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Mean Girl Makeover #2
You Can't Sit with Us: An Honest Look at Bullying from the Victim
Bullying doesn't end in the hallway anymore--with a smartphone or tablet, it can happen "anywhere." According to the Ambassadors 4 Kids Club, one out of every four students is bullied--and 85% of these situations never receive intervention. Parents, students, and teachers alike have amped up discussions on how to solve the bullying problem for a networked generation of kids.
Written by bestselling author, Nancy Rue, each book in the Mean Girl Makeover trilogy focuses on a different character's point of view: the bully, the victim, and the bystander. The books, based on Scripture, show solid biblical solutions to the bullying problem set in a story for tween girls.
"You Can't Sit With Us" tells the story of Ginger Hollingberry, a new sixth grader at Gold Country Middle School. Ginger has been the brunt of teasing and taunting from the queen bee of GCMS, Kylie Steppe, and her so-called Wolf Pack. Kylie and the Pack favor a new and especially hurtful medium of taunting: social networking. What follows is a candid look into the growing world of cruel cyberbullying, showing kids that bullying doesn't always end at school--it can now follow you even into your home and torture 24 hours a day.
Written by bestselling author, Nancy Rue, each book in the Mean Girl Makeover trilogy focuses on a different character's point of view: the bully, the victim, and the bystander. The books, based on Scripture, show solid biblical solutions to the bullying problem set in a story for tween girls.
"You Can't Sit With Us" tells the story of Ginger Hollingberry, a new sixth grader at Gold Country Middle School. Ginger has been the brunt of teasing and taunting from the queen bee of GCMS, Kylie Steppe, and her so-called Wolf Pack. Kylie and the Pack favor a new and especially hurtful medium of taunting: social networking. What follows is a candid look into the growing world of cruel cyberbullying, showing kids that bullying doesn't always end at school--it can now follow you even into your home and torture 24 hours a day.
224 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2014
7 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Nancy N. Rue
224 books291 followersNancy Rue is the author of over 100 books for adults and teens, including the Christy Award-winning The Reluctant Prophet, Unexpected Dismounts and Healing Waters (with Steve Arterburn), which was the 2009 Women of Faith Novel of the Year. She travels extensively—at times on the back of a Harley—speaking to and teaching groups of women of all ages. Nancy lives on a lake in Tennessee with her Harley-ridin’ husband, Jim, and their two yellow Labs (without whom writing would be difficult).
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 20, 2016
Typical Ginger: "“Now, tell me the names people call you. Think of them as the labels they put on you.” I didn’t remind her we only had fifteen minutes left. “Annoying,” I said right away. She wrote Annoying on one of the notes and stuck it on the front of my T-shirt. “What else?” “Loser,” I said. That went on a note and then on my shirt. We continued with Smelly, Not Girly, Loud, Obnoxious, Klutz, Weirdo, Fat, Freak, Bullhorn, Stupid, and Ugly."
After all that had been done about anti-bullying, Ginger thought she was finally safe from the Pack's tauntings. Wrong. Kylie and her friends have resumed their bullying - now undercover. They have ways to hurt her without anyone ever being able to pinpoint it to them. And this time Ginger can't tell others about it... or something worse might happen.
Ginger's voice was really authentic. I liked getting to know more about her and what she felt about her mom dying years ago and their family's constant moving. It hurt when she couldn't sit with her friends anymore because the bullies said so. The way Ginger grew and matured throughout the story is simply beautiful.
Bullying isn't a joke. It's real and it's out there. You Can't Sit With Us deals more with the word-bullying than the hit-and-punch bullying. The type of bullying that leaves you feeling like a looser and a nerd. The type that threatens a girl through email and spreads rumors on Twitter and vandalizes her dad's car. The type that's hard to pin point and that's easy to miss for the adults. But it's still there.
"You Can't Sit With Us" is Nancy Rue's second book in the anti-bullying series. It is told from the bullied girl's point of view. Ginger learns that sometimes bullying won't go away and that she can't give away the power to be herself even when it's hard. There is also discussion on how to do that.
If you want some great fiction with an even greater message, you might enjoy this book. The first one - "So Not Okay-" is told from the bystander's point of view. "Sorry I'm Not Sorry," the third book, is told from the bully's point of view.
If you'd like more information on the anti-bullying campaign you can visit the movement's website.
After all that had been done about anti-bullying, Ginger thought she was finally safe from the Pack's tauntings. Wrong. Kylie and her friends have resumed their bullying - now undercover. They have ways to hurt her without anyone ever being able to pinpoint it to them. And this time Ginger can't tell others about it... or something worse might happen.
Ginger's voice was really authentic. I liked getting to know more about her and what she felt about her mom dying years ago and their family's constant moving. It hurt when she couldn't sit with her friends anymore because the bullies said so. The way Ginger grew and matured throughout the story is simply beautiful.
Bullying isn't a joke. It's real and it's out there. You Can't Sit With Us deals more with the word-bullying than the hit-and-punch bullying. The type of bullying that leaves you feeling like a looser and a nerd. The type that threatens a girl through email and spreads rumors on Twitter and vandalizes her dad's car. The type that's hard to pin point and that's easy to miss for the adults. But it's still there.
"You Can't Sit With Us" is Nancy Rue's second book in the anti-bullying series. It is told from the bullied girl's point of view. Ginger learns that sometimes bullying won't go away and that she can't give away the power to be herself even when it's hard. There is also discussion on how to do that.
If you want some great fiction with an even greater message, you might enjoy this book. The first one - "So Not Okay-" is told from the bystander's point of view. "Sorry I'm Not Sorry," the third book, is told from the bully's point of view.
If you'd like more information on the anti-bullying campaign you can visit the movement's website.
February 23, 2015
This was another eye-opening story in the mean girl makeover trilogy. I admit that a few times I almost cried, but I also laughed, cheered, and just simply couldn't stop reading.
I liked Ginger in book one SO NOT OKAY, but I really loved getting to know her in this one. She is so awesome! I'm so glad that her talents, personality, and things she loves came out to others. I also really liked Colin and how he had a big role in this one (you'll have to read the book to find out more about him).
I mentioned the story was eye-opening earlier and it was on many levels because last year my little sister got bullied (just not to the same extent as Ginger). It was heart-breaking to think of what she felt during that time, especially since I know I was not the most understanding. I know that after reading YOU CAN’T SIT WITH US I want to be more like Lydia where I can be a trusted person to come too and encourage girls to be all Jesus called them to be.
