We Want You To Know: Kids Talk About Bullying

Author: Deborah Ellis http://deborahellis.com/
Publisher: Coteau Books
Date of Publication: 2010
Illustrator: n/a
Genre Designation: Non-fiction
Lexile: 770L

We Want You to Know: Kids Talk About Bullying

Summary:

This book is written from the views of the children that have been bullied. The refreshing insight this book has can serve schools, teachers and counselors with valuable information. In the interviews they talk about what happened to them and how they tried to get help. They talked about the way bullies are good at convincing people they are not doing what they are accused of.  They even talk about our role as parents, what to do with the information when you child comes to you and say they have been bullied. This book does not only cover bullying in the United States, she interviews children from other countries. You find out in this book while we are separated by continents and cultures we have common threads when it comes to bullying.

Target Audience:

The book said ages 11-14. I really think this book is good for ages 11 to adult.

Evaluation:

This book is intended to educate. We hear stories about children that have been bullied and we are immediately reflective. This book goes beyond the story and talks about what they wish would have been done. In other words, how they wish the people around them peers and others would have reacted. This book is different than most bullying books you read and that is apparent from page one.

Reader Response Activity:

The reader response activity is done for you with this book. At the end of each interview there are questions that will help begin discussions. I would have the students read an interview and then use the discussion questions to go deeper.