Bullying is probably the worst problem that teens and tweens have to deal with in their young lives. And a horrific problem it is. Two new books have been published recently that can help. One offers help directly to kids being bullied and the other is written for parents to give them the tools to help their kids.

1. Please Stop Laughing at Me...Journal: A Safe Place for Us to Talk - This is the 3rd book in a series by author Jodee Blanco. She first wrote Please Stop Laughing at Me: One Women's Inspirational True Story about her years of being emotionally and physically bullied as a child and teen. Her 2d book was Please Stop Laughing at Us: One Survivor's Extraordinary Quest to Prevent School Bullying where she looked for realistic ways to prevent bullying. Now in her 3rd book, she is helping individuals being bullied.

"Though I wish I could sit down with every child who needs help, I know that I can't, so I've created this journal to simulate the intervention experience" says Blanco, who has one of the highest suicide intervention rates in the field. This journal draws teens out with quotes, activities and questions. Check out Jodee Blanco's website for more information.

2. No Such Thing as a Bully- Shred a Label, Save a Child: Bullyproofing Protection for Parents and Children - No such thing as a Bully actually has two parts. There is a program for schools to use and a book for parents to use with their kids. I am only discussing the parents' book but you can get more information on the school program on the No Such Thing as a Bully website.

The parent book is for both parents and will teach you how to recognize signals of bullying and lessons for you to help bully-proof your child. This book is very big on not using the labels bully and victim, but instead "bully actions" and "victim responses". In fact, that is the reason for the book's name - Once known as a bully, you will live up to the title, and the same for a victim. The book also deals with bystanders, also very important in the bullying equation. And help is given for parents of bullies and bystanders to try to change their behaviors.

No Such Thing as a Bully offers a tremendous amount of information. Just take a look at the book's table of contents. You can read a few short excerpts of No Such Thing as a Bully.

I hope that the resources above will help. Nobody should ever have to suffer at the hands of a bully. These books might not prevent bullying, but hopefully they will offer some help.

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