Say Boo to Bullying!

October is typically a month where you will find the library filled with ghosts and ghouls and goblins. This year is no exception in the Teen Space, where teens are working hard preparing for their Haunted Halloween Party on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m. (ages 8 and older!). Scary books will be read, games will be played, and candy is sure to be plentiful! 

October is also National Bullying Prevention Month, a month where people all over the country participate in activities and conversations on the topic of bullying. Here in the Teen Space, we will talk about bullying and what it means to us at school and in the library too, during our Teen Advisory Group meetings on Thursday nights.  If you can't make a meeting (or you aren't a teen), pick out some materials from the display of bullying-related books in the Teen Space!

Here is a list of some staff favorites - books and films with characters who have struggled to overcome bullying or who are coming to terms with why they are acting like a bully themselves. 

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson	Playground   by 50 Cent
Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King	Boxers by Gene Yang
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina	The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Bully a documentary film	It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living by Dan Savage and Terry Miller

Though the federal government shutdown is still happening at the time of this post, kids, parents and educators can still use the comprehensive resources made available at http://stopbullying.gov.

Common Sense Media also has great free curriculum for topics like cyberbullying at all ages!