Bully: An Action Plan for Teachers and Parents to Combat the Bullying Crisis

"This companion book to the documentary film Bully was edited by filmmaker Hirsch and writer/producer Lowen, with contributing chapters by a number of celebrities, authors, experts, government officials, and educators. Part homage to the film, part resource, the book interweaves the stories of children who have been bullied with practical information and advice for parents and other readers. Like the film, which presents an 'uncensored, real-life portrayal of what it's like to be a bullied child,' the text deals honestly and realistically with the bullying that is pervasive in American schools (13 million children will be bullied this year, the authors claim). While some chapters are more focused on the film itself, others zero in on such topics as bullying and children with autism spectrum disorders or learning disabilities. Particularly useful for parents are the chapters written by educational psychologist/author Michele Borba and clinical psychologist Peter Sheras, which provide a 'crash course' on how to know if a child is being bullied and what to do about it. The text is also an excellent resource for educators; Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, pens a particularly insightful chapter. Readers who have seen the film will no doubt be interested to discover where its bullied children are now, but the text can also be read as an informative stand-alone resource." Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Lee Hirsch’s debut film, AMANDLA! A REVOLUTION IN FOUR PART HARMONY, is a feature documentary chronicling the history of the South African anti-apartheid struggle through a celebration of its musical heroes. This film was released to wide acclaim, winning the Audience and Freedom of Expression Awards at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. Among the many honors the film received were five Emmy nominations and a win. Lee Hirsch was born and raised on Long Island, New York, and attended the Putney School in Vermont and Hampshire College. He currently lives in Manhattan.

Dina Santorelli is a freelance writer and editor who has written for a variety of publications, including Newsday, First for Women and CNNMoney.com. She is the coauthor of Good Girls Don’t Get Fat, a nonfiction book about girls’ self-esteem and body image (Harlequin, 2010), and currently serves as Executive Editor of Salute and Family magazines for which she has conducted numerous celebrity interviews. Her first novel, Baby Grand, will be published in fall 2012, and she blogs about the writing life at http://makingbabygrand.com. She lives on Long Island, New York.