A Mighty Girl's top picks of bullying prevention books for tweens and teens!
As kids enter puberty and their bodies and emotions start to change, bullying takes on new challenges: not only do relationships become more complex, but self-esteem is often more fragile and popularity can seem so much more important than it did a few years ago. So it’s particularly important for parents to continue offering their children resources to develop their understanding of relational aggression and bullying! Whether your Mighty Girl prefers to read fiction about the topic, or enjoys a non-fiction guide, there is material in this blog to help her unravel the complexities of bullying in middle school, high school, and beyond.
For Mighty Girl books on bullying prevention for younger girls, visit our blog post, The End of Bullying Begins With Me: Bullying Prevention Books for Young Children.
Mean Girls: Fictional Bullies
Fiction can be a safe way to explore a challenging topic, especially for girls this age, who are acutely aware of the changing social dynamic around them. These books talk about bullying for a variety of reasons and from a variety of perspectives, so that your Mighty Girl can learn more about what bullies during the tween and teen years can be like — and how to deal with them.
Confessions of a Former Bully
Confessions of a Former Bully
In this unique book, Katie starts keeping a notebook about bullying after she’s required to visit the school counselor for bullying a friend on the playground. As Katie explores why she acted as she did, and learns more about bullying in general, she also develops ideas about how to atone for her mistakes. The story also includes sidebars with statistics, quotes, and other factual information about physical, emotional, and Internet bullying. Since part of the challenge for older girls can be the realization that almost everyone has engaged in teasing or bullying at some point — including themselves — it can help to show that it is possible to make things right if you’ve made a mistake.
Karma Khullar's Mustache
Karma Khullar's Mustache
Everything seems to be going against Karma as she prepares to enter middle school: her best friend has found another, blonder best friend; her beloved dadima has passed away; her father has become the new stay-at-home parent while her mother spends most of her time at work; and perhaps worst of all, she's spotted seventeen hairs sprouting on her upper lip. As her classmate's taunts about her mustache grow, Karma wonders if someone like her — half white and half Indian, half Methodist and half Sikh — belongs anywhere. With everyone busy elsewhere, Karma will have to figure out her own way to define her own destiny. Debut author Kristi Wientge tackles body hair, self-image, and bullying in this relatable novel which encourages tweens to imagine themselves in Karma's shoes.
Real Friends
Real Friends
Shannon and Adrienne have been best friends forever, but things start to change when Adrienne starts hanging out with Jen, the leader of the elementary school's popular clique known as The Group. To be in The Group, you have to do everything Jen says — even if that means bullying others. Shannon will need to decide whether being part of The Group is worth it... and figure out how to stand up for herself if it's not. Young Shannon’s day dreams hint at her future as a bestselling author, while LeUyen Pham's appealing illustrations still underscore how alienated Shannon feels with The Group and how comfortable she feels with other friends. This graphic novel memoir from beloved author Shannon Hale about relational aggression and the power of finding true friends will speak to many tweens.
A Kind of Spark
A Kind of Spark
11-year-old Addie is used to being the weird one in her small Scottish town: neither her peers nor the adults in her life really understand her special interests, her sensory issues, and her exhaustion with trying (and sometimes failing) to mask her autistic behaviors and seem "normal." But when she learns that her town hosted witch trials centuries ago, she discovers a cause: creating a memorial for the women who were burned just for being different. With the help of her outspoken sister Keedie, who's also autistic, and a new friend named Audrey, Addie is determined to make her voice heard. Written by an award-winning, neurodivergent author, this is a compelling story about acceptance of differences and being true to yourself perfect for fans of Song for a Whale and Counting by 7s.
Out of Place
Out of Place
12-year-old Cove has never been off the island of Martha's Vineyard, and her mother insists they'll never leave. But when her best friend Nina moves to New York City, Cove becomes the target of her school's bullies, leaving her feeling more isolated than ever before. When a new possible friend shows her a kids-only reality TV show for would-be designers, Cove figures that's her ticket to getting to New York. But when her desperation leads to bad decisions, Cove will have to figure out how to make up for her mistakes — and maybe how to make her own place, wherever she is. This gentle coming-of-age story explores loneliness, bullying, and the power of finding your voice.
