Trudy Ludwig

Illustrations by Abigail Marble

Foreword by Susan Wellman, founder and president of the Ophelia Project

MY SECRET BULLY is a touching, inspirational story targeted for 5- to 11-year olds that instantly draws young readers into Monica's world, where she is bullied by a friend and learns how to cope, survive and thrive. Relational aggression is an act of emotional bullying hidden among tightly knit networks of friends. Instead of using knives and fists to bully others, emotional bullies employ relationships, words and gestures as their weapons of attack. Emotional bullying is often dismissed as a normal rite of passage, yet research shows it is as harmful as physical aggression, with devastating long-term effects. Name-calling, humiliation, exclusion and manipulation are some bullying tactics Monica's friend Katie employs. Monica learns to face her fears of betrayal and social isolation, and reclaims her power from the bully with the help of a supportive adult-her mother. Helpful tips, discussion questions and additional resources are listed in the back of the book, which is a wonderful vehicle for parents, teachers and counselors.

Praise for MY SECRET BULLY

"There are too few resources available to families dealing with girl bullying. MY SECRET BULLY will show girls they are not alone. The story expands our understanding of a 'bully' from the boy in the schoolyard who steals your lunch money to a person who might be your best friend... and provides an important resource to help parents."
Rachel Simmons, author of Odd Girl Out

"MY SECRET BULLY is a 'must-read' for any child who has ever been teased, ignored or excluded by his/her peers. Parents and teachers will also find it a very useful resource for addressing social cruelty among children."
Kathy Masarie, M.D., founder and program director of Full Esteem Ahead

"MY SECRET BULLY is a touching, inspirational story that instantly draws the young reader into Monica's world, where she is bullied by a friend and learns how to cope, survive and thrive. With the help of a supportive adult, Monica is given the tools to successfully create her own 'happily ever after.' I encourage you to use this story, together with the helpful tips, discussion questions and additional resources listed in the back of the book, as a vehicle for helping others, like Monica, achieve their 'happily ever after'-with their self-esteem intact."
Excerpt from the Foreword by Susan Wellman, founder and president of The Ophelia Project

"MY SECRET BULLY is not only a phenomenal story, it is a desperately needed tool to help parents, teachers and other professionals address the growing epidemic of relational aggression (emotional bullying) in our nation's elementary schools."
Theresa Markowitz, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Solon, OH

"We definitely need more character-building books like MY SECRET BULLY in our schools and homes. As a teacher, I'm seeing bullying behaviors more frequently and at an earlier age than I've seen before. Books like MY SECRET BULLY are great vehicles for opening up discussion and raising awareness of important issues like this one."
Jan Long, Kindergarten/1st Grade Teacher, Fisher's Landing Elementary School, Vancouver, WA

"This story is clearly written with tenderness and love about turning a child's hurtful experience into an opportunity for emotional growth and well-being. I highly recommend MY SECRET BULLY to parents, teachers and counseling professionals who, like me, are working with children struggling with the bullying problem." Ethyle K. Ludwig, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Registered Art Therapist, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

"The kind of bullying addressed in MY SECRET BULLY is a serious problem that begins in preschool or elementary school and seems to only get worse in middle and high school. This book can help to make a difference."
Maureen Caryl, School Counselor, Raleigh Park Elementary School, Portland, OR

"The book deserves the highest praise: it is an important contribution to making the world a better place by teaching children and adults that we don't have to tolerate bullying behavior in any form."
Ingrid Arnason, Youth Services Librarian, West Slope Library, Portland, OR

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