Tag Archives: Bullying & Hazing

Squished by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter

Squished by Megan Wagner Lloyd and illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter

Eleven-year-old Avery Lee loves living in Hickory Valley, Maryland. She loves her neighbourhood, school, and the end-of-summer fair she always goes to with her two best friends. But she’s tired of feeling squished by her six siblings! They’re noisy and chaotic and the younger kids love her a little too much. All Avery wants is her own room — her own space to be alone and make art. So she’s furious when Theo, her grumpy older brother, gets his own room instead, and her wild baby brother, Max, moves into the room she already shares with her clinging sister Pearl! Avery hatches a plan…Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Bullying

Hail Mary by Kandi Steiner

Hail Mary by Kandi Steiner

Leo F*cking Hernandez. North Boston University’s star running back, notorious bachelor, and number one on my people I would murder if I could get away with it list. And now? He’s my new roommate. I used to think I loved him. But that was before I hated him. He doesn’t remember who I am, or how he made my life miserable for years. And before I unknowingly moved across the street from him, I couldn’t have cared less. I was living my life despite him and what happened that summer, chasing my dream of becoming a tattoo artist, “The Pit,” as the university so gracefully nicknamed… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Sexual harassment, on-page
  • Bullying

Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega

Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega

Every year, in the magical town of Ravenskill, Witchlings who participate in the Black Moon Ceremony are placed into covens and come into their powers as full-fledged witches. And twelve-year-old Seven Salazar can’t wait to be placed in the most powerful coven with her best friend! But on the night of the ceremony, in front of the entire town, Seven isn’t placed in one of the five covens. She’s a Spare! Spare covens have fewer witches, are less powerful, and are looked down on by everyone. Even worse, when Seven and the other two Spares perform the magic circle to seal their coven and cement themselves as sisters, it doesn’t work! … Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Child abuse mentioned*
  • Death of a brother
  • Bullying

*Context: Valley’s father starved her for two days because of school grades.

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega and illustrated by Rose Bousamra

Marlene loves three things: books, her cool Tía Ruby and hanging out with her best friend Camila. But according to her mother, Paola, the only thing she needs to focus on is school and “growing up.” That means straightening her hair every weekend so she could have “presentable, good hair”. But Marlene hates being in the salon and doesn’t understand why her curls are not considered pretty by those around her. With a few hiccups, a dash of embarrassment, and the much-needed help of Camila and Tia Ruby—she slowly starts a journey to learn to appreciate and proudly wear her curly hair.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Misogyny
  • Racism & colourism
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a parent mentioned
  • Bullying

Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega

Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega

For Lucely Luna, ghosts are more than just the family business. Shortly before Halloween, Lucely and her best friend, Syd, cast a spell that accidentally awakens malicious spirits, wreaking havoc throughout St. Augustine. Together, they must join forces with Syd’s witch grandmother, Babette, and her tubby tabby, Chunk, to fight the haunting head-on and reverse the curse to save the town and Lucely’s firefly spirits before it’s too late.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Physical injury
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a mother recounted
  • Bullying mentioned

The Tryout by Christina Soontornvat and Joanna Cacao

The Tryout by Christina Soontornvat and illustrated by Joanna Cacao

When cheerleading tryouts are announced, Christina and her best friend, Megan, literally jump at the chance to join the squad. As two of the only kids of color in the school, they have always yearned to fit in-and the middle school cheerleaders are popular and accepted by everyone. But will the girls survive the terrifying tryouts, with their whole grade watching? And will their friendship withstand the pressures of competition?

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Racism
  • Bullying

Charge by Cate Wells

Charge by Cate C. Wells

Sometimes the things you shouldn’t want are exactly what you need. Kayla. Life hasn’t been easy. I had my son Jimmy too young, and I want the world for him. But the world? It’s not cooperating. I’m fighting to stay afloat, and my family is waiting for me to fail. I don’t need to be crushing on the criminally hot biker next door. He’s a little too old for me, and he makes me want to take risks I can’t afford. Charge. I used to be the fall guy. I took the heat for my club, and with my charm, my pretty face, and my ex—the MC’s lawyer—I mostly got away with it. But now the club’s gone legit—more or less—and I’m sittin’ on a porch, drinkin’ beers… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Slut-shaming
  • Fatmisia & body shaming
  • Date rape recounted
  • Cheating mentioned
  • Anxiety
  • Post-partum depression
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Recreational drug use
  • Teen pregnancy from rape
  • Dieting
  • Death of a mother recounted
  • Bullying

The Hive by Barry Lyga and Morgan Baden

The Hive by Barry Lyga and Morgan Baden

Cassie McKinney has always believed in the Hive. Social media used to be out of control, after all. People were torn apart by trolls and doxxers. Even hackers – like Cassie’s dad – were powerless against it. But then the Hive came. A better way to sanction people for what they do online. Cause trouble, get too many “condemns,” and a crowd can come after you, teach you a lesson in real life. It’s safer, fairer and perfectly legal. Entering her senior year of high school, filled with grief over an unexpected loss, Cassie is primed to lash out. Egged on by new friends, she makes an… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Threats of rape
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Doxxing
  • Bullying

Not Your Sidekick by CB Lee

Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee

Welcome to Andover, where superpowers are common, but internships are complicated. Just ask high school nobody, Jessica Tran. Despite her heroic lineage, Jess is resigned to a life without superpowers and is merely looking to beef-up her college applications when she stumbles upon the perfect (paid!) internship—only it turns out to be for the town’s most heinous supervillain. On the upside, she gets to work with her longtime secret crush, Abby, who Jess thinks may have a secret of her own. Then there’s the budding attraction to her fellow intern, the mysterious “M,” who... Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Racism
  • Bimisia
  • Transmisia
  • Coming out recounted
  • Drugging
  • Forced breeding program, implied
  • Physical injury & scars
  • Nonconsensual medical experimentation
  • Physical assault
  • Kidnapping & captivity
  • Disappearance of parents
  • Bullying

The Mirror Season by Anna-Marie McLemore

The Mirror Season by Anna-Marie McLemore

Graciela Cristales’s whole world changes after she and a boy she barely knows are assaulted at the same party. She loses her gift for making enchanted pan dulce. Neighbourhood trees vanish overnight, while mirrored glass appears, bringing reckless magic with it. And Ciela is haunted by what happened to her, and what happened to the boy whose name she never learned. But when the boy, Lock, shows up at Ciela’s school, he has no memory of that night, and no clue that a single piece of mirrored glass is taking his life apart. Ciela decides to help him, which means hiding... Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Fatmisia & body shaming
  • Homomisia
  • Bimisia
  • Racism
  • Sexism
  • Classism
  • Victim blaming
  • Rape
  • Sexual assault
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Drugging
  • Blood depiction
  • Emesis
  • Death of a grandparent recounted
  • Bullying