The Kate In Between
The Kate In Between
Seventh grader Kate's life is changing — and she's changing too. Her mom has moved away, and she's starting to feel like she's outgrown her best friend, Haddie. When popular girl Taylor invites her to join a clique, Kate thinks it's the key to a new social circle (and it also means she doesn't have to talk about what's going on with her family, like she does with Haddie.) She even joins in as the clique harasses Haddie... until it results in Haddie falling through the ice of a frozen pond. Kate jumps in, and a video of the rescue goes viral, with people calling her Kate the Great. But Kate knows what really happened; it's only a matter of time until everyone else does too. Is she a bully, a bad friend, a hero, or what? And is it possible that one person can be all of the above? This timely and realistic novel by the author of What Happens Next is a reminder that part of developing identity is staying true to who you want to be.
Stick With Me
Stick With Me
12-year-olds Izzy and Wren have been thrown together against their will: Wren's family is renting space with Izzy's so that her sister can have a potentially life-changing treatment for her epilepsy at a Boston hospital. Their mothers have even decided that this is the perfect opportunity for both girls to attend the same theater camp! Art-loving Izzy, whose best friend has attached herself to the local mean girl, and figure skater Wren, who's frustrated at being dragged away from the rink where she practices, seem like an unlikely pair — but when they both become targets for the bullies, they might realize they fit together perfectly. Told in dual perspectives, with an empathetic and realistic view of the struggles of middle school relationships, this is a satisfying story about the power of finding the people who support you.
Say It Out Loud
Say It Out Loud
Musical-loving 6th grader Charlotte would rather not speak than have people make fun of her stutter. But when her best friend Maddie reports bullying on the school bus — and Charlotte doesn't back her up — her silence loses her only friend. When her parents enroll her in a musical theater class, Charlotte is shocked to discover she doesn't stutter when she sings... just as the arts program gets cut. Emboldened by finding her voice on stage, Charlotte starts writing: anonymous letters to classmates (including the bullies); pleas to the school board to keep the musical program; and an essay about her hope to reconcile with Maddie. She realizes that when silence could cost you everything, it's time to speak up. Allison Varnes, author of Property of the Rebel Librarian, drew on her own experiences with stuttering to craft this powerful story about self-doubt, courage, and kindness.
Let's Pretend We Never Met
Let's Pretend We Never Met
Mattie's family had to move during the middle of the school year, and at first she expects to spend her winter beak worrying about fitting in. Instead, she meets Agnes, a next-door neighbor and soon-to-be classmate, and they quickly become friends: Agnes is funny, smart, and inventive. Except when school starts, Mattie learns that Agnes is considered a "freak of nature" — and that the popular kids may not want anything to do with Mattie if she's Agnes' friend. Mattie will have to decide whether Agnes or others are more important — or perhaps, find a way to bridge this seemingly enormous gap. This honest and insightful middle grade novel will get kids thinking about friendship, peer pressure, and how to build healthy relationships.
The Second Life of Abigail Walker
The Second Life of Abigail Walker
Abigail has been ostracized after she refused to put up with being teased about her body by the school’s popular girls. Rather than sit alone, Abigail begins to explore the area around her school, and meets a new friend, Anders, whose family situation makes her realize that being unpopular isn’t so bad. Soon, she has a new focus to her life — one that helps her discover that helping others can be the best way to help yourself. One of the things that holds the target of bullying — or bystanders — back from standing up to a bully is fear of the isolation it can bring; this book will remind readers that there are more people in the world to lean on.
Jane, the Fox, and Me
Jane, the Fox, and Me
Helene has been inexplicably ostracized by the other girls in her class, and she's struggling with her emotions without help from the adults around her. She finds solace in her favorite book, Jane Eyre, but that won't help when she finds herself on a school trip with no escape from humiliation. The sighting of a fox provides comfort for a while, but even that is denied to her before long. Then Helene meets Geraldine, a new girl in school who doesn't seem to care that befriending the outcasts puts herself at social risk. Perhaps bullies have exactly the power that you give them... This stunning, emotionally powerful graphic novel illustrates one way kids can invert the power dynamic between the bullies and the bullied.
