IN the real world of bullying, experts say one way of dealing with the issue is bibliotherapy. Reading books – including novels – about the subject can create a better understanding of a problem adults struggle to explain.
About 30 per cent of children experience verbal or physical bullying, according to a national and international study done by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the US Department of Justice.
An article in 2022 by Madison Woodall and Dr Lyndsay Jenkins from Florida State University says novels about bullying provide invaluable information about the issue and address themes of identity, popularity, the consequences of your actions, empathy, acceptance, kindness, peer pressure, friendship and standing up for others.
Using books, parents and teachers can teach invaluable lessons about social acceptance, boost their children’s confidence and help them understand the social and personal dynamics of bullying
Audio versions of these books can be enjoyed on a commute home from school. Most of the books on this list are for students nine-14.
Here are some of the books I recommend and used as a librarian.
Remember to involve teenagers in the choice of which books to read.
1. I Walk With Vannessa: A Story about A Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoët (a joint pen name for two French animation and comics artists): This book without words shows the story of a girl who stands up for a bullied classmate by walking home with her. The pictures spark interesting discussions about kindness, empathy and bullying and allow children to express their feelings.
2. Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan: Never underestimate the power of humour to address a controversial subject. Students laughed, but seriously discussed messages of fairness, friendship and acceptance in this book about a student from India trying to fit into his new school in the US. He’s a good student bullied for his cultural differences.
The parallel story of a quiet, local white student in the same school who struggles with self-confidence shows another side of bullying.
Together the stories give invaluable insights about how bullies target children and how students can support each other to find ways to survive peer pressure.
3. Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart: It doesn’t take students long to realise that Slabhenge Reformatory School for Troubled Boys is a weird place with a power vacuum.
You won’t find bullies mentioned in this novel, but students note the signs of bullying in this remote place without adult supervision after an accident occurs.
Scar Island is a survival story with lessons about appropriate and inappropriate leadership. It offers invaluable tools in how to deal with situations like bullying and is a modern version of Lord of the Flies by William Golding.
4. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo: This novel for children from seven-12 offers an invaluable lesson in the consequences of bullying.
When bullies throw Edward, a porcelain bunny, off the s
