the subject of bullying and how the school she attends practices and enforces anti-bullying. This book is a must read for teachers, students, and parents alike because it focuses on some of the effects that bullying can have on people.
Lyla Dean and her family has just moved to the San Francisco and is quite nervous about starting sixth grade at her new school. But she and another new student named Jamie become friends quickly. They have classes together, sit together at lunch and even meet every Friday night to watch Sci-Fi movies. That is until Lyla captures the attention of the schools three most popular girls due to Lyla getting the best grades in her classes. Things start to get even more interesting when Lyla tries out for the cheerleading squad, makes it, then begins hanging out with and even joining them for lunch instead of eating lunch with her good friend Jamie. The story really heats up when Lyla is accused of stealing a school test and then finds herself being one of the many victims being bullied online by the three popular girls she thought were her friends. I don't want to give the story away. You'll definitely want to read this story then share it with others:) I thought the pictures were very engaging. Looking at the popular girls outfits and how they wore the same boots reminded me of some of the girls I see when dropping my daughter off at school in the morning. How they wear their hair in the same style and matching clothes at times. I would definitely use this book with students to draw them into a discussion about bullying and how important it is to tell an adult they may be comfortable talking to about what they are experiencing.
I will be purchasing this book for my new collection f children's books that I have started building. Thank you Stephanie for introducing me to Patricia Polacco:)
Lyla Dean and her family has just moved to the San Francisco and is quite nervous about starting sixth grade at her new school. But she and another new student named Jamie become friends quickly. They have classes together, sit together at lunch and even meet every Friday night to watch Sci-Fi movies. That is until Lyla captures the attention of the schools three most popular girls due to Lyla getting the best grades in her classes. Things start to get even more interesting when Lyla tries out for the cheerleading squad, makes it, then begins hanging out with and even joining them for lunch instead of eating lunch with her good friend Jamie. The story really heats up when Lyla is accused of stealing a school test and then finds herself being one of the many victims being bullied online by the three popular girls she thought were her friends. I don't want to give the story away. You'll definitely want to read this story then share it with others:) I thought the pictures were very engaging. Looking at the popular girls outfits and how they wore the same boots reminded me of some of the girls I see when dropping my daughter off at school in the morning. How they wear their hair in the same style and matching clothes at times. I would definitely use this book with students to draw them into a discussion about bullying and how important it is to tell an adult they may be comfortable talking to about what they are experiencing.
I will be purchasing this book for my new collection f children's books that I have started building. Thank you Stephanie for introducing me to Patricia Polacco:)
October 16, 2013
When I heard that Patricia Polacco wrote a book called Bully, I thought it was going to be a YA chapter book, but I was wrong. It is a children's book with Polacco's signature illustrations and concerns a 6th grade girl's experience with cyber bullying. Lyla has moved to a new school near the Golden Gate Bridge, and immediately becomes friendly with a cheerful boy named Jamie. She soon becomes aware that the school is inhabited by the usual cliques of middle school: the athletes, the nerds, the cheerleaders, the popular girls, etc. Lyla is very bright and a talented gymnast, and when she starts receiving the highest grades and makes the cheer-leading squad, she finds herself part of the popular clique. To her surprise, she enjoys hanging out with these new friends, but soon has to make a decision...is being popular worth watching or participating in the bullying behavior of these girls?
Patricia Polacco takes on the issue of cyber bullying...posting comments on Facebook and sending text messages to the "uncool" kids in school. This is a very serious problem throughout our country; almost every day one can read the story of a child or teenager who is driven to suicide because of online verbal attacks. The bullying which exists these days is much more invasive than years ago; a child not only has to endure social isolation in school, but then is confronted with it at home if he or she has a facebook page or a cell phone; it exists 24/7. This book can and should be read by parents and teachers to middle schoolers as an introduction to the issue, and serve as an instructional "teaching moment"...what can you do to stop this cycle. We have to do something to curb the bullying epidemic in our country.
Patricia Polacco takes on the issue of cyber bullying...posting comments on Facebook and sending text messages to the "uncool" kids in school. This is a very serious problem throughout our country; almost every day one can read the story of a child or teenager who is driven to suicide because of online verbal attacks. The bullying which exists these days is much more invasive than years ago; a child not only has to endure social isolation in school, but then is confronted with it at home if he or she has a facebook page or a cell phone; it exists 24/7. This book can and should be read by parents and teachers to middle schoolers as an introduction to the issue, and serve as an instructional "teaching moment"...what can you do to stop this cycle. We have to do something to curb the bullying epidemic in our country.