I definitely recommend this novel to anyone who works with tween girls as well as these same girls. It can be life-changing.
(I received this novel from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.)
I liked Ginger in book one SO NOT OKAY, but I really loved getting to know her in this one. She is so awesome! I'm so glad that her talents, personality, and things she loves came out to others. I also really liked Colin and how he had a big role in this one (you'll have to read the book to find out more about him).
I mentioned the story was eye-opening earlier and it was on many levels because last year my little sister got bullied (just not to the same extent as Ginger). It was heart-breaking to think of what she felt during that time, especially since I know I was not the most understanding. I know that after reading YOU CAN’T SIT WITH US I want to be more like Lydia where I can be a trusted person to come too and encourage girls to be all Jesus called them to be.
I definitely recommend this novel to anyone who works with tween girls as well as these same girls. It can be life-changing.
(I received this novel from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.)
October 19, 2022
The second installment of The Mean Girl Makeover series gives the reader the inside track on what may motivate a bullied young person from blowing the whistle on his/her bully. Fear is a powerful silencer. The book also touches on how an adult may not understand the seriousness of what the young person is mentally experiencing. As in the first book, though, Nancy Rue includes the mentor, Lydia. Lydia is back with more tools to deal with bullying. She helps Ginger understand that not only the labels others put on her matter, but the labels she believes about herself matter too. In addition to the other things Ginger needs to do, she also needs to love her enemy--something she's not sure she can do at first.
February 7, 2017
A fantastic, heartfelt read that really hits home.
January 23, 2015
Nancy Rue’s You Can't Sit With Us: An Honest Look at Bullying from the Victim (Mean Girl Makeover) gives readers a birds-eye view into the life of Ginger Hollingsberry, a sixth grader trying to adjust to life at a new school while being the target of bullies. Kylie Steppe, the leader of the bullies, seems to have it all: a family with money, nice clothes, good looks, and a bevy of friends bowing down to her anxiously awaiting her instructions on who to torment next.
Ginger, loaded down with a barrage of negative thoughts, hand-me-down clothes, and less-than-perfect looks, unstable home life, leaves her ill-prepared to handle the attacks from Kylie and her friends.
The school implements an anti-bullying code and a system to address the bullies. Kylie refuses to sign the anti-bullying pledge and goes after Ginger in ways no one could have imagined. Paralyzed by fear and anxiety, Ginger tries to manage Kylie’s attacks and demands on her own. At her lowest, she wonders why God has left her alone to manage her problems.
You Can't Sit With Us: An Honest Look at Bullying from the Victim (Mean Girl Makeover) gives a vivid look into the mind of the victims of bullying. Interwoven into the story are techniques to empower victims, to love themselves, and a strong message that the victims cannot overcome the evil of bullying alone. The author painted a beautiful picture of how school administration, students, and parents work together to tackle the problem of bullying in a fine piece of juvenile Christian fiction.
I received a courtesy copy of You Can't Sit With Us: An Honest Look at Bullying from the Victim (Mean Girl Makeover) for free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Ginger, loaded down with a barrage of negative thoughts, hand-me-down clothes, and less-than-perfect looks, unstable home life, leaves her ill-prepared to handle the attacks from Kylie and her friends.
The school implements an anti-bullying code and a system to address the bullies. Kylie refuses to sign the anti-bullying pledge and goes after Ginger in ways no one could have imagined. Paralyzed by fear and anxiety, Ginger tries to manage Kylie’s attacks and demands on her own. At her lowest, she wonders why God has left her alone to manage her problems.
You Can't Sit With Us: An Honest Look at Bullying from the Victim (Mean Girl Makeover) gives a vivid look into the mind of the victims of bullying. Interwoven into the story are techniques to empower victims, to love themselves, and a strong message that the victims cannot overcome the evil of bullying alone. The author painted a beautiful picture of how school administration, students, and parents work together to tackle the problem of bullying in a fine piece of juvenile Christian fiction.
I received a courtesy copy of You Can't Sit With Us: An Honest Look at Bullying from the Victim (Mean Girl Makeover) for free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
November 8, 2015
RESEÑA EN ESPAÑOL COMPLETA
I didn’t know that this book was the second of a trilogy, so at first I found it very difficult to follow because the story continues its course from the first book. However, the protagonist and narrator, Ginger, makes you feel comfortable when you’re reading her story, because besides being sincere and honest, she knows how to keep you hooked in history.
At twelve, Ginger has suffered teasing and bullying from their peers at school and she doesn’t know how to handle this situation; so his story might seem familiar for everybody.
Sometimes we see bullying distantly and believe that the solution is to require the victim to report any harassment suffered, however we don’t know what is happening inside their minds and what their afflictions are. Ginger's story shows us that side of bullying don’t see and that may have the key to understanding these situations.
I recommend this book to all those that are relate to teens or preteens, ie everyone. This novel brings a new perspective on a delicate issue; and especially now that society moves around social networking, is good to have biblical tools to help us deal with these situations.
-I recieved a free eBook from BookLookBloggers but this fact didn't influence the review-
December 15, 2014
Real rating: 3.5
First of all, I know that it’s my fault, only my fault -and I accept it- that I didn’t know that this was the second book in a trilogy!! I know, I know… It’s embarrassing…
That’s the reason why I couldn’t enjoy this book as much as I’d like.
The story was really great but I felt lost at the beginning because, you know, -obviously- IT WAS THE SECOND!!
If I read the first book, I’ll come back, read again, understand this story better and propably I’ll give a higher rating.
However, -as I said before- this novel is quite great.
I received a free eBook from Netgalley but this fact didn't influence the review.
First of all, I know that it’s my fault, only my fault -and I accept it- that I didn’t know that this was the second book in a trilogy!! I know, I know… It’s embarrassing…
That’s the reason why I couldn’t enjoy this book as much as I’d like.
The story was really great but I felt lost at the beginning because, you know, -obviously- IT WAS THE SECOND!!
If I read the first book, I’ll come back, read again, understand this story better and propably I’ll give a higher rating.
However, -as I said before- this novel is quite great.
I received a free eBook from Netgalley but this fact didn't influence the review.
September 25, 2016
A book about bullying from the Victim's point of view! Very fun and interesting!
