Are Bullies Always Just Mean People?

When I think back on my childhood, I realize that I wasn’t just a shy, insecure girl, I was also a bully. Why? Because to make friends I would respond to other people’s signals by picking on and even beating up other children. I’ve come to this realization because of all the children’s books I’ve read about bullies and how to deal with them.

Bullying is never good, but the person being bullied can try to make the situation better by working to understand why the tormentor is being so mean. Not an easy thing to do and the bullied person may need help, but there is generally a way to ease the situation.

That is what Cat Michaels and Rosie Russell’s new book is about. Entitled Just Between Sam and Me, the book is due out in the December. Look for the enticing cover art of a very satisfied orange marmalade cat smugly taking his regal place on top of his person’s stuff. Irene A. Jahns’ drawings throughout the book are very nice line drawings and include a map of small Missouri town, Spring Hope, plus pictures of Olivia Martin’s family farm and of course Sam the cat, who is definitely depicted by a cat lover.

And in the category of “you’re never too old to learn new things,” I learned that not all states in the U.S. go by the usual divisions of Elementary School being 1^st through 5^th Grades, Middle School being 6^th through 8^th grades and High School being 9^th through 12^th grades. Turns out at least in some parts of Missouri, Middle School is just 7^th and 8^th grades.

We meet Olivia, affectionately known as O, as she tries to eat some breakfast after waking up from her nightmare of being attacked by big yellow bees. She’s worried about starting sixth grade without the support of her best friend, Isabella, who is still visiting her grandmother in New York City. During this chapter we also meet Olivia’s favorite hen, Henrietta, and Olivia’s horse, a Palomino named Star.

We also are introduced to the girl writing to her cat in the journal her father gave her. She feels comfortable telling Sam her feelings. And calms herself down before school.

When she gets on the school bus, she is forced to sit with the new girl, who turns out the be very unhappy about her unwilling move to what she considers a “Podunk” town. Candace Mazare really isn’t interested in having a conversation, she mainly just wants to whine about how much she hates being in Spring Hope.

Of course, Candace ends up bullying Olivia and turning two of the local girls against O. As the year progresses Candace’s bullying gets worse, but Olivia figures that it must somehow be her fault.

Olivia shows a lot of emotional growth and, in the end, takes the high road. Even going to comfort Candace when a tornado hits the town.

Of course, the whole time Olivia does have help, wittingly from her friends and family and teacher, but also unwittingly from her animals. And she comes out a better person herself, with an understanding of why at least Candace became to be a bully. Be sure to look for this book’s launching in December.

And take the lesson that maybe you are sometimes the bully and sometimes the victim.

For more information about Cat Michaels, Rosie Russell and illustrator, Irene A. Jahns, check out Cat’s and Rosie’s webpages:

https://www.catmichaelswriter.com/

https://booksbyrose.com/

            And in the interest of self-aggrandizement, my second novel, Emily’s Ride to Courage, also deals with bullying—this time by an older sister.

            Also check out the SCBWI Book Stop pages. There are plenty of good books posted there and I’m sure a few will have bullying as a theme.

https://www.scbwi.org/scbwibookstop/

My two pages are: EARTHQUAKES at https://www.scbwi.org/scbwibookstop-display/?id=694521

And EMILY’S RIDE TO COURAGE at https://www.scbwi.org/scbwibookstop-display/?id=692562

BTW, I’m hoping that in writing this blog I will be encourage myself to blog regularly. In the hopes that you all are well I hope to see you soon. Sarah