April 4, 2013
When Lyla Dean's family moves to the San Francisco area, she is relieved to make friends with another new student, Jamie Aldrich. But their friendship is threatened when she is invited to join popular girls Gage, Kenyon and Maeve at their table. Although Lyla knows it's wrong, she says nothing when the girls leave cruel comments on other students' Facebook pages. As she watches her younger brother and Jamie become victimized by the school bullies, she decides to stand up to Gage on Jamie's behalf. Her actions lead to Lyla becoming the butt of a vicious electronic campaign as she receives hateful messages and posts. Although the author may have tried to do too much in this book amid all the drama with the Mean Girls and their assault on Lyla, the title is sure to prompt classroom discussions about bullying in its various forms. The illustrations, created with pencils and markers, effectively pay tribute to the sights of San Francisco and depict Lyla's anguish and uncertainty about what to do quite well. I also liked how Lyla didn't suddenly regain her popularity after all the drama died down. The fact that Gage's parents had died in an accident was mentioned a couple of times. I'm not sure if that was included to provide a reason for the bullying, but I found it a bit unnecessary. Still, despite these minor points, readers will be delighted to ponder the themes explored in this book.
February 14, 2015
As sixth graders, how does it feel to be a new student at a school? Did you know some people from elementary school? The friends you had in elementary, are they still your friends in middle school? Why or why not?
How would you feel if you didn't know anyone at middle school? Perhaps you moved from the other side of town or another city, how would you feel as a new student at our middle school? As we gain new friends, do we change? Do we keep the old friends from before?
What character traits are important in friends? Review character traits of good friends. What if you saw a friend who was not honest? or trustworthy? Would you call them on it? Is there more to being a good friend than playing games together? What similar interests do you share with friends of different groups? Is it okay to have different groups of friends or should I bully those who don't like the things I do?
I selected this book for my text set because the relationships of middle school students changes at sixth grade when they switch schools. The inclusion of cell phones, laptops, and gaming devices is also a part of the book and is a huge factor for my sixth graders. This book shows the students that friends need to have good qualities and cheating and lying are not good in keeping friends. Sometimes the best friends are the ones who stick with you through the good and the bad.
How would you feel if you didn't know anyone at middle school? Perhaps you moved from the other side of town or another city, how would you feel as a new student at our middle school? As we gain new friends, do we change? Do we keep the old friends from before?
What character traits are important in friends? Review character traits of good friends. What if you saw a friend who was not honest? or trustworthy? Would you call them on it? Is there more to being a good friend than playing games together? What similar interests do you share with friends of different groups? Is it okay to have different groups of friends or should I bully those who don't like the things I do?
I selected this book for my text set because the relationships of middle school students changes at sixth grade when they switch schools. The inclusion of cell phones, laptops, and gaming devices is also a part of the book and is a huge factor for my sixth graders. This book shows the students that friends need to have good qualities and cheating and lying are not good in keeping friends. Sometimes the best friends are the ones who stick with you through the good and the bad.
October 10, 2013
A powerful look at cyber-bullying, school, and middle-school students. Jamie and Lyla are new to the school and become friends in the spirit of new-kid friendship. They have a lot in common, but as Lyla starts to excel at all activities in school, cheer-leading, grades, and service, Jamie is left behind somewhat. They are still friends, but....
Now, Lyla has caught the eye of the most popular girls at school and they take her under their wings. When the group starts a cyber-bullying campaign against most of the kids at school, including Jamie, Lyla feels she wants no part of it and rekindles her friendship with Jaime. Of course, the girls are not happy and they accuse Lyla of stealing and cheating on an exam. Lyla and her parents are mortified and are subsequently cleared of the charges, but the damage has been done.
An all-too-common occurrence in schools today, bullying and especially cyber-bullying is become rampant. As a 'faceless' way to inflict pain and lies, it is a dangerous social media tool in which its abuse ruins friendships and reputations.
