Dealing with bullies

Good-Bye Bully Machine
by Debbie Fox & Allan L. Beane


The authors compare bullying to a scary, cold-hearted machine that grows on a diet of mean words and cruel actions. Through art and kindness, they urge students to destroy the bully machine. By standing together, they can make their school safe and bully-free.

Good for ages 6 - 10.





Bullying: Deal with it before push comes to shove
by Elaine Slavens & Brooke Kerrigan


This workbook explains the many forms that bullying can take and provides some helpful hints for the target, witness, or bully. Real-life scenarios and interactive quizzes bring immediacy to the problem.

For ages 9 - 12.





Girls Against Girls: Why We are Mean to Each Other and How We Can Change
by Bonnie Burton


Gossiping, boyfriend stealing, cyber abuse, or the silent treatment, these are some of the ways that girls inflict cruelty on other girls. In this book, Bonnie Burton explains why girls hurt each other and how to stop it. 

An excellent book for all women.

Kids talk about bullying

We Want You to Know
by Deborah Ellis

Ellis interviewed students from the ages of nine to nineteen about their experiences with bullying. She talked with both victims and aggressors in order to show that there is always more than one side to a story. Their uncensored words are thoughtful, candid, and often harrowing. They talk about methods that have helped or not helped, and the parents, teachers, or principals who sometimes failed to act. Other kids reveal how they've been able to overcome their fear and anger to become strong advocates for the rights of others. Each interview is followed by questions that will encourage discussion about bullying and the ways it can be dealt with. Additional comments from international students reveal how much kids around the world have in common.

A serious book about a serious topic.

Sexual health for guys

The Little Black Book for Guys: Guys Talk about Sex


In this honest, straight-forward book, young men talk about sex, relationships, and what it means to be a man. Their personal stories regarding puberty, homosexuality, AIDS and the all-important "first time" will help other young men make good decisions when it comes to sex.





The Guy Book: An Owner's Manual: Maintenance, Safety, and Operating Instructions for Boys


An attractive cover will get boys interested in this title, as will its car-themed tone. Inside, boys will find information on a variety of subjects, from taking care of the mind and body, to buying condoms, to going on a date. It even shows them how to tie a tie, how to eat healthy, and how to behave during dinner with a girl's parents.

The language is a bit dry and preachy at times, so it may not be read cover to cover. Plus, there's too much emphasis on using spermicide. Teens are now discouraged from using spermicide because it can cause allergic reactions and increase the chances of a sexually transmitted infection.

Healthy sexuality for girls

The Little Black Book for Girlz: A Book on Healthy Sexuality


Young women talk about their experiences with relationships, pregnancy, STIs, abortion, and sexual assault. Their stories, poems and artwork are honest and empowering. Since the book was written by teens for teens, it will make an important impact.




Boys Lie: How Not to Get Played
by Belisa Vranich and Holly Eagleson


Some boys will say anything to get girls to have sex with them. They'll also say stuff to gain control, power, and the upper hand in a relationship. This book reveals the most common lies that many boys tell; lies that can get a girl to make poor decisions in the heat of the moment. Lies like Guys are built to cheat, I'll pull out before I come, You shouldn't feel that way; you're crazy or It wasn't rape - you seemed into it. 

This book teaches girls the truth about sexual health, the reasons why boys fudge the truth, and how they can respond. And for girls who have already bought into a lie, the authors are reassuring, not judgmental. It's never too late to take responsibility for your sexual and psychological health. This a straightforward, hard-hitting book that will help girls and women separate the good guys from the bad guys and find a fulfilling relationship.

Sex and relationships

Sex: A Book for Teens: An Uncensored Guide to Your Body, Sex and Safety
by Nikol Hasler


A clever, funny book that covers nearly everything about sex, like sexual identification, masturbation, foreplay, intercourse, birth control, disease, relationships, kinks, and fetishes. It also provides answers to questions posed by real teens. At times, the writing is almost flippant, but this is one book that teens will enjoy reading.




All The Way: Sex For The First Time
by Kim Martyn


This is a useful book, though the writing is a bit uneven. Sometimes it's very conversational, sometimes it's very clinical. It also includes a glaring error: the uterus is mislabelled on a diagram (p. 79)! Babies come out of the vagina, not the urethra! 

The book was published in 2003 (I borrowed it from the library); hopefully the error was corrected in subsequent printings. Books about sex do not contain exactly the same information, although they strive to be accurate, so reading more than one book is advised. Hasler's book is highly recommended.

Talk to your teens

Talking Sex With Your Kids: Keeping Them Safe and You Sane - By Knowing What They're Really Thinking
by Amber Madison


For parents of teens who have yet to hear the talk, this book can help you get started. Amber Madison wrote it when she was 26 years old, so she has a good sense of what teens are really thinking about sex. She helps parents tailor their advice in a way that teens will find helpful and relevant. 

Although she tries not to, Madison does sound like a lecturer sometimes, especially when she's doling out some pretty scary statistics. The sample dialogues are a bit wordy, but they're practical and safety-conscious. Her book is not as reassuring as Meg Hickling's (see previous post), but it is still a useful resource.

How to teach your children about sex

The New Speaking of Sex: What Your Children Need to Know and When They Need to Know It
by Meg Hickling


Teaching your children about sex is a nerve-wracking experience. It's hard to know just what to say and how much to say. This book will help tremendously! 

Meg Hickling knows that many parents had no information given to them by their parents when they were growing up, so she provides the knowledge that parents need in a straight-forward, scientific way. She shows you that you can calmly provide sex information without overreacting. She does this by relating funny stories she's heard from her over 25 years of experience teaching sexual health to children, families, educators, and other professionals. She approaches the topic by touching not just on the physical aspects of sex, but on the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual sides as well. The result is a child who will not have sex until he/she is ready, and, when he/she does have sex, will do so in a safe, responsible manner. Most importantly, Hickling shows that with respectful communication, you and your children can have a much closer relationship.

An excellent book that all parents should read. Highly recommended.

Sex information

It's Not the Stork! A Book About Girls, Boys, Babies, Bodies, Families and Friends 
by Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley

Young children are curious about everything, especially their bodies. It's Not the Stork helps answer questions about the differences and similarities between boys and girls, how babies are made, and where they come from. Through friendly artwork and accessible language, the authors provide straightforward explanations in a reassuring, respectful manner. Two cartoon characters, a bird and a bee, add comic relief and give voice to a child's emotions and reactions. 

For ages 4 and up.

It's So Amazing! A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families 

For ages 7 and up, this is an excellent book about human reproduction. Topics include sex, love, chromosomes, adoption, and HIV.

 It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health 

For older children (ages 10 and up), It's Perfectly Normal covers sexuality, puberty, birth control, STDs, HIV, and internet safety.

Young Jimi Hendrix

Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow

by Gary Golio

This is the story of a boy named Jimmy, who liked to draw and paint and listen to records. A boy who played air guitar with a broom and wanted to paint pictures with sound. He taught his guitar to sing, scream, laugh and cry, and created a whole new language.

A vibrant biography of the one and only Jimi Hendrix, with energetic artwork by Javaka Steptoe.