March 26, 2015
The second book in the Mean Girl Makeover series picks up roughly a few weeks after where the first book left off, I believe. All the students at GCMS have been strongly encouraged to sign an anti-bullying pact that states that not only will they not participate in bullying, but they will immediately report any incidents of it that they witness. This story illustrates that just because someone agrees to sign something, it doesn't mean they'll necessarily live up to it. As Ginger (our bullied redhead from Book 1) comes to find out. Popular girl and big time bully Kylie doesn't stop her reign of terror, she merely changes tactics.
This book delves more into the life of Ginger, a life we only got glimpses of in the first book of the trilogy {and hey, we get to find out that Ginger is a HUGE Tolkien / LOTR fan! Something she keeps to herself because she finds anytime she mentions it to classmates she's trying to befriend, it seems to open her up for more ridicule. School days are brutal, man!}. This one gets into the backstory of what happened to Ginger's mom and how that affected the rest of the family. Kylie tries to do the nice girl act on Ginger, temporarily winning her trust, convincing Ginger that the past was the past and Kylie really wanted to try to be friends now. NOT! In a moment of weakness, Ginger divulges some pretty personal family information that Kylie immediately mentally pockets for future blackmailing. She later switches back into evil Kylie and tells Ginger that if she doesn't stop hanging out with Tori and the gang from Book 1 (now Ginger's first real circle of besties), Kylie will blast Ginger's personal family secrets all over school.
This book struck me as a little bit darker in tone and a little edgier than Book 1, maybe because we see directly into the victim's life rather than from the bystander's POV, as in the first book. Kylie's methods of bullying now branch out into cyber-bullying via Twitter and email hacking, Kylie sending horrible emails to Ginger's friends and family, in Ginger's name. By the climax of the story, the bullying has gotten so bad that Kylie does actually physically endanger the life of Ginger, and then tries to pin it on Ginger's best friend Tori, the main character introduced in Book 1. Keep in mind that these kids are still supposed to be middle-grade age! This story also illustrates just how far reaching the actions of one bully can spread as Kylie's behavior and attacks on Ginger also start to really affect the lives of Ginger's father and little brother.
Lydia returns in this installment, coming back to teach Ginger more methods of fighting back against Kylie, without stooping to her level. Lydia teaches Ginger how to "stone face" people, a tactic I've implemented myself my entire life and can attest to its effectiveness! It's where you just let people say whatever stupid crap they're going to say and you make your face completely free of reaction, immovable like stone. Irks them to no end! Lydia also teaches Ginger that sometimes we can be our own worse bully, berating ourselves with hateful words we know aren't true but we feel we deserve (SO true for me!). I really loved the exercise Lydia puts Ginger through where she has Ginger write on sticky notes every name or label she's heard people call her. Lydia sticks the notes to Ginger's body and says "These are names people stick ON you, they have nothing to do with the person underneath. These can come off any time you want." I admit, even as an adult, I choked up at that a little!
Ginger also implements the use of notebooks. She starts one she labels "Things I Decided Not To Say" where she writes down all the barbs that one wants to say in those situations but we really know usually tends to make things worse. I just cracked up at this idea because I thought, while a really cool idea, the notebooks I would have in my life! The fortress I could make from just those notebooks! LOL.
Ginger's love of Lord of the Rings ends up playing an important role in her story. She ends up meeting Mr. Devon (my favorite character in this story), the new librarian at GCMS, whom she immediately notices looks like Gandalf! Mr. Devon is just all kinds of cool and I loved their first meeting banter when Ginger points out that he is "a boy librarian" and he replies "and you are a girl scholar", as if to say "see how silly stereotypes sound when we make a thing about it?". Loved it! My favorite line though is when Mr. Devon asks Ginger to write a paper explaining why she loves The Lord Of The Rings so much and when she asks how long it should be, he answers "No longer than the series itself."
It is through Mr. Devon that Ginger meets a boy in her school who is a fellow LOTR fan and together they come up with a presentation for the school fair to illustrate how LOTR ties in with the topic of bullying and adversity, even writing a modern day re-telling of LOTR, featuring "Samantha" and "Frank" (Samwise or "Sam" and Frodo ). (Sidenote: I also thought it was pretty cool that Rue, in her author's note, mentions that she read the entire series for the first time right before writing this book).
I was pulled into this book so much more so than the first book, maybe because I saw so many similarities in Ginger's story to my own experiences -- being a redheaded book nerd, rocking the uncool clothes, trying to master my stone face. Yes, definitely recommend this series to anyone who wants to expand their library of anti-bullying books. While it might not be quite as edgy as some of the more mature YA topics (for example, this book doesn't get into trigger topics like cutting or suicide), it's a good opener series to get the discussions rolling.
This book delves more into the life of Ginger, a life we only got glimpses of in the first book of the trilogy {and hey, we get to find out that Ginger is a HUGE Tolkien / LOTR fan! Something she keeps to herself because she finds anytime she mentions it to classmates she's trying to befriend, it seems to open her up for more ridicule. School days are brutal, man!}. This one gets into the backstory of what happened to Ginger's mom and how that affected the rest of the family. Kylie tries to do the nice girl act on Ginger, temporarily winning her trust, convincing Ginger that the past was the past and Kylie really wanted to try to be friends now. NOT! In a moment of weakness, Ginger divulges some pretty personal family information that Kylie immediately mentally pockets for future blackmailing. She later switches back into evil Kylie and tells Ginger that if she doesn't stop hanging out with Tori and the gang from Book 1 (now Ginger's first real circle of besties), Kylie will blast Ginger's personal family secrets all over school.
This book struck me as a little bit darker in tone and a little edgier than Book 1, maybe because we see directly into the victim's life rather than from the bystander's POV, as in the first book. Kylie's methods of bullying now branch out into cyber-bullying via Twitter and email hacking, Kylie sending horrible emails to Ginger's friends and family, in Ginger's name. By the climax of the story, the bullying has gotten so bad that Kylie does actually physically endanger the life of Ginger, and then tries to pin it on Ginger's best friend Tori, the main character introduced in Book 1. Keep in mind that these kids are still supposed to be middle-grade age! This story also illustrates just how far reaching the actions of one bully can spread as Kylie's behavior and attacks on Ginger also start to really affect the lives of Ginger's father and little brother.
