My Secret Bully

by: Trudy Ludwig; Illustrations by Abigail Marble

Published by: Tricycle Press

Reviewed by Amy L. Loos

(Good for children and middle-reader ages)

Excellent read! Two thumbs up! My Secret Bully by Trudy Ludwig is a must-have for any parent whose child has been bullied by a peer.

When Monica's good friend Katie starts excluding her and begins whispering behind her back, Monica is faced with a painful situation. She and Katie used to be good friends but now, for some unknown reason, Katie's turned their friendship upside down and is choosing to purposefully hurt Monica through avoidance, teasing and ridicule. Why? Monica doesn't know and the exclusion is causing her to have stomachaches.

It isn't until Monica confides in her mother about the situation with Katie, that Monica is taught an important lesson: Friends don't hurt friends.

Through role-playing with her Mom, Monica learns to take proactive steps, such as using humor, to help diffuse Katie's bullying. Monica learns that her mother is always there to protect her and to share constructive advice when handling Katie's bully tactics. Most importantly, Monica learns that Katie's behavior is not her fault and she does not need to accept the poor treatment from her so-called friend

As parents and teachers we can use My Secret Bully as a tool to talk to our children and students about the issue of bullying and address positive ways to diffuse the aggression.

As adults it is important that we step alongside the children in our lives, protecting them from bullies, and teaching them how to be good friends to one another while creating a more compassionate, kindhearted world to live in.

Armchair Interviews says: Highly recommended for parents to read with their children.