The Humiliations of Pipi McGee
The Humiliations of Pipi McGee
Every year she's been in school, Pipi has suffered some sort of humiliation — from an embarrassing kindergarten self-portrait to having a leak during her period in seventh grade — and mean-girl Kara has often been the one broadcasting it to the world. Now in eighth grade, Pipi is determined to remake herself before high school — and to get a little revenge along the way. But her quest is threatening her few real friendships, and she's also discovering some of the people on her list are a little more complicated than she thought.... Both painful and funny, this authentic novel asks the question of whether loving yourself might be the best "revenge" of all.
Friend Me
Friend Me
When Roisin moves from Ireland to Massachusetts so her mother can take a job at MIT, she's thrilled until she becomes the target of Zara, the school bully, both in person and online. Then she meets a (virtual) friend: even though they've never met, Haley gets Roisin, and helps provide support... including a place to vent about Zara, and imagine what life would be like if Zara just went away. But when Zara has a mysterious accident, Roisin starts to worry: could Haley be behind it? And what will her messages look like when the police start investigating — will it look like she was in on the whole thing? This tense thriller with an unexpected twist ending takes on some of the biggest challenges facing tweens and teens today: bullying, technology, and how much can go wrong when the two combine.
If This Were A Story
If This Were A Story
Ten-year-old Hannah has always been good at holding in her emotions, even when life at home is hard. But when she finds a note that says "nobody likes Hannah" on the floor of her classroom, she starts getting support from an unexpected place: voices from objects around her, from her lucky pennies to her stuffed elephant, Ambrose. She also gets help from her teacher and from the school counselor, Ms. Meghan, but they can't help her if she won't reveal what's going on — and as Hannah herself thinks, "We are all unreliable narrators." This touching debut addresses bullying, as well as the importance of story, through the eyes of an insightful and empathetic main character.
Starfish
Starfish
12-year-old Ellie has been bullied for her weight since she was five — both by her peers and by members of her own family, including her mother, who thinks criticizing Ellie's body will finally make her want to diet. She's set rules for herself: don't eat in public, don't move in ways that make you jiggle, and don't draw attention to yourself. But when a new neighbor, Catalina, moves in next door, she likes Ellie and doesn't even seem to notice her weight. With support from her father and from an insightful therapist who pushes Ellie to explore her feelings, she begins to realize that she could spread out like a starfish and claim her place — just the way she is. This poignant novel-in-verse is sure to start important conversations about body-shaming, self-confidence, and the power of loving yourself.
How to Disappear Completely
How to Disappear Completely
12-year-old Emma used to treasure weekends with her Gram in her small town of Lanternwood, full of imaginative games and a shared journal where they could write anything. Then Gram admitted she had terminal cancer, and Emma and her family moved to her cottage to help in her last days. Now, Emma is starting school in a new town, grieving the loss of Gram, and getting bullied by a classmate for her newly diagnosed vitiligo. As she struggles to deal with all of that — and discovers that someone is still writing back to her in Gram's journal — Emma will have to figure out how to be herself when everything around her has changed... and the stories she and Gram shared might just be the key.
Just Like Jackie
Just Like Jackie
11-year-old Robbie Hart tries to be like her famously peaceful namesake, Jackie Robinson, but she can't help fighting bullies like Alex Carter who make fun of her for not having a mom. What's worse, her beloved Grandpa — who raised her and taught her everything worth knowing — is losing his memory, sometimes even forgetting her name. When Robbie is put in group guidance — with Alex — she's determined to keep her secret, lest she lose the only family she's ever known. But sometimes, family appears in unexpected places... Honest and emotional, this novel captures the true meaning of family.