Lydia returns in this installment, coming back to teach Ginger more methods of fighting back against Kylie, without stooping to her level. Lydia teaches Ginger how to "stone face" people, a tactic I've implemented myself my entire life and can attest to its effectiveness! It's where you just let people say whatever stupid crap they're going to say and you make your face completely free of reaction, immovable like stone. Irks them to no end! Lydia also teaches Ginger that sometimes we can be our own worse bully, berating ourselves with hateful words we know aren't true but we feel we deserve (SO true for me!). I really loved the exercise Lydia puts Ginger through where she has Ginger write on sticky notes every name or label she's heard people call her. Lydia sticks the notes to Ginger's body and says "These are names people stick ON you, they have nothing to do with the person underneath. These can come off any time you want." I admit, even as an adult, I choked up at that a little!
Ginger also implements the use of notebooks. She starts one she labels "Things I Decided Not To Say" where she writes down all the barbs that one wants to say in those situations but we really know usually tends to make things worse. I just cracked up at this idea because I thought, while a really cool idea, the notebooks I would have in my life! The fortress I could make from just those notebooks! LOL.
Ginger's love of Lord of the Rings ends up playing an important role in her story. She ends up meeting Mr. Devon (my favorite character in this story), the new librarian at GCMS, whom she immediately notices looks like Gandalf! Mr. Devon is just all kinds of cool and I loved their first meeting banter when Ginger points out that he is "a boy librarian" and he replies "and you are a girl scholar", as if to say "see how silly stereotypes sound when we make a thing about it?". Loved it! My favorite line though is when Mr. Devon asks Ginger to write a paper explaining why she loves The Lord Of The Rings so much and when she asks how long it should be, he answers "No longer than the series itself."
It is through Mr. Devon that Ginger meets a boy in her school who is a fellow LOTR fan and together they come up with a presentation for the school fair to illustrate how LOTR ties in with the topic of bullying and adversity, even writing a modern day re-telling of LOTR, featuring "Samantha" and "Frank" (Samwise or "Sam" and Frodo ). (Sidenote: I also thought it was pretty cool that Rue, in her author's note, mentions that she read the entire series for the first time right before writing this book).
I was pulled into this book so much more so than the first book, maybe because I saw so many similarities in Ginger's story to my own experiences -- being a redheaded book nerd, rocking the uncool clothes, trying to master my stone face. Yes, definitely recommend this series to anyone who wants to expand their library of anti-bullying books. While it might not be quite as edgy as some of the more mature YA topics (for example, this book doesn't get into trigger topics like cutting or suicide), it's a good opener series to get the discussions rolling.
January 21, 2019
A must have for middle school girls and the adults who love them.
Nancy Rue has written this one of a series book from the first person point of view of a bullied girl. She and her struggling single-parent family are uniquely vulnerable. Rue insightfully crafts Ginger's journey from victim to a young woman who has come into her own.
Nancy Rue has written this one of a series book from the first person point of view of a bullied girl. She and her struggling single-parent family are uniquely vulnerable. Rue insightfully crafts Ginger's journey from victim to a young woman who has come into her own.
August 15, 2017
The Mean Girl Makeover series is one of my favorite book series. It is an honest look at bullying from different perspectives. this book is from the perspective of the victim. It shows how she feels while being bullied and how she overcomes that.
January 25, 2019
This book is a great book and also teaches you how to fight off bullies.
November 26, 2022
i went into this thinking it was going to be quite cringy but it actually wasnt that bad. huh.
December 3, 2014
Kylie pinched the side of my hand. She might as well have just shouted, “You can’t hang out with them anywhere, so don’t even think about it.”
Now I had to figure out how to avoid the Tribelet for the rest of the day. As I made my way to my seat, I realized that was going to be hard because, in one lunch period, I’d gone so far backward that I didn’t even know which way I was facing.
Book: You Can’t Sit With Us by Nancy Rue, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2014
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Target Audience: Girls 11-15
Subjects: Bullying, Family Relationships, Friendship, Death of loved one, Truth
Summary: For one week Ginger’s life changed for the better. For one week she was free from the fear of bullying that had consumed her life. But it didn’t last long. Kylie and the pack just learned how to be sneakier about the bullying so that teachers couldn’t catch them. And now Ginger isn’t necessarily the only target. It’s almost an attack on her family. Because Ginger spilled some information about her mom that the mean girls fully intend to use against her. The threat is simple: stop hanging out with Tori and your other friends and we won’t spread lies about your mom all over school. In fear Ginger agrees and starts avoiding her friends. It makes no difference though. The pack wants to ruin her life as much as possible. So now that she’s alone, she’s more attacked than ever. Social Media is one of the ways used to get around the teachers and spread the lies. Ginger knows that she has to keep it all a secret for the sake of her dad. But how? The bullying is getting worse all the time.
Notes: The second in the Mean Means Makeover Trilogy, You Can’t Sit With Us gives the perspective of the victim. The first book looked at the situation from the perspective of the bystander and the third book will be from the perspective of the bully. This story picks up right where the other one left off. Kylie and her friends had gotten caught and punished for their bullying and the school created an anti-bullying code. But Kylie and her friends are smart enough to find ways to sort of go underground with the bullying. The most effective thing they do is alienate Ginger so that she no longer tells her friends or teachers or Dad or mentor what is going on. The beauty of this book comes when Lydia, the sort of mentor or counselor type figure in the series, starts bringing God into the discussion with Ginger. Ginger heard a sermon years ago that placed God as a bully sending hard or hurtful things into our lives just to strengthen us. Believing that God wants to hurt her, she has rejected Him. Lydia guides Ginger to the truth and shows her how everything in the code comes straight from the Scripture itself. The author also places another character in the story whose faith, in small ways, encourages Ginger. The focus of this book really is on standing up for your right to be yourself. Ginger is actually a brilliant and beautiful young girl, but as she writes in her journal, that’s one of the things “nobody knows about me”. A wise teacher at school assigns her and another victim of bullying a project that allows them to express themselves and think through their real-life problems in an allegorical story they write. I highly recommend this book to all young girls.
Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5
Reviewer: J:-)mi
Ephesians 3:14-19 – For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Thank you to Nancy Rue for sending me a free review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. It was wonderful!
Now I had to figure out how to avoid the Tribelet for the rest of the day. As I made my way to my seat, I realized that was going to be hard because, in one lunch period, I’d gone so far backward that I didn’t even know which way I was facing.