Now, Lyla has caught the eye of the most popular girls at school and they take her under their wings. When the group starts a cyber-bullying campaign against most of the kids at school, including Jamie, Lyla feels she wants no part of it and rekindles her friendship with Jaime. Of course, the girls are not happy and they accuse Lyla of stealing and cheating on an exam. Lyla and her parents are mortified and are subsequently cleared of the charges, but the damage has been done.
An all-too-common occurrence in schools today, bullying and especially cyber-bullying is become rampant. As a 'faceless' way to inflict pain and lies, it is a dangerous social media tool in which its abuse ruins friendships and reputations.
November 17, 2017
I'm officially a Patricia Polacco fan! This is such a great, great story that targets a worldwide issue. Bullying is no joke and it's so unfortunate that children are victims, and even abusers. This book does a great job addressing issues that happen in schools. Now it is also common for children to suffer from cyber bullying just like what happened with Layla.
Layla is a sixth grader in a new school and although, she has a charming personality she realizes their are certain groups of friends in school (popular kids, etc). After, sometime she starts to form part of a group but has to make a choice on what is more important. This is a great book because it educates children on a very serious issue and it's also a picture book!
Layla is a sixth grader in a new school and although, she has a charming personality she realizes their are certain groups of friends in school (popular kids, etc). After, sometime she starts to form part of a group but has to make a choice on what is more important. This is a great book because it educates children on a very serious issue and it's also a picture book!
April 1, 2013
A nice addition to Patricia Polacco's wealth of stories about real life situations. I think the bully's punishment should have been more severe, but realistically speaking, it is probably more of an accurate depiction of what would have happened to the bully. I think it is important to note, however, that the popular kids are not always the ones who do the bullying. Sometimes bullies can be loners who pick on other loners simply for something to do. I would read this to introduce the topic of bullying, but I would make sure all bases were covered with a thorough discussion on types of bullying, bullies, how to report it, how to stop it, etc. Those would have made excellent author's notes.
August 18, 2016
It's amazing that this book covered such an important topic yet I don't think it was executed well at all. It was like it was mean girls written as a picture book for kids expect it's not as good as the film. I didn't connect to the characters at all and I think that cyber bullying is never solved so easily. I also didn't like the fact that the ending revolved around going to another school or not. Is the message to children supposed to be "if you get bullied at one school you can always go to another school?" And this definitely isn't the truth. I think while she had a good idea in mind it just didn't come across in the right way.
July 30, 2013
I'm curious to find out how this book is received by the children who are the audience. As an adult I think it seems a bit sensationalized. I do like that it ends with a question posed to the reader about how they would respond to such actions.
March 8, 2013
perfect read to begin a conversation about bullying, especially cyber bullying.
February 3, 2020
Synopsis: The book Bully, by Patricia Polacco, is a realistic fiction book that is about a young girl navigating the complexities of middle school social politics. Lyla’s parents don’t allow her to have social media or many of the advance pieces of technology that teenagers use to communicate with each other. On her first day of school she meets her soon to be best friend Jamie. However, later on in the story Lyla makes the cheerleading team. The group of girls on the cheerleading team start to completely change Lyla. She gets introduced to all of the technology that she hasn’t had before. She also changes how she looks and who she hangs out with. My favorite part of the book is when she “dumps” the cheerleading social group in order to be back with her friend Jamie. Through this experience I am taught the important lessons regarding social media usage, empathy, kindness and friendship. I would say a teacher can read this book from 4-6 grade. I don’t think 3rd graders gave independent social media accounts.
Instructional applications:
I can use this book as a launch for a unit on empathy and friendship. I could have the students create a character map for Lyla, Jamie and/or the cheerleading squad. I can also use this book to teach about bullying. This book has bullying in both physical forms and online. This would be a great read in order to discuss the problems associated with bullying. Since many of these students will be gaining a social media account during their upper elementary years, I think it is essential that they gain background knowledge on what online bullying looks like. The teacher can then teach them on how to avoid online bullying, and what steps to take when it does happen.
Reasoning for it being a WOW book:
I thought this was a WOW book because it has a lot of great themes in the book. The anti-bullying themes and standing up to for someone are important lessons that every teacher should teach their students. I also believe that the online component is extremely relatable to todays students. They have to learn how to safely navigate an online atmosphere. I believe this book gives the teacher a launch into a lesson that can be centered around that skill.
