Customer Reviews

Letters to a Bullied Girl: Messages of Healing and Hope

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You may have read the news story in May 2007 about Olivia Gardner, the 14-year-old epileptic girl from Novato, California, who was bullied mercilessly for over two years in three separate schools. You also may have heard about two sisters from Mill Valley, Emily (17) and Sarah (14), who started a campaign to solicit letters of support for buder from teens and others who had experienced similar traumas. But what you may not know is that what began as a local, small-town project has blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon that has sparked websites, other letter-writing campaigns, and a book (this one) called LETTERS TO A BULLIED GIRL.

With more than 150 letters and copies of emails from those who have been bullied as well as those who have participated in bullying, LETTERS is a powerful book to digest --- or try to, at least. Although par for the course given the subject matter, it's still distressing to read through a full range of firsthand accounts of verbal and physical abuse inflicted on the undeserving. From a girl who had been made fun of because of her facial acne to a boy who had been singled out and repeatedly beaten up by his peers in the lunch yard, the notes paint a depressing but, nonetheless, starkly realistic portrait of what actually goes down on middle school and high school campuses.

Perhaps what's even more bothersome is to read through the letters from adults who were the ones responsible for the taunting, the jeering, the exclusionary behavior, back in their day. The common response, "To this day, I don't know why I did it," although heartfelt, is no excuse, and gives us readers pause to ask the question: Could this be the same sort of behavior that we see around office water coolers, in PTA meetings, or neighborhood country clubs? Yes, bullying is horrendous when it's directed at young adults, but do we ever really grow out of it? Or is it just human nature?

Still, despite that nagging elephant in the room, the overall point and message of the book is a positive one --- that it is possible to make a difference in someone's life just by reaching out a hand. Emily and Sarah Buder saw a fellow teen in need and for no other reason than a compassionate urge to show a stranger that she wasn't alone in her suffering and that there was, in fact, the possibility that things would --- eventually --- improve, they changed a girl's life for the better.

LETTERS could (and should) be a wake-up call to school administrators and parents...that is, those who are blissfully unaware that the problem isn't going away --- especially now that teens are using social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace to take bullying to a whole new level. There are signs --- and as responsible adults, they need to be aware of them. It's also an excellent resource for teens, both for those who are being bullied and for those who are standing by watching it happen. Any bit of information on the subject helps, even if it's slightly redundant. But isn't that the point?

The bottom line is that adolescence should (could?) be a time of joy and learning, not of fierce insecurity and intense suffering. Plus the fact that most nasty, deplorable behavior is learned early on --- but can be prevented if it's caught in time. Any material that helps facilitate that goal is well worth a read.

--- Reviewed by Alexis Burling

Length:: 5:41 Mins

This is an extremely sensitive and thoughtful book. It's so good to see the outpourings of encouragement to this poor, bullied girl. This book should be assigned reading in elementary through high school- maybe children would be less cruel to each other if they realized how hurtful it was. It's shocking to read the responses that come from people who were bullied as children and are still feeling the effects years down the road.

I've been aware of this all-to-common type of oppression by certain persons against others since I was a youngster at school. I stopped my oppressor by fist-fighting him, and as with all bullies, he never bothered me afterward. - - This book is so fascinating, just to read the letters of people from everywhare and from all walks of life recount their experiences and read their spiritual support. - - Also, the proactive two sisters, Emily and Sarah Buder, who started this whole rescue operation public deserve recognition, if not a medal of some kind.

I have not read this book, but was interested in it when I found it here on Amazon.com. Everyone who is interested in this book should read Olivia Gardner's video review before purchasing or reading this book. I would like to thank Olivia for creating her review in order to set things straight and put the truth out here.

In May 2007, you may have been watching the news when a story aired about Olivia Gardner, a 14-year-old epileptic girl from California. She was bullied for two years in three different schools. You may have heard about two sisters, Emily and Sarah, who started a letter campaign for bullied teens and others. It had begun as small town campaign but grew to be worldwide and sparked websites, other campaigns, and now a book.

The book contains more than 150 letters and emails from others that have experienced what Olivia has or now regret participating in the bullying of others. This book is something everyone should experience. It is a sad book filled with firsthand accounts of verbal and physical abuse.

It even contains letters from parents who participated in the bullying of others. A common response among these adults is that they don't know why they did it. They say they regret it, but that is no excuse. Bullying is considered horrific when directed at kids and teens, but does anyone ever grow out of it?

The book has a positive message--that there are people who care and want to help others even if they don't know the person they are helping. Emily and Sarah didn't even know Olivia. They just saw a teen in need and then showed her that she wasn't alone, that even strangers care. They changed her life forever.

LETTERS TO A BULLIED GIRL should be a wake-up call to everyone everywhere. There are signs that everyone should be aware of. I consider it an excellent resource for teens and others who are being bullied or just watching it all happen. Everyone should read this book because it will help others realize that bullying should never be allowed to happen.

Reviewed by: Ace

This book is eye-opening! It is a collection of letters written to Olivia Gardner by people from all walks of life. Olivia was being bullied by her classmates for being an epileptic. When Emily and Sarah read about this, they started a letter writing campaign to Olivia to help her get through this. I was bullied all through grade school and high school. To find out so many people went through the same thing was an eye-opener for me. I can just imagine how Olivia must have felt to receive such love. I know I often thought of doing myself in like she did. My faith in God got me through!!

If you were bullied or were a bully who now is sorry, read this book. All kids should read this book. This stuff hurts and you never, ever forget it!! God bless Olivia and Emily and Sarah Buder, you two are angels!

I had my three children read this book ages 10. 12, and 14. They understood how people can affect another person life in a positive and also damaging way. They were absorbed in the book reading the letters from people of various ages. I think the schools should have this on their required reading lists in the media centers. It shows one how you can help another person in their life if you just give up a little time of your own to help those in need.

Bullying was once considered a character-building rite of passage for children, but now it is seen for what it is--a form of victimization and abuse which can leave lasting psychological scars. The letters in this book bring the bullying problem to life as we read the stories of bullies as well as stories of the bullied. Bullying affects everyone and, as evidenced by some of the stories, the scars can sometimes last a lifetime. I would hope that all students would read this book and many thanks to the two sisters who began the letter-writing campaign!

We should all read this book. It is a wonderful example of how long bullying affects individuals. The letters are heart wrenching and touching and show the long-lasting results that bullying can cause.

Every educator, administrator, daycare worker, psychologist, case workers and parents should read this book. It is that powerful.