Book: You Can’t Sit With Us by Nancy Rue, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2014
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Target Audience: Girls 11-15
Subjects: Bullying, Family Relationships, Friendship, Death of loved one, Truth
Summary: For one week Ginger’s life changed for the better. For one week she was free from the fear of bullying that had consumed her life. But it didn’t last long. Kylie and the pack just learned how to be sneakier about the bullying so that teachers couldn’t catch them. And now Ginger isn’t necessarily the only target. It’s almost an attack on her family. Because Ginger spilled some information about her mom that the mean girls fully intend to use against her. The threat is simple: stop hanging out with Tori and your other friends and we won’t spread lies about your mom all over school. In fear Ginger agrees and starts avoiding her friends. It makes no difference though. The pack wants to ruin her life as much as possible. So now that she’s alone, she’s more attacked than ever. Social Media is one of the ways used to get around the teachers and spread the lies. Ginger knows that she has to keep it all a secret for the sake of her dad. But how? The bullying is getting worse all the time.
Notes: The second in the Mean Means Makeover Trilogy, You Can’t Sit With Us gives the perspective of the victim. The first book looked at the situation from the perspective of the bystander and the third book will be from the perspective of the bully. This story picks up right where the other one left off. Kylie and her friends had gotten caught and punished for their bullying and the school created an anti-bullying code. But Kylie and her friends are smart enough to find ways to sort of go underground with the bullying. The most effective thing they do is alienate Ginger so that she no longer tells her friends or teachers or Dad or mentor what is going on. The beauty of this book comes when Lydia, the sort of mentor or counselor type figure in the series, starts bringing God into the discussion with Ginger. Ginger heard a sermon years ago that placed God as a bully sending hard or hurtful things into our lives just to strengthen us. Believing that God wants to hurt her, she has rejected Him. Lydia guides Ginger to the truth and shows her how everything in the code comes straight from the Scripture itself. The author also places another character in the story whose faith, in small ways, encourages Ginger. The focus of this book really is on standing up for your right to be yourself. Ginger is actually a brilliant and beautiful young girl, but as she writes in her journal, that’s one of the things “nobody knows about me”. A wise teacher at school assigns her and another victim of bullying a project that allows them to express themselves and think through their real-life problems in an allegorical story they write. I highly recommend this book to all young girls.
Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5
Reviewer: J:-)mi
Ephesians 3:14-19 – For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Thank you to Nancy Rue for sending me a free review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. It was wonderful!
January 12, 2015
2.5 stars. This review is also available on my blog, Read Till Dawn.
I'm still buzzing from this. I joined the BookLook Bloggers program over the winter holiday, and requested this from the available titles. They sent it in the mail and it came the other day. I can't describe the feelings rushing through my mind as I pulled my new book out of its box. I got a real, actual book (for free!) in real life, just because of my blog. It was like a reward for all the work I've put into this blog, and that was amazing.
Okay, now for the book itself. Apart from being a symbol of my moving up in the blogging world, what did I think of You Can't Sit Here? Well, it was okay. The options were kind of mediocre when I picked it, so I just went with this one on the basis of its pretty cover (blue is my favorite color!) and its message about bullying. I figured that even if it was really bad, at least it was aiming to be good!
The thing about this book is that it is, above all else, an anti-bullying book. The plot, the characters, the dialogue - everything revolves around bullying. Learning to cope when you're being bullied, self-esteemed exercises to do when the bully puts you down, ways to discourage the bully from focusing on you. If I were being bullied at school, I would love this book with all its messages about self-worth and practical tips for coping and turning to adult help. As it is, I'm the biggest bully on the playground - otherwise known as the oldest kid in a homeschool family.
Apart from its important message, the book is pretty mediocre. The characters are practically caricatures (the shy, insecure girl being bullied by the pure evil bully and her personality-less wannabes, the clueless parent, the empathetic anti-bullying counselor, etc.), and the basic plot concepts pretty unrealistic. Ginger is terrified that the rumors about her mother's fatal car accident will reach home, where her father will then curl into a miserable ball at the thought of her mother's death and forget to take care of her, and her grandmother will take custody of Ginger and her brother. There is also a school Code that was established in the first book of the series (It's called So Not Okay, and I haven't read it). The teachers are so incredibly sensitive to bullying that if someone even snaps at a classmate, they have to go to anti-bullying counseling during lunch. I get the idea of this, and it's really nice to see teachers so worried about stopping bullying. But seriously? There's such a thing as too sensitive!
Ginger alternates between being "smarter than people think" and make really stupid assumptions, like her belief that her grandmother will take custody away from her father if he so much as hears the nasty rumors going around about her mother's death. I alternately loved her (especially when she was working on her Lord of the Rings project with her new friend Colin), and hated her (mainly when she was acting so idiotically). She's an okay character for this sort of message-driven book, but if she were in a character-driven novel I'd be pretty unimpressed.
I don't think I'd ever have picked this up unless it was in the BookLook program. I enjoyed reading it, and I definitely enjoyed receiving it, but I don't think it's anything special. If you're hunting for a good, biblically-based book about dealing with bullies, then this should be right up your alley. Otherwise, you're probably fine skipping this one.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I'm still buzzing from this. I joined the BookLook Bloggers program over the winter holiday, and requested this from the available titles. They sent it in the mail and it came the other day. I can't describe the feelings rushing through my mind as I pulled my new book out of its box. I got a real, actual book (for free!) in real life, just because of my blog. It was like a reward for all the work I've put into this blog, and that was amazing.
Okay, now for the book itself. Apart from being a symbol of my moving up in the blogging world, what did I think of You Can't Sit Here? Well, it was okay. The options were kind of mediocre when I picked it, so I just went with this one on the basis of its pretty cover (blue is my favorite color!) and its message about bullying. I figured that even if it was really bad, at least it was aiming to be good!
The thing about this book is that it is, above all else, an anti-bullying book. The plot, the characters, the dialogue - everything revolves around bullying. Learning to cope when you're being bullied, self-esteemed exercises to do when the bully puts you down, ways to discourage the bully from focusing on you. If I were being bullied at school, I would love this book with all its messages about self-worth and practical tips for coping and turning to adult help. As it is, I'm the biggest bully on the playground - otherwise known as the oldest kid in a homeschool family.