Instructional applications:
I can use this book as a launch for a unit on empathy and friendship. I could have the students create a character map for Lyla, Jamie and/or the cheerleading squad. I can also use this book to teach about bullying. This book has bullying in both physical forms and online. This would be a great read in order to discuss the problems associated with bullying. Since many of these students will be gaining a social media account during their upper elementary years, I think it is essential that they gain background knowledge on what online bullying looks like. The teacher can then teach them on how to avoid online bullying, and what steps to take when it does happen.
Reasoning for it being a WOW book:
I thought this was a WOW book because it has a lot of great themes in the book. The anti-bullying themes and standing up to for someone are important lessons that every teacher should teach their students. I also believe that the online component is extremely relatable to todays students. They have to learn how to safely navigate an online atmosphere. I believe this book gives the teacher a launch into a lesson that can be centered around that skill.
April 27, 2019
Lyla and her family move to anew city but she is very nervous about starting anew school. She befriends a girl named Jamie on her first day. When Lyla makes the cheer team and starts hanging out with the popular girls, she doesn't see Jamie as much. The popular girls start bully Jamie and thats when Lyla decides she doesn't want to be friends with them anymore. The girls then start toe bully Lyla and lies about her stealing the states test. Jamie tells the principle she has evidence they lied and Lyla is no longer in trouble, but does she want to stay at the school or leave?
Bullying is a very important and serious thing that happens everyday. Kids now-a-days are easily bullied via online platforms, and this book is easily relatable to kids these days.
Bullying is a very important and serious thing that happens everyday. Kids now-a-days are easily bullied via online platforms, and this book is easily relatable to kids these days.
May 28, 2018
- Story told by the viewpoint of a sixth grade girl entering into a new school. She experiences anxiousness settling into a new environment. The story takes the reader through the daily struggles of adolescence. The main character is dealing with bullying while trying to fit in and make an identity for her self. The characters deal with real life issues of sixth graders today dealing with not having certain technology that other kids have. This story also discusses online bullying which is so relevant in kid’s lives today.
February 14, 2018
A very relevant book about cyber-bullying. The book didn’t end the way I expected, but I think it would allow for a quality discussion after a read aloud.
December 10, 2023
3.5 Middle school mean girls. The art looks like it was done in the 70s/80s.
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January 24, 2023Text-to-World Connection
My second choice for this week is Bully. Reading the title I thought it would be about a small bully situation, I was very wrong. This book was an eye-opener.
This book was kind of a snippet of what goes on in todays world with our kids/students. The book goes into cyberbullying and how comments on social media can hurt someone. The book was very much related to the real world. Society has made it a norm to find out what is going on with students via internet. Unfortunately when we as the adults find out, it is too late. We hear many stories of young ones taking their life because of bullying. In person or online bullying should be stopped.
My second choice for this week is Bully. Reading the title I thought it would be about a small bully situation, I was very wrong. This book was an eye-opener.
This book was kind of a snippet of what goes on in todays world with our kids/students. The book goes into cyberbullying and how comments on social media can hurt someone. The book was very much related to the real world. Society has made it a norm to find out what is going on with students via internet. Unfortunately when we as the adults find out, it is too late. We hear many stories of young ones taking their life because of bullying. In person or online bullying should be stopped.
January 30, 2018
Summary:
It is the new girl Lyla’s first day at school, so she does not know a single person and needs to meet new people. When she gets to school, she realizes that everyone already has their friends and she doesn’t want to join a group. Then she sees another new kid, a boy named Jamie, Lyla and Jamie end up becoming very good friends. At the school they go to there are three girls that are popular and bullies to others. After some time, Lyla starts to do good in school and joins the cheerleading squad, so now the popular girls start to be friends with her. Eventually Lyla realizes that the girls are not very nice to others and stops being friends with them.
Possible Topics:
1. It is hard to move to a new place, but it is possible.
2. Do not be a bully, it is better to be nice to others.
3. Don't change your personality just to be like others.
It is the new girl Lyla’s first day at school, so she does not know a single person and needs to meet new people. When she gets to school, she realizes that everyone already has their friends and she doesn’t want to join a group. Then she sees another new kid, a boy named Jamie, Lyla and Jamie end up becoming very good friends. At the school they go to there are three girls that are popular and bullies to others. After some time, Lyla starts to do good in school and joins the cheerleading squad, so now the popular girls start to be friends with her. Eventually Lyla realizes that the girls are not very nice to others and stops being friends with them.
