Tag Archives: Bullying & Hazing

The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson

The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson

Last summer, Alice Ogilvie’s basketball-star boyfriend Steve dumped her. Then she disappeared for five days. She’s not talking, so where she went and what happened to her is the biggest mystery in Castle Cove. Or it was, at least. But now, another one of Steve’s girlfriends has vanished: Brooke Donovan, Alice’s ex–best friend. And it doesn’t look like Brooke will be coming back. Enter Iris Adams, Alice’s tutor. Iris has her own reasons for wanting to disappear, though unlike Alice, she doesn’t have the money or the means. That could be changed by the hefty reward… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Grap

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Sexual assault mentioned
  • Domestic abuse
  • Infidelity mentioned
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Blood & injury depiction including a dead body
  • Murder
  • Physical assault
  • Car accident
  • Bullying & cyberbullying

A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée

A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée

Twelve-year-old Shayla is allergic to trouble. All she wants to do is to follow the rules. (Oh, and she’d also like to make it through seventh grade with her best friendships intact, learn to run track, and have a cute boy see past her giant forehead. But in junior high, it’s like all the rules have changed. Now she’s suddenly questioning who her best friends are and some people at school are saying she’s not black enough. Wait, what? Shay’s sister, Hana, is involved in Black Lives Matter, but Shay doesn’t think that’s for her. After experiencing a powerful protest, though, Shay decides… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Grap

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Racism & racial profiling
  • Cultural appropriation
  • Police brutality & violence
  • Bullying

Ana on the Edge by AJ Sass

Ana on the Edge by A.J. Sass

Twelve-year-old Ana-Marie Jin, the reigning US Juvenile figure skating champion, is not a frilly dress kind of kid. So, when Ana learns that next season’s program will be princess themed, doubt forms fast. Still, Ana tries to focus on training and putting together a stellar routine worthy of national success. Once Ana meets Hayden, a transgender boy new to the rink, thoughts about the princess program and gender identity begin to take center stage. And when Hayden mistakes Ana for a boy, Ana doesn’t correct him and finds comfort in this boyish identity… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Grap

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Transmisia
  • Misgendering & deadnaming
  • Coming out themes (multiple)
  • Dysphoria
  • Parental abandonment
  • Bullying

Almond by Sohn Won-Pyung

Almond by Sohn Won-Pyung

Yunjae was born with a brain condition called Alexithymia that makes it hard for him to feel emotions like fear or anger. He does not have friends—the two almond-shaped neurons located deep in his brain have seen to that—but his devoted mother and grandmother aren’t fazed by his condition. Their little home above his mother’s used bookstore is decorated with colorful post-it notes that remind him when to smile, when to say “thank you,” and when to laugh. Yunjae grows up content, even happy, with his small family in this quiet, peaceful space. Then on Christmas Eve… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Grap

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Ableism
  • Alexithymia (theme)
  • Murder of a grandmother by stabbing, on-page
  • Physical assault of a mother resulting in hospitalisation, on-page
  • Animal death & abuse
  • Bullying

Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura

Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura

Seven students are avoiding going to school, hiding in their darkened bedrooms, unable to face their family and friends, until the moment they discover a portal into another world that offers a temporary escape from their stressful lives. Passing through a glowing mirror, they gather in a magnificent castle that becomes their playground and refuge during school hours. The students are tasked with locating a key, hidden somewhere in the castle, that will allow whoever finds it to be granted one wish. At this moment, the castle will vanish, along with all memories they may have of their adventure. If they fail to leave the castle… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Sexual assault
  • Cancer
  • Suicide mentioned
  • Bullying

Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell by Tobias Madden

Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell by Tobias Madden

Noah is in love with his online best friend. Which is a huge problem, for the following reasons: 1. His crush has no idea. 2. Noah only knows him as his gaming avatar. 3. There’s zero chance they’ll ever meet in real life. So, when Noah sees an opportunity to secretly meet his crush, he takes it. Even though he’ll have to join the cast of a local production of Chicago with his self-obsessed mother. Even though he’ll need to lie to his best (and only) friend. And even though he’ll have to sing and dance in front of actual people. Because love is worth the risk. And, really, what could possibly go wrong?

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Body-shaming (skinny shaming)
  • Sexual assault of minors mentioned
  • Parental infidelity mentioned
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Recreational drug use mentioned
  • Graphic emesis
  • Fire recounted
  • Bullying & catfishing
  • Weight gain mentioned

Anything But Fine by Tobias Madden

Anything But Fine by Tobias Madden

Luca is ready to audition for the Australian Ballet School. All it takes to crush his dreams is one missed step . . . and a broken foot. Jordan is the gorgeous rowing star and school captain of Luca’s new school. Everyone says he’s straight – but Luca’s not so sure . . . As their unlikely bond grows stronger, Luca starts to wonder: who is he without ballet? And is he setting himself up for another heartbreak?

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Homomisia & homomisic slurs
  • Outing
  • Racism
  • Islamomisia
  • Hate crimes
  • Toxic friendships
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Death of a parent recounted
  • Bullying

True Letters from a Fictional Life by Kenneth Logan

True Letters from a Fictional Life by Kenneth Logan

If you asked anyone in his small Vermont town, they’d tell you the facts: James Liddell, star athlete, decent student and sort-of boyfriend to cute, peppy Theresa, is a happy, funny, carefree guy. But whenever James sits down at his desk to write, he tells a different story. As he fills his drawers with letters to the people in his world — letters he never intends to send — he spills the truth: he’s trying hard, but he just isn’t into Theresa. It’s a boy who lingers in his thoughts. He feels trapped by his parents, his teammates, and the lies they’ve helped him tell, and he has no idea how to escape. Is he destined to live a life of fiction?

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Homomisia
  • Bimisia
  • Coming out themes
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Physical assault
  • Bullying

Run, Rebel by Manjeet Mann

Run, Rebel by Manjeet Mann

When Amber runs, it’s the only time she feels completely free – far away from her claustrophobic home life. Her father wants her to be a dutiful daughter, waiting for an arranged marriage like her sister Ruby. Running is a quiet rebellion. But Amber wants so much more – and she’s ready to fight for it. It’s time for a revolution.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Child abuse
  • Domestic abuse
  • Alcoholism
  • Anxiety & panic attacks
  • Emesis
  • Dieting mentioned
  • Bullying

And The Stars Were Burning Brightly by Danielle Jawando

And The Stars Were Burning Brightly by Danielle Jawando

When fifteen-year-old Nathan discovers that his older brother Al has taken his own life, his whole world is torn apart. Al was special. Al was talented. Al was full of passion and light…so why did he do it? Convinced that his brother was in trouble, Nathan begins to retrace his footsteps. And along the way, he meets Megan. Al’s former classmate, who burns with the same fire and hope, who is determined to keep Al’s memory alive. But when Nathan learns the horrifying truth behind his brother’s suicide, one question remains – how do you survive, when you’re growing up in the age of social media?

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Racism & racial slurs
  • Homomisia & homomisic slurs
  • Depression
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a brother from suicide
  • Bullying & cyberbullying (theme)
  • Catfishing