Summary

This slim volume answers many questions children may have about bullying - at school, on the playground, in the mall, on the computer or phone, and elsewhere. Whether a child is being bullied or has witnessed bullying, and whether the bullying is verbal, physical or silent, author John Burstein’s concise, practical explanations and advice will help children to act and to make changes. Two significant questions are: Why does someone bully another person, and what does a bully hope to accomplish? Understanding the answers to these questions can go a long way in determining how to react to bullying, depending on the circumstances. Sometimes, ignoring the bully, walking away, or acting as if it doesn’t matter, will stop the aggression. If not, victims can be prepared with other strategies: acting confidently, facing the challenge, answering back, staying with friends and avoiding areas where the bully is likely to be, calling for help if necessary, telling an adult and even forming a school-wide anti-bullying program. (“Facing the challenge” does not mean fighting back, as safety is a priority.) Burstein is very clear that absolutely no one has the right to hurt another, whether by teasing or using violence. A victim should never feel that he/she has caused the bullying. (However, as the author notes, there are strategies that can lessen a child’s chances of being bullied, such as looking and feeling confident and happy.) The book ends with suggestions that readers think about whether they might be a “self-bully” or even guilty of bullying others. Why are You Picking on Me? offers effectual advice for children, explained in an easily-understood format, with photographs, for a problem which unfortunately is widespread. Approximately one of every five school children is bullied.