Possible Topics:
1. It is hard to move to a new place, but it is possible.
2. Do not be a bully, it is better to be nice to others.
3. Don't change your personality just to be like others.
January 31, 2018
This was a nonfiction picture book chosen for Battle of the Books this year for my school, and usually I'm not a fan of the picture books they choose, but this one was well-written and relevant. It's a book I'd actually recommend to my students and highly recommend to other librarians to purchase for their library. Other than that, though, there was nothing out of the ordinary that moved me or struck me as extraordinary, so I give it three stars.
October 2, 2012
Lyla was very nervous about starting sixth grade at her new school, but she met Jamie on her first day and they immediately became friends. Lyla found herself fascinated by the three popular girls in school, who completely ignored her. She managed to get their attention when she got the top grade on an essay. Lyla tried out for cheerleading and made the team. Lyla even negotiated with her parents to get a laptop and Jamie helped her put together a Facebook page. Suddenly the popular girls started to pay attention to her and Lyla found herself joining them for lunch, leaving Jamie behind. But when a test is stolen and Lyla is accused of stealing it, she finds herself being bullied on Facebook and online. The story ends with the real thief being caught, but there is still the question of how kids who are being bullied should respond. What would you do?
Polacco grapples with many issues in this book. There are the popular kids and the others, something that we have seen in books again and again. But Polacco works to make this more than about mean girls by focusing on Lyla and her own reaction to bullying. Lyla sits quietly and allows others to be picked on by the girls, unwilling to speak up. While she does eventually disengage from the others, her own role in bullying is exposed too. The theft of the test takes the level of bullying higher, moving it online and making it very personal. Polacco manages to make the abuse believable but also devastating.
My one problem with the book is that the adults in the story are fairly ineffectual in stopping the bullying. When Lyla’s brother is having real issues at his new school, their parents do not get involved. Additionally, when the bullying against Lyla escalates, she does not turn to adults for help. It’s an unfortunate omission.
As always Polacco’s art is a large part of the appeal of this book. Her realistic illustrations use fine lines and bright colors to tell the story. The emotions on her faces are particularly effective, showing exactly what they are thinking. I also enjoyed the clothes worn by the bullies and the way that they wore similar outfits that held together as a group.
This is a great book to start bullying discussions. It shows how bullying can come from nowhere and escalate quickly. Appropriate for ages 8-11.
Polacco grapples with many issues in this book. There are the popular kids and the others, something that we have seen in books again and again. But Polacco works to make this more than about mean girls by focusing on Lyla and her own reaction to bullying. Lyla sits quietly and allows others to be picked on by the girls, unwilling to speak up. While she does eventually disengage from the others, her own role in bullying is exposed too. The theft of the test takes the level of bullying higher, moving it online and making it very personal. Polacco manages to make the abuse believable but also devastating.
My one problem with the book is that the adults in the story are fairly ineffectual in stopping the bullying. When Lyla’s brother is having real issues at his new school, their parents do not get involved. Additionally, when the bullying against Lyla escalates, she does not turn to adults for help. It’s an unfortunate omission.
As always Polacco’s art is a large part of the appeal of this book. Her realistic illustrations use fine lines and bright colors to tell the story. The emotions on her faces are particularly effective, showing exactly what they are thinking. I also enjoyed the clothes worn by the bullies and the way that they wore similar outfits that held together as a group.
This is a great book to start bullying discussions. It shows how bullying can come from nowhere and escalate quickly. Appropriate for ages 8-11.
