VOYA - Robbie Flowers

Sometimes it is hard to put your finger on what exactly defines a bully. That is because the meaning has evolved over time. No longer can parents expect the neighborhood bully to be a hulking kid who snatches a quaking, eyeglass-wearing child's lunch money. It could very well be the popular girl who gets all of her equally cool friends to ostracize the new kid at school. This title is an excellent read for teens and their parents. It will get them started on a discussion of bullying and identifying the abusive behaviors associated with it. The book speaks to issues that teens commonly face and how to work through them. Hey Back Off! also offers exercises for parents and teens as they work their way through the material. Numerous types of bullying are exposed, including sexual harassment and hazing, and get the reader thinking about the evolution of bullying and how the landscape has changed over time. Part of that landscape includes cyberbullying, which has become increasingly commonplace due to the pervasive nature of the Internet. The authors also venture into explorations of parenting styles and how they may contribute to the behaviors, as well as how to handle bullying as a parent. This title needs to be wherever teens and their families are serviced. It is an essential purchase for public and school libraries alike. Reviewer: Robbie Flowers