Sticks & Stones
Sticks & Stones
Elyse has an unusual condition: ever since she was a baby, the words people use to describe her appear on her skin. Words like "cute" and "adorable" are just an oddity, but as she gets older, she starts seeing words like "loser" and "pathetic" that itch and pull at her skin — and worse, some of them are her own thoughts about herself. Now that's she's twelve, the situation seems dire: the friends who used to accept her are drifting away just as she starts middle school. And then she gets an anonymous message, from someone who says they know what's going on and they want to help. Author Abby Cooper uses Elyse's medical condition as a fascinating metaphor for both self-esteem problems and the impact that words can have upon a person's confidence.
Just Jaime
Just Jaime
It's the last day of seventh grade, and everything is about to change for best friends Jaime and Maya. Jaime has noticed the group poking fun at her and freezing her out ever since Celia took over — but she hasn't gotten up the courage to talk to Maya, her best friend since first grade, about it. Meanwhile, Celia's told Maya that she has to kick Jaime out of the group... for her sake, since she doesn't fit in. Over the course of one middle school day, Jaime and Maya will find their friendship tested in a shocking way — and figure out a way to move forward. This graphic novel by the author of the best-selling Emmie and Friends series explores cliques, frenemies, and the importance of being true to yourself.
Be Prepared
Be Prepared
Vera is desperate to fit in with her suburbian friends — but for a Russian immigrant with a single mother, that's not easy. The other girls in the neighborhood all go to summer camp, so when she finds out that her family's church will help pay for a Russian Orthodox camp, she convinces her mother to let her go. But it turns out that camp is a struggle too, particularly with older "cool girl" cabinmates and fellow campers who mock and exclude her. Fortunately, with time, Vera achieves some real triumphs and learns how to find — and be — a real friend. Author / illustrator Vera Brosgol deftly combines emotional honesty and belly laughs in this graphic novel, which is based in part on her own camp experience.
Wolf Hollow
Wolf Hollow
Even Annabelle's small Pennsylvania town has been touched by the two world wars that ravaged the world, but day to day life there has been quiet until the day a new student, Betty Glengarry, comes to her school. Betty is cruel and delights in bullying the vulnerable people around her — including reclusive World War I veteran Toby. Annabelle knows that Toby is kind, but the other people in town see nothing but his odd behavior. As Betty agitates the town against Toby, Annabelle will have to find the courage to be a voice of justice... even if she's standing alone. This poignant novel reminds young readers that bullying isn't new — and neither is the power of a bystander to make a change.
Awkward
Awkward
Peppi Torres knows that rule #1 in a new school is not to get noticed by the mean kids, and rule #2 is to find a group to protect you. But she fumbles rule #1 badly when she bumps into Jaime Thompson in the hallway and immediately gets labeled the "nerder girlfriend." To defend herself, though, she treats Jaime badly and can't help but feel ashamed. But the group she's settling into, the art club, and Jaime's group, the science club, are archrivals. How can Peppi find a way to make up for her poor behavior? It turns out that sometimes you have to break all the social rules to survive middle school. This newly released graphic novel conveys a powerful message about compassion in the midst of the chaos of middle school.
Stargirl
Stargirl
The perplexing and unique Stargirl captivates everyone at Mica High when she arrives — including Leo, the story’s narrator. The adoration turns sour, however, and soon Stargirl realizes she either has to change herself to be "normal" enough to fit in, or remain true to herself and accept her classmates’ taunts. Leo pushes her to change, so that they can continue their relationship without him being isolated along with her. But when it comes time for the choice, Stargirl knows she has to choose what’s right for herself, not Leo or anyone else. It’s important that tweens and teens know that they shouldn’t change who they are for the sake of gaining popularity; this book captures that message beautifully. You can also find Stargirl and its sequel Love, Stargirl in a boxed set.
The Skin I'm In
The Skin I'm In
Maleeka has long heard constant comments about her dark black skin, which makes it hard for her to see herself as beautiful — or valuable. But a new teacher at the school, whose blotched face draws the same negative attention, shows Maleeka how to hold her head high despite the attacks against her, and when one of the cutest boys in school declares that her “sweet cocoa brown skin” is beautiful, Maleeka begins to see how bullies make you see the world through their lens, rather than your own. This unflinching look at racially-based bullying will open teen readers' eyes to the many cultural facets involved in our response to bullies. For the long-anticipated companion to this book from the bully, Char's, point of view, check out The Life I'm In for ages 15 and up.
