SAFETY ALERT – If you are in danger, call or text 911.
(Published 2022 July)
Read the Room
Simply stated, bystander intervention means you get in the way of problematic behavior. When a bystander acts, it can change the outcome of an event or prevent it from escalating. It is more than the “see something, say something” most of us have been taught. The practice involves developing awareness, skills, and courage to intervene when someone else needs help. Bystander intervention empowers us to step up, step in, and be safe when we see a problem.
Head to your local library to check out our K-12-appropriate Summer Reading List about how our literary friends intervene when they notice inappropriate or threatening behavior:
- Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. A funny and honest school story about teasing, self-esteem, and acceptance that’s the perfect vehicle for starting a discussion about treating classmates with tolerance, kindness, and compassion.
- Invisible Boy by Tracy Ludwig. A story that teaches how small acts of kindness can help children feel included and allow them to flourish.
- Wonder by R.J. Palacio. A story that opens eyes and hearts to what it's like to be singled out for a difference you can't control, when all you want is to be just another face in the crowd.
- Bystander by James Preller. When you're new in town, it's hard to know who to hang out with—and who to avoid. In an instant you can go from being a bystander to a bully’s next target.
- Upstander by James Preller. A companion book to Bystander, this tome further explores bullying—including cyberbullying—but this time from a girl’s perspective.
- All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. Two teens—one black, one white—grapple with the repercussions of a single violent act that leaves their school, their community, and, ultimately, the country bitterly divided by racial tension.
- Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds. A masterfully woven tale about the experiences of 10 different groups of kids on their way home from the same school.
- Harbor Me by Jaqueline Woodson. Six teens meet for a weekly chat session where they can express the feelings and fears they have to hide from the rest of the world. Together, they can grow braver and more ready for the rest of their lives.
- The Prettiest by Brigit Young. An incisive, empowering novel about fighting back against sexism and objectification.
- I've Got Your Back: The Indispensable Guide to Stopping Harassment When You See It by Jorge Arteaga and Emily May. An engaging step-by-step instructional guide to safe and effective bystander intervention.
- Kid Confident (Book #1): How to Master Social Power in Middle School by Bonnie Zucker. First in a nonfiction book series that guides middle schoolers through those tricky years between elementary and high school with a supporting voice of a trusted big sister or a favorite aunt, stealthily offering life lessons and evidence-based coping skills.
Learn more about Awareness about Domestic and Sexual Violence or Domestic and Sexual Violence Services.