Support No Name Calling Week with some great books:
Elizabeth Moon grew up around dogs. Her mom runs a boarding kennel out of their home, so she’s seen how dogs behave to determine pack order. Her experience in middle school is uncomfortably similar.
Maggie hates how Elizabeth acts so much better than everyone else. Besides, she’s always covered in dog hair. And she smells. So Maggie creates a fake profile on a popular social networking site to teach Elizabeth a lesson.
What makes a bully, and what makes a victim? It’s all in the perspective, and the dynamics shift. From sibling rivalries to mean girl antics, the varying points of view in this illuminating novel from the award-winning author of Anything But Typical show the many shades of gray—because middle school is anything but black and white.
- See more at:
http://books.simonandschuster.net/Runt/Nora-Raleigh-Baskin/9781442458079/behind_the_book?tab_index=0#sthash.IAxTpgbh.dpuf
Five, Six, Seven, Nate!
Armed with a one-way ticket to New York City, small-town theater geek Nate is off to start rehearsals for E.T.: The Broadway Musical. It’s everything he ever practiced his autograph for! But as thrilling as Broadway is, rehearsals are nothing like Nate expects: full of intimidating child stars, cut-throat understudies, and a director who can’t even remember Nate’s name.
Now, as the countdown to opening night is starting to feel more like a time bomb, Nate is going to need more than his lucky rabbit’s foot if he ever wants to see his name in lights. He may even need a showbiz miracle.
The companion novel to Better Nate Than Ever, which The New York Times called “inspired and inspiring,” Five, Six, Seven, Nate! is full of secret admirers, surprise reunions, and twice the drama of middle school...with a lot more glitter.
- See more at:
http://books.simonandschuster.net/Runt/Nora-Raleigh-Baskin/9781442458079?cp_type=enkl&rmid=20140117_KidsLibrary_Jan&rrid=3494160#sthash.eEhEHHgP.dpuf
Runt
For Ages: 8 – 12
Grades 3 - 7
Elizabeth Moon grew up around dogs. Her mom runs a boarding kennel out of their home, so she’s seen how dogs behave to determine pack order. Her experience in middle school is uncomfortably similar.
Maggie hates how Elizabeth acts so much better than everyone else. Besides, she’s always covered in dog hair. And she smells. So Maggie creates a fake profile on a popular social networking site to teach Elizabeth a lesson.
What makes a bully, and what makes a victim? It’s all in the perspective, and the dynamics shift. From sibling rivalries to mean girl antics, the varying points of view in this illuminating novel from the award-winning author of Anything But Typical show the many shades of gray—because middle school is anything but black and white.
Behind the Book
Behind the Book : Nora Raleigh Baskin’s RUNT
I did a lot of soul, and mind, searching while I was writing this book. I knew I wanted it to be about bullies, but not in the traditional way. The issue was flying around all over, in schools, in the news, in books, and something didn’t sit right with me. I knew it wasn’t as cut-and-dry as people were making it out to be. Bullies are bad. They should be punished.
But the more I researched, read, talked to teachers and administrators, and looked back into my own experiences, the more confused I became. Bullying occurs all the time, throughout all time, so doesn’t that make it natural and therefore inexorable? I next decided to explore the animal world. And lo, bullying!
So bullying IS natural.
But does that make it immutable?
After writing the book, exploring all angles, and as many sides to various different bullying stories as I could, I came to two conclusions:
Yes, bullies are a natural occurrence. But we are NOT animals. It is precisely our ability to make the choice of kindness over our perceived survival that makes us moral beings. That makes us human beings.
And secondly, bullies will ALWAYS exists. They cannot be punished or legislated out of society, not by rules, not by teachers, not by books or movies. But they cannot do harm unless we as a collective allow it. In other words, it is up to the bystanders.
I do also believe that conversations like this are making that choice (never easy) but easier for everyone and that things “are getting better.”
So let's keep talking, keep reading, and keep up the good work.
I did a lot of soul, and mind, searching while I was writing this book. I knew I wanted it to be about bullies, but not in the traditional way. The issue was flying around all over, in schools, in the news, in books, and something didn’t sit right with me. I knew it wasn’t as cut-and-dry as people were making it out to be. Bullies are bad. They should be punished.
But the more I researched, read, talked to teachers and administrators, and looked back into my own experiences, the more confused I became. Bullying occurs all the time, throughout all time, so doesn’t that make it natural and therefore inexorable? I next decided to explore the animal world. And lo, bullying!
So bullying IS natural.
But does that make it immutable?
After writing the book, exploring all angles, and as many sides to various different bullying stories as I could, I came to two conclusions:
Yes, bullies are a natural occurrence. But we are NOT animals. It is precisely our ability to make the choice of kindness over our perceived survival that makes us moral beings. That makes us human beings.
And secondly, bullies will ALWAYS exists. They cannot be punished or legislated out of society, not by rules, not by teachers, not by books or movies. But they cannot do harm unless we as a collective allow it. In other words, it is up to the bystanders.
I do also believe that conversations like this are making that choice (never easy) but easier for everyone and that things “are getting better.”
So let's keep talking, keep reading, and keep up the good work.
Five, Six, Seven, Nate!
By Tim Federle
For Ages: 10 - 14
Armed with a one-way ticket to New York City, small-town theater geek Nate is off to start rehearsals for E.T.: The Broadway Musical. It’s everything he ever practiced his autograph for! But as thrilling as Broadway is, rehearsals are nothing like Nate expects: full of intimidating child stars, cut-throat understudies, and a director who can’t even remember Nate’s name.
Now, as the countdown to opening night is starting to feel more like a time bomb, Nate is going to need more than his lucky rabbit’s foot if he ever wants to see his name in lights. He may even need a showbiz miracle.
The companion novel to Better Nate Than Ever, which The New York Times called “inspired and inspiring,” Five, Six, Seven, Nate! is full of secret admirers, surprise reunions, and twice the drama of middle school...with a lot more glitter.
Runt
For Ages: 8 - 12
- customer reviews
An insightful exploration of middle school bullying from multiple perspectives, by the award-winning author of Anything But Typical.
Elizabeth Moon grew up around dogs. Her mom runs a boarding kennel out of their home, so she’s seen how dogs behave to determine pack order. Her experience in middle school is uncomfortably similar.
Maggie hates how Elizabeth acts so much better than everyone else. Besides, she’s always covered in dog hair. And she smells. So Maggie creates a fake profile on a popular social networking site to teach Elizabeth a lesson.
What makes a bully, and what makes a victim? It’s all in the perspective, and the dynamics shift. From sibling rivalries to mean girl antics, the varying points of view in this illuminating novel from the award-winning author of Anything But... See More
Elizabeth Moon grew up around dogs. Her mom runs a boarding kennel out of their home, so she’s seen how dogs behave to determine pack order. Her experience in middle school is uncomfortably similar.
Maggie hates how Elizabeth acts so much better than everyone else. Besides, she’s always covered in dog hair. And she smells. So Maggie creates a fake profile on a popular social networking site to teach Elizabeth a lesson.
What makes a bully, and what makes a victim? It’s all in the perspective, and the dynamics shift. From sibling rivalries to mean girl antics, the varying points of view in this illuminating novel from the award-winning author of Anything But... See More
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