Does My Head Look Big In This?
Does My Head Look Big In This?
When young Australian Muslim Amal decides to wear the hijab as an expression of her religious devotion, she discovers how much prejudice can be wrapped up in a piece of cloth. Suddenly , her head covering is all anyone wants to talk about, and classmates who used to have no problem with Amal now see her as a “towel-head” instead of a peer. And strangers in the street — and even prospective employers — seem to feel free to judge her on her choice as well. Teens interested in tolerance-related issues will be particularly intrigued to see how peoples’ opinions can change depending on how well someone blends into the majority culture.
Story of a Girl
Story of a Girl
Deanna was caught having sex in a car three years ago, at the age of thirteen. Although she has avoided boys since, she can’t escape the reputation of school slut. The book is in the form of Deanna’s diary, which she writes as if she is telling the story of another girl, and draws out the isolation Deanna feels as she struggles to break out of a role others have assigned her after she made a single choice. Because of several high-profile cases, teens know all too well that a girl's sexual activity — whether consensual or forced — can lead to ongoing bullying; this book tackles that situation head-on.
Orchards
Orchards
Sometimes you can’t make up for what you’ve said or done. In this book, Kana, an American girl who is half Japanese and half Jewish, has worked hard to blend in with the popular crowd — a crowd that spent some of its time harassing Ruth. But Ruth was struggling with bipolar disorder and committed suicide during the school year. Kana’s parents send her to her grandparents’ orange groves in Japan for the summer to work — and reflect on the things she has done. In free verse, often directed to Ruth, Kana struggles with coming to terms with the responsibility she may hold for Ruth’s death. While there are no definite answers, Kana does realize that, had she stepped in, she may have been able to change things for the better.
Symptoms of Being Human
Symptoms of Being Human
A new school and an ultra-conservative congressman father running for re-election are stressful enough, but Riley has a secret: Riley is genderfluid, identifying as a boy some days and a girl others. The strain of playing a role for the community and media is building, so on a therapist's recommendation, Riley starts an anonymous blog about what it's like to be a genderfluid teen. But just as Riley gets settled at school, the blog goes viral — and an unnamed commenter discovers Riley's identity and threatens to expose it to the world. Riley faces a choice: walk away from support, understanding, and a newfound cause, or come out — and risk everything. Jeff Garvin has created a story that tackles online, gender-based bullying in an uplifting way, with a fascinating protagonist, one who faces prejudice and still keeps a sense of humor and stands up for what is right for Riley.
The Truth About Alice
The Truth About Alice
Everyone "knows" that Alice is a slut: she had sex with two boys at a party...or maybe she had sex in exchange for math answers. And then, when Brandon, the quarterback, dies in a car crash, rumors really spin out of control: it was Alice's obsessive texts that caused the accident, surely. As multiple narrators tell the story of how Alice went from the girl who didn't care about being popular to the demonized target of a school's rage, readers piece together how destructive the desire for popularity can be — and how the faster pace of texting and social media turn gossip into a destructive force that seems unstoppable. Equally importantly, the book highlights how, by excusing bullying because "she deserved it," the whole community is culpable.
Taking A Stand: Non-Fiction About Bullying
Some tweens and teens may prefer a non-fiction guide or workbook to help them explore constructive ways to deal with bullying. The books below all offer great information to Mighty Girls of this age group.
Stand Up For Yourself and Your Friends
Stand Up For Yourself and Your Friends
This book from the American Girl Library is a great starting point for tweens looking for advice on dealing with bullies. Rather than telling girls that there is a “right” way to handle a bully, this book gives a variety of different options, from ignoring taunts to comebacks to involving adults, as well as advice as to how to decide which strategy to use. The book acknowledges that not all mean behavior is necessarily malicious, though, and also provides a guide to knowing how to stand up to a friend who is behaving badly without being mean yourself. Parents and educators can supplement this book with A Smart Girl's Guide: Digital World - How to Connect, Share, Play, and Keep Yourself Safe to show how these dynamics may appear online.
