Trigger warning: This article and the books discussed within it contain depictions of bullying, Islamophobia, domestic abuse, mental health issues, and other potentially distressing content. Please exercise care while reading.
Many children will experience or witness acts of bullying. According to the National Center for Education, nearly 20 percent of US students aged 12 to 18 reported having been bullied during the 2021–22 school year. Bullying can occur at any age and can have long-lasting effects on a child’s mental health.
One way to combat bullying is to teach children empathy, compassion, and how to stand up for themselves from an early age. This week’s Three to Read Jr. picks show young readers how bullying affects other people — and how they can help fight it.
EARLY READERS
Rock by Laurel Croza, Illustrated by Matt James
SUMMARY:
A rock sitting on the beach is minding its own business when a seagull tries to eat it. Realizing its mistake, the seagull spits out the rock. It rudely insists that the rock must be a pebble or stone due to its small size, declaring that the rock will eventually sink to the bottom of the ocean or be ground down to a speck. The seagull ultimately concludes that the rock is nothing special — but a child playing on the beach might just think otherwise.
WHY:
Laurel Croza and Matt James present a unique take on bullying and staying resilient in the face of naysayers. The seagull tries to impose its own views on the rock, claiming that it knows what the rock really is and what unpleasant fate is in store for it. But only the rock can decide its worth — and soon enough, someone comes along who recognizes how special it truly is.
ELEMENTARY READERS
Do You Even Know Me? by Reem Faruqi, Illustrated by Ani Bushry
SUMMARY:
Salma is proud of being Muslim, but the people around her don’t understand her faith. To Salma, Islam means peace — just like her own name. But news reporters say negative things about Muslims on TV, and Salma’s classmate, Luke, won’t stop being mean to her. Will Salma find the courage to stand up for herself?
WHY:
Originally written in response to the 2017 Muslim Travel Ban, Do You Even Know Me? powerfully depicts how mainstream media representation can affect how children perceive themselves and each other. It also demonstrates how difficult it can be for children to speak up when they are being bullied, especially when it goes unnoticed by the adults in their lives. Salma finding her voice is a powerful moment — but so, too, is the ending, when she decides to treat her former bully with the kindness and respect all children deserve.
MIDDLE GRADE READERS
Weird Sad and Silent by Alison McGhee
SUMMARY:
Years after living with her mother’s abusive ex-boyfriend, Daisy still copes with the fear. Her coping mechanisms draw unwanted attention from school bullies, who call her “weird, sad, and silent.” Daisy is long used to “invisibilizing” herself, but her life starts to change when she meets a new boy. Quiet but confident, Austin may just be the key to helping Daisy stop invisibilizing and start “futurizing.”
WHY:
Alison McGhee’s moving novel illustrates the lasting effects that trauma can have on children. Though Daisy and her mother have long since escaped their abusive situation, Daisy continues to live in survival mode, especially after being bullied for counting up to one of her favorite numbers. Written in a unique structure that highlights Daisy’s subtle cleverness and strength, Weird Sad and Silent gives voice to a character readers are sure to love and root for.
That’s it for this week’s Three to Read Jr.! We’ll be back next week with more awesome picks for your little bookworm.
Looking to help your child understand their emotions? Click here for three incredible books from BIPOC authors.
Find these and other Three to Read recommendations at our Bookshop.
