Cliques and bullies in middle and high school can have a devastating impact on the lives and development of the children affected. Kids too often group together based on similar personality traits leaving out anyone who doesn't conform to their ideals. Bullying goes hand in hand with cliques, as kids see others as threats because they are ''different,'' ''weird,'' or ''nerdy.'' Often bullying behaviour is simply a way of acting out because of an unfulfilling or traumatic life outside of school.In this delightful and heartwarming story, written by a 12-year old, we follow the escapades of two girls, Alana and Jackie, who have been best friends for years. They both work on the school newspaper at their middle school, where Alana runs an advice column, but their arch rival, Jane, who is editor of the newspaper, never ceases being a thorn in their side. This story has a little bit of everything in it, but along with all the adventures the girls go through, comes some excellent and sound advice for students on how to survive the tribulations of school. This book will be welcomed by young children in middle or high school because of the author's first-hand experience. It can also be used as a reading assignment for improving interpersonal skills. It can also be used as the foundation for a lesson plan on social skills training through discussion and classroom exercises by utilizing the complimentary teacher's guide (available separately).