A Smart Girl's Guide: Drama, Rumors, and Secrets
A Smart Girl's Guide: Drama, Rumors, and Secrets
Sometimes, middle school girls don't know what to do about the drama that fills their social lives: from jealousy to cyberbullying to gossip, it seems like there are landmines everywhere! This new guide from the American Girl Library provides an excellent introduction to how drama starts, how it grows — and how you can help stop it in its tracks. Most importantly, it reinforces the message that the most important thing is to be true to yourself. Quotes, tips, and advice from real Mighty Girls make this an accessible, fun guide to a difficult topic.
A Smart Girl's Guide: Friendship Troubles
A Smart Girl's Guide: Friendship Troubles
When a friendship is going sour, this book can help girls respond appropriately and figure out if the relationship can be repaired. Tackling everything from backstabbing to exclusion to being left behind as a friend joins another crowd, this guide gives ways to handle each situation without turning into a mean girl yourself. Additionally, it provides more guidelines as to when a girl can handle a friendship in trouble on her own, and when she should get adults involved. The overall tone of this book is very positive, reminding girls that even friendships that have bumps along the way can often be saved.
A Smart Girl’s Guide: Digital World
A Smart Girl’s Guide: Digital World
Tweens are often eager to get involved in all the fun of the digital world, from social media to texting to online gaming — and while there's plenty of fun to be had online, it's important for girls to know how to use their digital tools responsibility and how to keep themselves and their personal information safe. In this newly revised and updated book, girls learn how to deal with cyberbullying, safety tricks, and more so that they can effectively use their cell phones, tablets, and computers. Fun quizzes and real-life stories from other girls will help your Mighty Girl strike the right balance so that they can enjoy the best parts of our digital, connected world.
The Bullying Workbook for Teens
The Bullying Workbook for Teens
Another excellent title from the Instant Help Solutions series, this workbook helps teens deal with the difficult emotions created when you’re the victim of bullying or cyberbullying. Using cognitive behavioral techniques, this workbook helps teens identify and manage their emotions, from anxiety to anger to depression, and provides guides to getting help when bullying is getting out of control. By working through the exercises, teens will develop their confidence in handling their bullies and in communicating their emotions to the supportive people in their lives.
It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living
It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living
Dan Savage’s It Gets Better Project has provided hope and inspiration to LGBTQ youth across the country and around the world. This book, edited by Savage and his partner Terry Miller, collects essays from everyone from celebrities to everyday people to teens who are dealing prejudice and harassment against LGBTQ people. The message: even when things seem bleak, each and every person reading is a valuable person with incredible potential, and it does get better.
Bully
Bully
In this documentary film, director Lee Hirsch follows five families dealing with different aspects of bullying, including those who have lost a teen to suicide and a mother whose bullied daughter was jailed after becoming so afraid that she brought a gun on the school bus. The film provides an intimate look at the many facets of bullying and, although this raw examination of the subject is difficult to watch, it is nevertheless inspiring as Hirsch demonstrates the effect that a community’s actions can have — for the worse, yes, but also for the better.
Tweens and teens are at the age where they begin to see the power they have to change the world. When they work together, there are few things that they cannot accomplish. When we teach our Mighty Girl tweens and teens to stand up for what is right, they can go out and help their peers feel special, loved and safe.
Additional Resources
- If you have a preschool or school-aged Mighty Girl, check out the first part of this blog series, The End of Bullying Begins With Me: Bullying Prevention Books for Young Mighty Girls.
- For more anti-bullying books for Mighty Girls of all ages, check out our Top Books on Bullying Prevention for Mighty Girls or our section of books about Bullying / Teasing.
- For books that address the topic from a parent’s perspective, please see our parenting books about Bullying.
- To help your tween or teen build an empowering music playlist, check out our Music section. Songs in our Inspirational music section or our Self-Worth / Confidence section are particularly good for anti-bullying playlists.
- For books that celebrate the value of being yourself, check out our Individuality section.
