ESP Bookshelf: Raising Upstanders—The Emotionally Strong
Dr. Rebekah Miller-Levy
In the last edition of ESP, the Bookshelf focused on resources to address bullying in schools. This edition will continue the theme of bullying but focus on how can schools help to create students who will be upstanders – those
students who refuse to stand by and witness bullying and instead stand up and prevent bullying.
This is a partial bibliography of resource, picture books, and novels dealing with self-esteem and emotional
strength to help create upstanders.
Teacher Resources
Dibinga, O. (2001). The upstander’s guide to an outstanding life. United States: Free Your Mind. ISBN-13:
978-0976005650. Written by an experienced activist, this book give practical advice and guiding principles for
anyone wanting to change the world, one issue at a time.
Hart, L. (2013). The bullying antidote: Superpower your kids for life. Center City, MB: Hazelden. ISBN-13:
978-1616494179. A collection of hundreds of strategies to help children develop awareness of the power dynamics
leading to bullying which can lead to bully-free homes, schools, and societies.
Johnson, M. (2015). ABC’s for bully prevention, simple as 1-2-3. Bloomington, IN: Xlibris. ISBN: 978-1-5035
-2220-6. Although this book is in ABC format, it is not simply an ABC book. This provides the reader with a
toolbox of inspiring advice, strategies, and techniques to inform young people about issues relating to bullying and
how to redefine themselves as upstanders.
Peck, S. W. (2012). STAND TALL: Lessons that teach respect and prevent bullying. Thousand Oaks, CA:
Corwin Press. ISBN-13: 978-1452241050. STAND TALL is a professional development program focusing on
three core competencies: respect for individual differences discussion to further understanding, and action that
transforms behavior. Includes DVD and ideas to integrate across the curriculum.
Student Resources (Picture Books)
Dibinga, O. (2001). The upstander’s guide to an outstanding life. United States: Free Your Mind. ISBN-13:
978-0976005650. Written by an experienced activist, this book give practical advice and guiding principles for
anyone wanting to change the world, one issue at a time.
Hart, L. (2013). The bullying antidote: Superpower your kids for life. Center City, MB: Hazelden. ISBN-13:
978-1616494179. A collection of hundreds of strategies to help children develop awareness of the power dynamics
leading to bullying which can lead to bully-free homes, schools, and societies.
Johnson, M. (2015). ABC’s for bully prevention, simple as 1-2-3. Bloomington, IN: Xlibris. ISBN: 978-1-5035
-2220-6. Although this book is in ABC format, it is not simply an ABC book. This provides the reader with a
toolbox of inspiring advice, strategies, and techniques to inform young people about issues relating to bullying and
how to redefine themselves as upstanders.
Peck, S. W. (2012). STAND TALL: Lessons that teach respect and prevent bullying. Thousand Oaks, CA:
Corwin Press. ISBN-13: 978-1452241050. STAND TALL is a professional development program focusing on
three core competencies: respect for individual differences discussion to further understanding, and action that
transforms behavior. Includes DVD and ideas to integrate across the curriculum.
72
Student Resources (Novels)
Fox, A. (2008). Be confident in who you are (Middle School Confidential Series) Bk. 1. Minneapolis, MN:
Free Spirit. ISBN-13: 978-1575423029. The story of six good friends as they enter into the scary world of middle
school. This is the first book in a series. (Middle School).
Fox, A. (2009). Real friends vs. the other kind (Middle School Confidential). Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit.
ISBN-13: 978-1575423197. The six middle schoolers from Be Confident in Who You Are are back with more help
for navigating the murky waters of being a preteen.
Howe, J. (2003). The misfits. New York: Atheneum. ISBN-13: 978-0689839566. Enter into the world of four
slightly odd but totally wonderful middle schoolers as they learn to negotiate life and love. Companion books include Addie on the Inside, Also Known as Elvis, and Totally Joe. (Intermediate/Middle School).
Howe, J. (2007). Totally Joe. New York: Atheneum. ISBN-13: 978-0689839580. Joe recounts the highs and
lows of being one of The Misfits as he completes an alphabiography assigned by a 7th grade teacher.
Howe, J. (2012). Addie on the inside. New York: Atheneum. ISBN-13: 978-1416913856. Addie on the Inside,
written in narrative verse, delightfully captures what it means to be 13-years-old, very intelligent, and a total outsider in middle school. This is the third book in Howe’s The Misfits series.
Howe, J. (2015). Also known as Elvis. New York: Atheneum. ISBN-13: 978-1442445116. The conclusion of
The Misfits is Schuyler Skeezie Tookis’s story of working, worrying, and trying to fit in to a world that just is not
shaped right. Also Known as Elvis wraps up the story of Bobby, Joe, Addie, and Skeezie – The Misfits.
Kregenow, S., Pennington, H., Rosenlind, K., Steele, G. Aliabadi, S., Baker, M., Beck, E. . . . Hugo, A.
(2014). The Upstanders Club. Seattle: CreateSpace. ISBN-13: 978-1499652574. (Middle School). A group of
students at Pine View Middle School organize The Upstanders Club to fight bullying in their school. Each chapter
is written by a student from their perspective.
Preller, J. (2011). Bystander. New York: Square Fish. ISBN-13: 978-0312547967. Eric is the new student in a
new town and a new school. Before school even starts, he has to decide is he going to be the bully, the bullied, or
the bystander. (Middle School).
Shepard, A. (2014). Timothy Tolliver and the Bully Basher: A story about bullies, a living robot, and its young
inventor. Friday Harbor, WA: Sky Hook. ISBN-13: 978-0938497240. After reading the Jewish legend of the
Golem, Timothy invents his own Golem to protect himself from bullies. (Intermediate).
Shulman, M. (2012). Scrawl. New York: Square Fish. ISBN-13: 978-1250012692. A bully’s story by the bully
himself. Tod Munn is given detention for bullying and he must write HIS story before he can escape. (Middle
School).
Student Resources (Informational)
Kaufman, G., Raphael, L., & Espeland, P. (1999). Stick up for yourself: Every kid’s guide to personal power
& positive self-esteem. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit. ISBN-13: 978-1575420684. A child-friendly guide to
building relationships, becoming responsible, managing their anger, developing a vocabulary of feelings, making
good choices, solving problems, and setting goals to help children become immune to the pressure of bullies.
(Intermediate).
Moss, W. L. (2010). Being me: A kid’s guide to boosting confidence and self-esteem. Washington, DC: Magination Press. ISBN-13: 978-1433808845. A self-help guide to building confidence and self-esteem written specifically for children. Moss offers tips to help her readers focus on inner self-esteem and building social confidence. (Intermediate).
73