October 24, 2017
Bully is a truthful story about what bullying can look like in the school setting. This book is about a sixth grade girl named Lyla who just moved and is adjusting to a new school. She soon meets up with a guy name Jamie. Jamie is also new to this school, and he becomes a great friend to Lyla. Just like in any other school, in the cafeteria, there are different tables based on a student's characteristics. There was the nerd table, the popular table, and the athlete table. The popular girls soon begin to notice Lyla when she starts making the best grades in the class. Lyla also tried out for the cheerleading squad. She gets on the team with no problems at all. This is also where the popular girls rule. Lyla and her brother Jack were soon begging their parents for a phone and computer so that they could connect with their friends, and their parents agreed. A few weeks later, the popular girls want to become friends with Lyla and they seem very genuine. They gave her a makeover and went to the mall together. Lyla soon realized that she did not belong to this group of girls and that she was hurting Jamie by being with them. One day in February, state exams are taken, and they get their scores back a week later. Lyla got the highest grade, but one of the exams was reported missing. To find out what happened to the missing test and how Lyla's friendships turn out, read this fun book! I enjoyed this book because of the underlying message that cyberbullying can be very hurtful. This book showed bullying in an over-exaggerated way that I believe students will be able to grasp and understand. I think that this book would be a good book to read around middle school when these clicks become known and bullying starts to become a big issue.
November 21, 2017
This book is about a girl named Lyla. The new school Lyla is attending is very cliquey. There is one clique in particular though that everyone wants to be a part of. As weeks went by, Lyla slowly became friends with these popular girls, but they turned out to be bullies. The girls bullied others online through Facebook and text messages. Soon they were bullying Lyla after she decided not to be friends with them.
The major theme of this book is that bully is not okay, but especially cyberbullying.
I thought this book was a great way to show what cyberbullying is, but also showed the main character standing up for herself and choosing not to be friends with the popular kids just because they are popular. Most kids will choose to stay friends with that particular group of friends, but this book showed that you should stick to your true friends instead.
I recommend this book to kids just starting to have electronics in their life. I think this is a good book to read in a classroom full of middle schoolers and maybe even elementary kids. It is important for kids to learn about cyberbullying before it becomes apparent in their life.
The major theme of this book is that bully is not okay, but especially cyberbullying.
I thought this book was a great way to show what cyberbullying is, but also showed the main character standing up for herself and choosing not to be friends with the popular kids just because they are popular. Most kids will choose to stay friends with that particular group of friends, but this book showed that you should stick to your true friends instead.
I recommend this book to kids just starting to have electronics in their life. I think this is a good book to read in a classroom full of middle schoolers and maybe even elementary kids. It is important for kids to learn about cyberbullying before it becomes apparent in their life.
December 7, 2012
I've been anxious to see Polacco's newest book, so when it came in my most recent book order, I immediately pulled it out to read. This particular story is obviously written for an older audience than some of her others, and feels a bit more "preachy." With the inclusion of cell phones and laptops and facebook, it is a frank depiction of what some tweens and teens have to deal with. It will be housed in the oversized fiction section. I will be curious to see the response from students, faculty and peers. I feel this is more a teaching book than an enjoyable book, and may in addition function as a primer for some parents about the ins and outs of cyberspace for youngsters. Once again, Polacco delivers some meat to chew on, albeit in a ground up form. After thinking on this book a while, I decided to bump it down a star. It's just not as good as many of her others.
October 2, 2013
A great Patricia Polacco book! Tells the story of Lyla, a sixth grader who moved to a new school. It talks about her experience as she tries to fit in to a new school. Lyla manages to make her way up the social ladder and eventually becomes friends with the popular girls. When Lyla became uncomfortable with some of her new friends' actions, she decides to stop hanging out with the popular girls. This makes her a target for their bullying.
This is a story that most middle school students can relate to. Even if students have not felt bullied or been a bully, this is an issue that has come up more and more since the rise of social media websites. I think it is important for students to be aware of how their actions affect others, and this is a story that can be used to start that conversation with students.
This is a story that most middle school students can relate to. Even if students have not felt bullied or been a bully, this is an issue that has come up more and more since the rise of social media websites. I think it is important for students to be aware of how their actions affect others, and this is a story that can be used to start that conversation with students.
October 30, 2013
The perfect book for the 21st century child. Polacco offers a story of a new girl in town, Lyla, who befriends a new boy in town, Jaime. As they both settle into the new school, Lyla gets noticed by the most popular girls and through cheerleading begins to hang out with them. She still is friends with JAime, but does not always speak up for what's right. When Lyla does speak up, she is dropped by the popular girls and used as a scapegoat. Including cell phones, laptops, and facebook in the story as part of the bullying process, this would be a good story to share as part of a cyberbullying unit. The book is not preachy at all, and many students will be able to relate to the characters, both popular and not so poplular.
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