Apart from its important message, the book is pretty mediocre. The characters are practically caricatures (the shy, insecure girl being bullied by the pure evil bully and her personality-less wannabes, the clueless parent, the empathetic anti-bullying counselor, etc.), and the basic plot concepts pretty unrealistic. Ginger is terrified that the rumors about her mother's fatal car accident will reach home, where her father will then curl into a miserable ball at the thought of her mother's death and forget to take care of her, and her grandmother will take custody of Ginger and her brother. There is also a school Code that was established in the first book of the series (It's called So Not Okay, and I haven't read it). The teachers are so incredibly sensitive to bullying that if someone even snaps at a classmate, they have to go to anti-bullying counseling during lunch. I get the idea of this, and it's really nice to see teachers so worried about stopping bullying. But seriously? There's such a thing as too sensitive!
Ginger alternates between being "smarter than people think" and make really stupid assumptions, like her belief that her grandmother will take custody away from her father if he so much as hears the nasty rumors going around about her mother's death. I alternately loved her (especially when she was working on her Lord of the Rings project with her new friend Colin), and hated her (mainly when she was acting so idiotically). She's an okay character for this sort of message-driven book, but if she were in a character-driven novel I'd be pretty unimpressed.
I don't think I'd ever have picked this up unless it was in the BookLook program. I enjoyed reading it, and I definitely enjoyed receiving it, but I don't think it's anything special. If you're hunting for a good, biblically-based book about dealing with bullies, then this should be right up your alley. Otherwise, you're probably fine skipping this one.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 17, 2014
This is the second novel in a fascinating trilogy that deals with the same events but from different perspectives.
Book 1 of the series, So Not Ok, dealt with the bullying of Ginger from the perspective of Tori, a bystander. This book is from the perspective of Ginger, the bullied girl. The final book will be from the perspective of the bully, Kylie – [SPOILER] and progresses the story to what happens after she is caught [SPOILER]. Here are the descriptions of the first two books:
So Not Okay tells the story of Tori Taylor, a quiet sixth grader at Gold Country Middle School in Grass Valley, California. Tori knows to stay out of the way of Kylie, the queen bee of GCMS. When an awkward new student named Ginger becomes Kylie’s new target, Tori whispers a prayer of thanks that it’s not her. But as Kylie’s bullying of Ginger continues to build, Tori feels guilty and tries to be kind to Ginger. Pretty soon, the bullying line of fire directed toward Ginger starts deflecting onto Tori, who must decide if she and her friends can befriend Ginger and withstand Kylie’s taunts, or do nothing and resume their status quo. Tori’s decision dramatically changes her trajectory for the rest of the school year.
You Can’t Sit With Us tells the story of Ginger Hollingberry, a new sixth grader at Gold Country Middle School. Ginger has been the brunt of teasing and taunting from the queen bee of GCMS, Kylie Steppe, and her so-called Wolf Pack. Kylie and the Pack favor a new and especially hurtful medium of taunting: social networking. What follows is a candid look into the growing world of cruel cyberbullying, showing kids that bullying doesn’t always end at school—it can now follow you even into your home and torture 24 hours a day.
The focus, of course, is to teach empathy and encourage young readers to attack bullying – not the bully. An important distinctive.
Here’s what my tween daughter said of the book: In the book “You Cant Sit With Us” I realized that bullying is a serious thing and that even though at times some people take it as a joke it can become very serious. I also learned that to a bully, bullying is just a joke to them but to the victim it hurts deeply. This book helped me see what bullying is really like. It gave me a new vision of real life problems that needed solving. I can now understand what its like to be seriously bullied or hurt because of this book. I really enjoyed this book because of the way the characters solved the problem and how it was all sorted out. I saw that even though your problem is big and scary you can still fix it no matter how hard it looks because nothing is impossible.
This is a “Christian” book and there are some references to spirituality and to the Bible. However, it is done in a very natural way that connects the dots between God, his will for us, and our situations. This is an intriguing trilogy that young readers will learn a lot from, parents will rejoice in their children reading, and will teach empathy in a world that sorely needs a lesson in it.
This book wa sprovided by the publisher for review via Amazon Vine.
Book 1 of the series, So Not Ok, dealt with the bullying of Ginger from the perspective of Tori, a bystander. This book is from the perspective of Ginger, the bullied girl. The final book will be from the perspective of the bully, Kylie – [SPOILER] and progresses the story to what happens after she is caught [SPOILER]. Here are the descriptions of the first two books:
So Not Okay tells the story of Tori Taylor, a quiet sixth grader at Gold Country Middle School in Grass Valley, California. Tori knows to stay out of the way of Kylie, the queen bee of GCMS. When an awkward new student named Ginger becomes Kylie’s new target, Tori whispers a prayer of thanks that it’s not her. But as Kylie’s bullying of Ginger continues to build, Tori feels guilty and tries to be kind to Ginger. Pretty soon, the bullying line of fire directed toward Ginger starts deflecting onto Tori, who must decide if she and her friends can befriend Ginger and withstand Kylie’s taunts, or do nothing and resume their status quo. Tori’s decision dramatically changes her trajectory for the rest of the school year.
You Can’t Sit With Us tells the story of Ginger Hollingberry, a new sixth grader at Gold Country Middle School. Ginger has been the brunt of teasing and taunting from the queen bee of GCMS, Kylie Steppe, and her so-called Wolf Pack. Kylie and the Pack favor a new and especially hurtful medium of taunting: social networking. What follows is a candid look into the growing world of cruel cyberbullying, showing kids that bullying doesn’t always end at school—it can now follow you even into your home and torture 24 hours a day.
The focus, of course, is to teach empathy and encourage young readers to attack bullying – not the bully. An important distinctive.
Here’s what my tween daughter said of the book: In the book “You Cant Sit With Us” I realized that bullying is a serious thing and that even though at times some people take it as a joke it can become very serious. I also learned that to a bully, bullying is just a joke to them but to the victim it hurts deeply. This book helped me see what bullying is really like. It gave me a new vision of real life problems that needed solving. I can now understand what its like to be seriously bullied or hurt because of this book. I really enjoyed this book because of the way the characters solved the problem and how it was all sorted out. I saw that even though your problem is big and scary you can still fix it no matter how hard it looks because nothing is impossible.
This is a “Christian” book and there are some references to spirituality and to the Bible. However, it is done in a very natural way that connects the dots between God, his will for us, and our situations. This is an intriguing trilogy that young readers will learn a lot from, parents will rejoice in their children reading, and will teach empathy in a world that sorely needs a lesson in it.
