Celebrate No Name-Calling Week with Books About Bullying

Bullying is a serious problem that should never be forgotten, even if the attention it gets comes and goes. The good thing is there are a variety of organizations educating the public and dealing with how to prevent bullying. So in honor of No Name-Calling Week 2014, here are some books that take a close look at the various sides of bullying.

Period 8 is supposed to be a safe space where honesty and sharing is encouraged among high school students who have this open period, but when one student disappears, everyone tries to figure out who's lying. What was once a safe space to learn how to cope with problems and talk about issues like extreme bullying has become a space where no one knows who to trust. The narrative voices are believable and chilling; this one takes you for a ride.

All that Piddy knows is that Yaqui Delgado hates her, and she has no idea why in Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick your Ass. What starts as harassment turns into full-on physical and mental bullying, and Piddy's life gets turned upside down. While heart-wrenching, this novel takes a close look at bullying and all its effects in an honest and brave way.

If you're looking for true stories, Vicious is a compilation of teens telling their tales of bullying from all sides, such as the person bullying, the bystander and the target. The stories are raw and provide insight into how teens feel before, during and after bullying incidents. It's a good look into what many teens are dealing with today.

If you're interested more recommendations, check out my Say No to Bullying list.