Review by Helen Haine, High School Teacher
Be bully free: A hands-on guide to how you can take control
Thornton, C., & Panckridge, M. (2017). London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Seeking to empower children who are bullied, this book presents a wide range of common bullying scenarios and gives practical suggestions on how the recipient can take control.

Seeking to empower children who are bullied, this book presents a wide range of common bullying scenarios and gives practical suggestions on how the recipient can take control in these situations, written in a young adult fiction style. 

This small book packs a big punch. Whilst it can be read cover to cover, it also functions very well as a book to dip in and out of. The book works through a range of scenarios where bullying commonly occurs. They are well written and serve not only as a tool for children but a handy reminder to adults of what it is like to live as a teen in today's highly connected world. The scenarios are followed by practical suggestions of how to tackle the situation. In a classroom or at home, young adults can come up with their own ideas, and then read the recommended strategies to add to their solution kete.  

I highly recommend this book to both parents and teachers as a tool to support our precious tamariki.  Make sure you take the time to check out the rich well curated additional resources at the back of the book.  Be bully free, has a strong Australian flavour but the scenarios it tackles are universal.  Worth your time to take a look.

Disclaimer: Please note these reviews are not intended as endorsements or recommendations from the Mental Health Foundation. This feature introduces resources that may be useful for individuals with an interest in bullying prevention, mental health and wellbeing topics.

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