This book wa sprovided by the publisher for review via Amazon Vine.
June 10, 2015
Ginger Hollingberry is no stranger to bullying. She’s only in sixth grade, but she’s been a target most of her life. When Those Girls (aka the mean girls at Ginger’s school) choose to take their bullying behind the scenes, Ginger can’t even go home without fearing harassment. Will she continue to be the doormat Those Girls love to stomp on, or will Ginger finally stand up for truth and accept who she is despite what others think?
Why I recommend You Can’t Sit With Us…
A) It’s exactly the kind of book tweens need. Bullying isn’t limited to school hallways and bathrooms anymore. In this day and age, the internet has allowed bullies to take their tricks to a whole new level (aka cyber space). I love You Can’t Sit With Us because it’s relevant. The story is fun and entertaining with relatable characters, but it also has that little extra umph. I’m a mom and just reading Ginger’s story made me feel empowered. We can do something about bullying, and we can help our kids prepare for situations like the one Ginger finds herself in. Bullies don’t have to win. I think You Can’t Sit With Us will really encourage tweens to stand against bullying, on and off the school campus.
B) The message isn’t preachy. Nancy Rue definitely has a purpose for these mean girl makeover books. It’s obvious she is taking a stand against bullying, and she wants others to do the same. BUT, she writes this series in a way that doesn’t make you feel like you’re being told what to do or how to do it. Tweens and parents alike can learn from these books, yes, but more importantly, the Mean Girl Makeover books will get them excited about anti-bullying. I love the different steps to standing against bullies Nancy wrote about in So Not Okay, and You Can’t Sit With Us has even more including “the stone face” and coming up with “a one-line, assertive response”. These books show tweens how to stand up for themselves without getting physical, and not only that, but how to take the power away from the bullies so, hopefully, they’ll give up. If the bully sees he or she has lost power over the victim, they probably won’t see any point in continuing.
C) Nancy Rue has a stellar, middle-grade voice. These books really have an authentic “tweeness” (yes, I just made up that word) to them. I don’t feel like I’m reading a book by an adult for tweens. It just feels like being inside a sixth grade girl’s head, which again goes back to how relatable this series is. I so cannot wait for book 3, Sorry I’m Not Sorry, which releases April 28, 2015. Click here to pre-order Sorry I’m Not Sorry from Amazon. The third book is an honest look at bullying from the bully’s perspective. I recommend this series for girls ages eight and older.
Disclosure:
I received a copy of You Can’t Sit With Us through the Tommy Nelson Mommy Program. I was not asked to write a positive review. All views and opinions expressed are solely and completely my own. I received no compensation other than a copy of the book featured in this post, which is mine to keep.
Why I recommend You Can’t Sit With Us…
A) It’s exactly the kind of book tweens need. Bullying isn’t limited to school hallways and bathrooms anymore. In this day and age, the internet has allowed bullies to take their tricks to a whole new level (aka cyber space). I love You Can’t Sit With Us because it’s relevant. The story is fun and entertaining with relatable characters, but it also has that little extra umph. I’m a mom and just reading Ginger’s story made me feel empowered. We can do something about bullying, and we can help our kids prepare for situations like the one Ginger finds herself in. Bullies don’t have to win. I think You Can’t Sit With Us will really encourage tweens to stand against bullying, on and off the school campus.
B) The message isn’t preachy. Nancy Rue definitely has a purpose for these mean girl makeover books. It’s obvious she is taking a stand against bullying, and she wants others to do the same. BUT, she writes this series in a way that doesn’t make you feel like you’re being told what to do or how to do it. Tweens and parents alike can learn from these books, yes, but more importantly, the Mean Girl Makeover books will get them excited about anti-bullying. I love the different steps to standing against bullies Nancy wrote about in So Not Okay, and You Can’t Sit With Us has even more including “the stone face” and coming up with “a one-line, assertive response”. These books show tweens how to stand up for themselves without getting physical, and not only that, but how to take the power away from the bullies so, hopefully, they’ll give up. If the bully sees he or she has lost power over the victim, they probably won’t see any point in continuing.
C) Nancy Rue has a stellar, middle-grade voice. These books really have an authentic “tweeness” (yes, I just made up that word) to them. I don’t feel like I’m reading a book by an adult for tweens. It just feels like being inside a sixth grade girl’s head, which again goes back to how relatable this series is. I so cannot wait for book 3, Sorry I’m Not Sorry, which releases April 28, 2015. Click here to pre-order Sorry I’m Not Sorry from Amazon. The third book is an honest look at bullying from the bully’s perspective. I recommend this series for girls ages eight and older.
Disclosure:
I received a copy of You Can’t Sit With Us through the Tommy Nelson Mommy Program. I was not asked to write a positive review. All views and opinions expressed are solely and completely my own. I received no compensation other than a copy of the book featured in this post, which is mine to keep.
November 4, 2014
Recommended for Grades: 5 and up
You can’t sit with us by Nancy Rue is the second book in the Mean Girl Makeover series. Told from the perspective of the victim being bullied the book bring to light how serious of an issue bullying has become in today’s technological advanced world. The protagonist is a sixth grade girl named Ginger Hollingberry. Ginger is upset by her mother’s death and also the bullying that she faces. Bullied by Kylie Steepe , who is referred to as the Queen Bee of the Gold County Middle School, the bullying isn’t only in school hallways but also on social media networking sites. Kylie and her wolf pack continuously insult and torment Ginger. Throughout the story there is a lot of positive feedback from various characters. Each character lends her advice on how to deal with the bullying. Especially the counselor who helps Ginger become more confident in herself and less of a target of bullying. There are a lot of religious references to the Christian faith and Rue does not shy away from referencing how the faith works in the story. Using very simple language Rue tackles the very big and scary issue of bullying. Readers and non-reluctant readers can relate to the book and its characters. I would recommend that parents and children read this book together simply because there are a lot of tips and advice that can be obtained from the book. Though tackling a very serious issue it isn’t overwhelming with information. The narration flows and overall the book is empowering.
