Standing Up for Yourself with Meg Medina

 
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina

When Piddy Sanchez and her mom move to what her mom says is a safer neighborhood, the last thing on Piddy's mind is worrying about some girl named Yaqui Delgado. However, she soon learns that despite her best efforts, Yaqui has it out for her and won't stop until she teaches Piddy a lesson. An incredible story of the senselessness of bullying and the struggle of survival, Medina tells a new story of what it means to stand up for yourself.

 

In an interview, Medina reveals that this book was inspired by events in her own life growing up in Queens, New York:

My run-in with the school bully caused me to change my entire attitude about myself as a person. It took me years to feel better. When I wrote this novel, I was examining that issue. How we can unravel…but also how we can knit ourselves back together from even the worst experiences.

Later in the same article, Medina really strikes a chord when discussing how she was dis-invited from speaking at a school about bullying because they objected to the title of her book, specifically the word "ass." She points out the difference between talking about being "anti-bullying" and actually working against bullying:

You can print all the posters in the world, make the prettiest bulletin boards, but if you can’t engage in truthful conversation, you won’t make a dent in ending bullying or in encouraging resilience.

In Merci Suarez Changes Gears, Medina again looks at the challenges of being the new kid in school and the struggle to deal with another student's misplaced feelings of jealousy. Written for a younger audience, this book is another great exploration of building resilience when everything around you becomes unpredictable.

There are many resources both for kids, teens, and parents when someone is experiencing bullying behavior or toxic friendships, from picture books all the way up to nonfiction resources.

 

Erin Frankel's Weird series explores the interactions of three third grade girls from the perspectives of the bully, her victim, and a bystander. Readers will be able to relate to each character and learn along with them how to face challenges with the help of friends and caring adults. 

 

 

Trial by Internet edited by Elizabeth Hurt Avery

 

Trial by Internet is a book in our At Issue series, offering opposing viewpoints on the role of the internet in the justice system, including online bullying. Other books in this series include Civil Disobedience, Domestic Terrorism, When Is Free Speech Hate Speech, and Gender Politics. These books are a great way to get many perspectives on a controversial issue to get a better understanding of the conflicts at the heart of these hot-button, often very emotional topics.

 

Sticks and Stones by Karen Maudlin

 

Sticks and Stones is a resource for adults to use in helping teens cope with bullying, including teasing, taunting, and harassment. A great resource for any adult who finds themselves at a loss with how to help the teens in their lives struggling with the abusive behavior of others.

The effects of bullying can far outlast the endurance of the behavior itself. However, with the right tools and support systems, bullying doesn't have to take over every aspect of your life. In closing, Meg Medina says it best:

There’s always a way back from every dark place.

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 Have you or someone you love experienced bullying? What was a coping mechanism you or they discovered to help deal with other people's toxic behavior?