Empowering Youth, Inspiring Bravery*: Bullying Resources

With yet another youth opening fire on his classmates, it seems like a good time to say a few words about bullying. Bullying has become one of the most insidious aspects of growing up. While not a new issue, it has transcended traditional methods taking to the Internet and cell phones in a viral manner that makes escape from taunting almost impossible - even when in the shelter of your home. But bullying has also become a more talked about issue. There are more resources than ever to help teens who are being subjected to persecution from their peers. Listed below are some national resources for both teens and those who work with them.

Band Back Together
We are none of us alone, we are all connected.

The Born This Way Foundation
*Empowering Youth, Inspiring Bravery is the motto of Born This Way a new organization spearheaded by Lady Gaga to provide to teens from all walks of life.

Bullying.org
Where you are not alone.

Daily Strength
Offers 24/7 online support for Teens who need to talk about an issue.

It Gets Better Project
Support for LBTGQ teens.

There are also LOTS of resources in your community.  Don't know where to begin?  Go to your local library - a librarian can help you find resources and there may even be some on the library's website.

You can always reach out to a teacher, librarian or friend.  If the first person you reach out to does not help keep reaching.  If you make enough noise someone will pay attention.

Remember, no matter what, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Review: Zelah Green by Vanessa Curtis

Zelah is a "Cleanaholic".  Since the death of her mother several years ago, she lives in a constant war with germs and dirt; her life organized around compulsions that make her wash her hands thirty-one times or jump on the stairs.  When Zelah's dad disappears, her stepmother sends her to hospital to "deal with her little problem".  Suddenly Zelah is in a completely different environment, surrounded by other teens with a variety of problems and she begins to realize that she cannon let her ccompulsions control her anymore.  But it is an uphill battle when the very thing you fight is the only thing that gives you a sense of peace.

Curtis handles severe obsessive-compulsive disorder with a frank, unflinching quality that pulls readers in to Zelah's thoughts and motivations.  Though Zelah Green covers dense topics including OCD, anorexia, cutting and anger management problems in teens, this is not a dense read and should appeal to reluctant readers.  The subject matter is something that many teens confront either in their own personal lives or through dealings with family and friends.  This is a good novel for a Teen Book Club since the subject matter and characters raise interesting discussion points.

READ-ALIKES:
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Willow by Julie Hoban
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Review: Lost & Found by Shaun Tan



If you have never seen Tan's art
prepare to be amazed.

 Lost & Found consists of three very different short stories told through the unique art of Shaun Tan.  The first story, 'The Red Tree' is a personal story that takes the reader though a dark time in a person's life, but leaves them with the hope of things to come.  'The Lost Thing' combines compassion and civil disobedience in a heartwarming tale of finding yourself through aiding another.  Finally, 'The Rabbits' conveys the horror and despair of felt by native tribes in Australia as their land was taken by European settlers and their world changed forever.

Throughout these stories, Tan captivates the reader with his eclectic use of medium, color and light.  Bright spots of color stand out against a monocromatic, but vastly detailed, backdrop to draw the reader's eye to the important point of the image.  Tan has done another wonderful job of telling a rich story through complex images and sparce words that will have readers thinking about it long after the book is done.
Recommended for Readers Of:
Neil Gaiman, Brian Selznick, David Weisner, Art Spiegelman