"The Skinny On Bullying: The Legend of Gretchen" by Mike Cassidy is another of the "Skinny On" series, only this time it is aimed at a younger audience and the topic is bullying. I'm glad to seen any book on this timely subject, because bullying is a problem and the more we can do to stop it, the better. However, I wanted more from this book and feel it could have offered more. Yes, I understand that it is aimed at children, and with that, it won't have the detail a book for adults will contain, but I still believe this book could have offered a bit more.
The book follows a similar format to other "Skinny On" books. It tells the story of Billy and Beth, two ten-year-old children who enter middle school and become the targets of a bully, Gretchen. The book does a good job of explaining what bullying is in language that children can understand, and points out the four main types of bullying: physical, verbal, indirect, and cyberbullying.
I understand the usage of repetition in teaching and learning, and the one thing a reader of this book will undoubtedly remember is "The Golden Rule." The golden rule is "Talk to an adult." Yes, this is good advice, and important for children to learn. However, there are three ways listed that you can help a victim of bullying, the first being The Golden Rule, and the next two being "Stand up to the bully," and "Be an ally." I didn't think there was enough on how to stand up to a bully or how to be an ally. I'd have liked to have seen these developed more and have instruction and tips on how to better stand up to a bully or be an ally.
There were some good suggestions on how to avoid being bullied, but again, I think more could have been provided. The three suggestions in the book are to stay in groups, avoid hot spots, and stay confident. I'd like to see these expanded and also have more examples of how kids can do them, especially stay confident.
I did like the part in the story where the principal points out that Billy and Beth did a type of bullying too. This goes along with my safety teaching when I make people look at what they do that affects the situation they encounter.
I like the book, and think it would be good to give to a child to read, and then have a more detailed discussion with the youngster. The book is far from complete, nor is it as well researched as many of the other "Skinny On" books, but it does tackle an important topic and provides a good starting point to discuss bullies and bullying with younger readers.
Alain Burrese, J.D. is a writer, speaker, and mediator who teaches how to live, take action, and get things done through the Warrior's Edge. He is an expert on conflict and mediates and teaches conflict resolution and negotiation. Additionally, he teaches physical conflict skills in his Hapkido and Self-Defense courses, lectures, and seminars. Alain is the author of Hard-Won Wisdom From The School Of Hard Knocks, the DVDs Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking series, and numerous articles and reviews. You can read more articles and reviews and see clips of his DVDs as well as much more at http://www.burrese.com/ and http://www.yourwarriorsedge.com/
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