First published 2013
Adolescence grows more complex as internet platforms and social media create new forms of cruelty. Emily Bazelon investigates this shifting terrain by examining teenage harassment through multiple lenses. She tracks three young people caught in different bullying situations. Thirteen-year-old Monique faces months of exclusion until her mother removes her from school. Jacob endures threats and physical attacks in eighth grade because of his sexuality, then takes legal action to protect himself and transform his school's environment. Flannery becomes one of six teenagers facing criminal charges when a classmate's suicide gets attributed to bullying and attracts worldwide attention. Bazelon documents how these situations spiral into community conflicts that benefit no one. She separates facts from myths, clarifies what constitutes actual bullying versus normal social friction, and examines when adults should intervene versus allowing kids to handle problems independently. Her research takes her from school lunchrooms to courtrooms to Facebook headquarters. She studies schools that have successfully reduced harassment and analyzes their effective methods. The book offers parents, teachers, and teenagers themselves a clearer understanding of contemporary youth experiences and practical approaches for addressing these challenges.
Genres: sociology, contemporary, adolescence, social-issues, non-fiction
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, social-friction
386 pages · Hardcover · Random House
Content warnings: suicide