Our Best Reads In July

Karen's Best :

HISS AND TELL by Pam Johnson-Bennett

This book was extremely interesting to me because I love cats and it explained some of the puzzling behaviors that can arise. I found it fascinating that this woman was able to actually think like a cat to figure out what was causing the strange behaviors. It is both humorous and educational. It gives great insight into explaining various cat behaviors. I highly recommend it to any cat owner.

Gerard's Best:

Please Stop Laughing At Us by Jodee Blanco
"A Remarkable Woman" 10 stars!

I hated to see this book end. It was like talking to my new best friend. Finally, somebody got it right telling the story of being bullied. I admire Jodee. The work she is doing is so important! I just LOVED this book and hope you write another.
Be sure to read the emails and letters at the end of this book. They are sad, but good to know people now have someone to turn to--Jodee!


I read this one too because Gerard said it was so good and would help me understand better what all he went through--so here's my review:

This is her second book about how she recovered from all the bullying she endured all through school and as an adult, went to talk at schools around the country to help other kids who were being bullied and help the bullies to stop. She also addressed parents and teachers.

Her advice included telling the bullied kids to stand up for themselves in a nonviolent way, find friends outside of school even if it means going outside of their school district. Parents should not just send kid for counseling but go with them. Parents need to support their kids and let the kids talk about their problems. Try to come up with an action together that will help the situation. She emphasized over and over that the advice to just ignore the bullies and they'll stop doesn't work for kids. That is adult logic, but in reality, kids just tease all the more.

This book has a great message and offers practical help to both the bullied kids and their parents and teachers. It tells how the kids who used to pick on her in school are now her friends and she even married the most popular guy in school that all the girls liked which gives much hope to those going through the same thing. Great book! I'd recommend every teacher read it and anyone who has been the recipient of being bullied.

To read reviews of other books we've read go to
http://karen.pnn.com