Discussion Questions
Issue 5: Battle
with the Bully
Brigade
In Battle with the Bully Brigade Brutus the bulldog is jealous of Finch because Commander Talon
chose Finch to join the crew of the Space Falcon instead of Brutus. Along with his henchmen,
Howl and Growl, Brutus decides to scare Finch into dropping out of an important race. When
that doesn’t work, Brutus tries to beat up Finch. After Finch escapes, the dogs send a screaming
asteroid toward Earth to make Finch veer off course to save Charlie’s high school. Quick thinking
and teamwork allow Finch and Charlie to avoid disaster.
On Earth, Sarah is being tormented by four mean girls at school. They make fun of her, trip her,
post an awkward photo of her online on Me-Book, put her clothes in a mop bucket, and hang
posters around the school to try to humiliate her. With advice and help from her mom, some
new friends, and the school principal, Sarah is finally able to stand up to her bullies without
compromising who she is.
Bullying can take many forms, including physical, verbal, or emotional abuse. For a kid who is
being bullied, the situation can feel overwhelming, scary, and lonely. It can seem as though there
is no escape at school, during activities, or even at home (because of cyber bullying). But, as the
kids in Battle with the Bully Brigade learn, there is hope.
Discussion Questions:
1. What are some examples of bullying in the story?
2.At the beginning of the story, Hilary, Brittany, Stacy, and Tasha make fun of Sarah and trip
her. Why do you think they might be acting like that? Put yourself in the bully’s shoes.
3. How do you think it made Sarah feel? Put yourself in Sarah’s shoes.
4. When Kate finds Sarah’s clothes in the mop bucket, what does she want to do? Why?
5. Why does Molly stop her?
6. What could Molly and Kate have done to help Sarah?
7. Do you think Sarah knows she is being bullied?
8. When the mean girls post the awkward photo on Me-Book, how could Sarah’s friend Kristin
have helped? What could Sarah have done?
9.Do you know what cyber bullying is? What are some examples? How can someone stop
it or at least block it so he or she doesn’t have to be around it? Do you know how to block
people from your online social networks?
10. What does Sarah’s mom know about what is going on at school and on the computer?
11. What is Sarah’s mom’s advice?
12. What do you think about this advice?
13.Sarah doesn’t want her mom to tell Mr. Diddin what’s going on. Why? What do you think
about this? Could Mr. Diddin help?
14. What advice does Lars give Molly and Charlie at youth group?
15. Can Molly and Charlie help Sarah? Are they willing to help Sarah?
16.When Kate and Burrito find the flyers, what do you think Kate wants to do to fix the
problem? Is it the right thing?
17.What do Kate and Burrito end up telling Mr. Diddin? What do you think about
that decision?
18.What do the mean girls try to do to Sarah to keep from getting in trouble?
Who helps Sarah? How?
19. Does it take courage for Charlie and Molly to step in?
20.How do the mean girls try to separate Sarah from her new friends Molly and Kate?
Does it work?
(continued)
Discussion Questions
Issue 5: Battle
with the Bully
Brigade
21. Does it take courage for Molly and Kate to stay by Sarah’s side?
22. What does Sarah finally do?
23. How do you think Sarah was able to find her voice and stand up to the bullies?
24. Does it take courage for Sarah to speak up?
25. Does Principal Diddin follow through and help?
26. What happens to the mean girl bullies?
27. Why is Brutus jealous of Finch?
28. How important is it to Finch to win the race? Why?
29. What does Finch do when the dogs threaten and chase him? Do you think he is scared?
30. Why does Brutus call Finch on the communicator? What is he trying to do?
31. What action does Finch take?
32. When the dogs jump Finch again at the Cosmic Cafe, is Finch ready? What does he do?
33.When Brutus launches the asteroid toward Earth, what decision does Finch make
about the race?
34.How do Finch, Charlie, and Burrito work together to stop the asteroid from destroying
the school?
35. Is Finch afraid of what Talon will think of his decision to leave the race?
36. What does Talon say to Finch?
37. What happens to the dog bullies?
38.Have you ever witnessed someone being bullied? How did you know it was bullying? What
did you do about it? What could you do about it in the future?
39. Have you ever been bullied? What happened? What did you do about it?
40. If you were being bullied now or in the future, what could you do?
Tips for Kids and Teens:
If you are being bullied, or if you see someone else being bullied...
1. Speak up. Talk to someone about what’s happening—a classmate, a teacher or counselor,
your mom or dad, an older sibling, or your youth group leader. Ask for help. Don’t go it
alone.
2. Make a change. Avoid the bully if you can. This may mean physically avoiding them and
also blocking them online. Surround yourself with good influences and friends. There is
power in numbers.
3. Don’t retaliate. Physical violence and emotional abuse are not the answer.
4. Pray about it. Even when you feel alone, know that you’re not. Your Heavenly Father is
there, to listen and to guide you.
5. Don’t give up. There is hope!