Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories [Paperback]

Dawn Metcalf (Author), Megan Kelley Hall (Editor), Carrie Jones (Editor)

Book Description

Release date: September 6, 2011

You are not alone.

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This anthology of personal essays provides empathetic and heartfelt stories from each corner of the schoolyard: the bullied, the bystander and the bully himself are all represented. Their words will be a welcome palliative or a wise pre-emptive defense against the trials of adolescent social dynamics."           --New York Times

"Two of them, both authors of novels for young adults (Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones), have drawn on the power of the written word to focus attention on the problem and offer solace to the bullied." - --The Boston Globe

"You'll love it if... You know someone (or are someone) who's ever been involved in any type of bullying incident. There's something in it for everyone, on all sides of the spectrum. You'll love it even more if you can find a story that inspires you to help someone else." - Seventeen.com

"With authority often turning a blind eye and cyber-bullying rampant, this timely collection is an excellent resource, especially for group discussion, and the appended, annotated list of websites and further reading extends its usefulness." - Booklist

"Powerful...All of these stories feel authentic and honest, and readers will find a story or a person to identify with, to look to for comfort or guidance." School Library Journal

About the Author

Megan Kelley Hall is the author of Sisters of Misery and The Lost Sister and has written for a variety of publications, including Elle, Glamour, Parenting, the Boston Globe, and the Boston Herald. She lives north of Boston.

Carrie Jones is the New York Times bestselling author of the Need series—which includes Need, Captivate, and Entice—as well as Girl, Hero; Love (and Other Uses for Duct Tape); and Tips on Having a Gay (Ex) Boyfriend. She is the coauthor, with Steven E. Wedel, of After Obsession. Carrie lives in Maine with a scrawny cat, an obese cat, two tremendously large white dogs, and occasional pixies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (September 6, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006206097X
• ISBN-13: 978-0062060976
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.9 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,713 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Teens > Health, Mind & Body > Self-Esteem

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Go Pick This Up September 24, 2011

By Mundie Moms/Mundie Kids

Format:Hardcover

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.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Devour-Me Review of Dear Bully September 25, 2011

By Melinda Sheridan

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

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

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars useful tool September 7, 2011

By Harriet Klausner #1 HALL OF FAME

Format:Paperback

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