Bullies in books
In writing No Castles Here, I tried to portray how a target of bullies might respond to the daily assault and intimidation bullies inflict. There’s nothing glamorous about it — being a target is painful and destructive. Finding the respect of one’s peers can be one of the hardest things for a child, and sometimes it’s impossible. I gave Augie, my main character, strong anchors in the story. These were both people and situations that helped him find his way out of the bullying he was suffering. Not every child is so fortunate.
C.J. Bott, a retired teacher and now consultant, created a website called Bulliesinbooks.com. Her goal is to use children’s and YA literature to start a discussion about bullying, and she has compiled a list of books for that starting point. I am proud that NCH was added to her list.