You can’t sit with us by Nancy Rue is the second book in the Mean Girl Makeover series. Told from the perspective of the victim being bullied the book bring to light how serious of an issue bullying has become in today’s technological advanced world. The protagonist is a sixth grade girl named Ginger Hollingberry. Ginger is upset by her mother’s death and also the bullying that she faces. Bullied by Kylie Steepe , who is referred to as the Queen Bee of the Gold County Middle School, the bullying isn’t only in school hallways but also on social media networking sites. Kylie and her wolf pack continuously insult and torment Ginger. Throughout the story there is a lot of positive feedback from various characters. Each character lends her advice on how to deal with the bullying. Especially the counselor who helps Ginger become more confident in herself and less of a target of bullying. There are a lot of religious references to the Christian faith and Rue does not shy away from referencing how the faith works in the story. Using very simple language Rue tackles the very big and scary issue of bullying. Readers and non-reluctant readers can relate to the book and its characters. I would recommend that parents and children read this book together simply because there are a lot of tips and advice that can be obtained from the book. Though tackling a very serious issue it isn’t overwhelming with information. The narration flows and overall the book is empowering.
January 14, 2015
This was a difficult book to read . . . in a good way! You Can't Sit with Us is the second book in the Mean Girl Makeover series. This time we get to look at bullying from the perspective of the one being bullied. As a mom it just made me cringe. All the ugly behavior of middle school girls is splashed on the page and it is both heart-rending and anger inducing.
The first book in the series was So Not Okay and the story focused on the perspective of Tori who was a bystander to the bullying. This time around the focus shifts to Ginger who is the new girl and the bullying target of Kylie. I was struck by how my emotions shifted back and forth in this story. I found myself thinking, "Kylie, why do you have to be so mean? It just makes you so ugly." Then a bit later I would think, "Don't do it or say it Ginger! You know the outcome won't be good." And all along the way I just wanted one of the Tribelet to speak up. I felt like my shoulders were up around my ears just from the stress of it all.
Unfortunately the reason I had such a strong reaction to the story was because it is very real. Add the thought of it being your daughter that is being bullied is enough to make a momma come unglued! The really good thing about this whole series is that Nancy Rue uses the characters to teach very important lessons on bullying that can be applied to real life situations. As a mom I would highly recommend this whole series for moms and daughters to read and discuss together.
I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.
The first book in the series was So Not Okay and the story focused on the perspective of Tori who was a bystander to the bullying. This time around the focus shifts to Ginger who is the new girl and the bullying target of Kylie. I was struck by how my emotions shifted back and forth in this story. I found myself thinking, "Kylie, why do you have to be so mean? It just makes you so ugly." Then a bit later I would think, "Don't do it or say it Ginger! You know the outcome won't be good." And all along the way I just wanted one of the Tribelet to speak up. I felt like my shoulders were up around my ears just from the stress of it all.
Unfortunately the reason I had such a strong reaction to the story was because it is very real. Add the thought of it being your daughter that is being bullied is enough to make a momma come unglued! The really good thing about this whole series is that Nancy Rue uses the characters to teach very important lessons on bullying that can be applied to real life situations. As a mom I would highly recommend this whole series for moms and daughters to read and discuss together.
I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.
February 17, 2015
(I've been a lean, mean reading machine lately, so I have a lot of books to review for you. This one, though, is reviewed by my 14-year old.)
Loved it! I absolutely loved it! Ms. Rue does a phenomenal job of presenting honest truths about bullying in a fun way. In You Can't Sit with Us, readers get to know Ginger, a victim of bullying in Grass Valley, California. Even though bullying has more of less ceased inside the school, Ginger's past is dramatized and posted all over social media when she chooses to trust Kylie Steppe, ex-bully with the few facts she does know about her mother's death.
Ms. Rue hits on several important notes like the importance of communicating with your family. There are tons of life-lessons tucked inside this delightful installment of Mean Girls Makeover.
Ms. Rue has done a fantastic job creating real-life characters that readers can laugh with, triumph with, cry for and occasionally want to pull the heads off the Pack of bullies. Even though books are directed at middle-schoolers, I think high-schoolers will enjoy them and learn from them as well. In my opinion, everything about You Can't Sit with Us should absolutely received full marks.
We received a free copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of review. All opinions are our own. You are encouraged to get your own copy of the book and read it for yourself.
Loved it! I absolutely loved it! Ms. Rue does a phenomenal job of presenting honest truths about bullying in a fun way. In You Can't Sit with Us, readers get to know Ginger, a victim of bullying in Grass Valley, California. Even though bullying has more of less ceased inside the school, Ginger's past is dramatized and posted all over social media when she chooses to trust Kylie Steppe, ex-bully with the few facts she does know about her mother's death.
Ms. Rue hits on several important notes like the importance of communicating with your family. There are tons of life-lessons tucked inside this delightful installment of Mean Girls Makeover.
Ms. Rue has done a fantastic job creating real-life characters that readers can laugh with, triumph with, cry for and occasionally want to pull the heads off the Pack of bullies. Even though books are directed at middle-schoolers, I think high-schoolers will enjoy them and learn from them as well. In my opinion, everything about You Can't Sit with Us should absolutely received full marks.
We received a free copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of review. All opinions are our own. You are encouraged to get your own copy of the book and read it for yourself.
June 2, 2015
From the point of view of Ginger, the victim, although set after the events of the first book so we don't get to see the epic bullying from that one through Ginger's eyes, which I would have been interested in. Still a lot of evilness from Kylie and her gang though.
February 26, 2016
This is a really good book with an honest look at bullying and cliques in middle school. Technology allows rumors to be spread like wildfire. This story shares several examples of Ginger being bullied by Kylie and her group. Some of the adults didn't catch on to the bullying initially but thank goodness, they did a little investigating to discover who the perpetrator(s) was. There's emotional, physical, and technological abuse in this book. It's amazing that at age 11-12 kids know how to make it look like someone else sent the email. I had hoped the dad would have pursued the property destruction but he did say he'd wait for the right time. I liked this book and would recommend it especially to middle school aged girls. I think Rue is spot on in reaching young kids.
December 21, 2015
Full review coming on my blog, but in a nutshell, I generally liked this book and thought it brought up many good topics for discussion with your kids. I did not like the way the author addressed the question of "why do bad things happen" because I felt like she minimized God's sovereignty. This isn't a book I would let my kids read alone, because I felt like there were too many things that needed discussing/clarification. I would recommend parents reading this book WITH their kids. Thanks to Tommy Nelson for the free copy!
April 13, 2015
Great
The best book ever. I loved it and I'm going to read the next one. You will like it too
The best book ever. I loved it and I'm going to read the next one. You will like it too
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