Olivia Gardner

Reviewed by Ace for TeensReadToo.com

In May 2007, you may have been watching the news when a story aired about Olivia Gardner, a 14-year-old epileptic girl from California. She was bullied for two years in three different schools. You may have heard about two sisters, Emily and Sarah, who started a letter campaign for bullied teens and others. It had begun as small town campaign but grew to be worldwide and sparked websites, other campaigns, and now a book.

The book contains more than 150 letters and emails from others that have experienced what Olivia has or now regret participating in the bullying of others. This book is something everyone should experience. It is a sad book filled with firsthand accounts of verbal and physical abuse.

It even contains letters from parents who participated in the bullying of others. A common response among these adults is that they don't know why they did it. They say they regret it, but that is no excuse. Bullying is considered horrific when directed at kids and teens, but does anyone ever grow out of it?

The book has a positive message--that there are people who care and want to help others even if they don't know the person they are helping. Emily and Sarah didn't even know Olivia. They just saw a teen in need and then showed her that she wasn't alone, that even strangers care. They changed her life forever.

LETTERS TO A BULLIED GIRL should be a wake-up call to everyone everywhere. There are signs that everyone should be aware of. I consider it an excellent resource for teens and others who are being bullied or just watching it all happen. Everyone should read this book because it will help others realize that bullying should never be allowed to happen.… (mais)