Books about bullying for 8-12s
Almost everyone gets bullied at some point in their life – so if this is happening to your child, they are not alone.
Here are some books to help older primary school children who may be experiencing bullying or finding it tricky to make friends.
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Help: My Cat’s a Vlogging Superstar!
Author: Rae Earl
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 12+
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Help: My Cat’s a Vlogging Superstar!
Author: Rae Earl
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 12+
When Millie’s best friend Lauren is mortified by an Instagram post, Millie makes a vlog to cheer her up. Rae Earl has a real…
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My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece
Author: Annabel Pitcher
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 10+
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My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece
Author: Annabel Pitcher
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 10+
Told through the eyes of ten-year-old Jamie, My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece sensitively tackles issues around grief, terrorism…
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The Misadventures of Max Crumbly: Locker Hero
Author: Rachel Renée Russell
Interest level: 9+
Reading age: 8+
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The Misadventures of Max Crumbly: Locker Hero
Author: Rachel Renée Russell
Interest level: 9+
Reading age: 8+
Max is put in a locker by the school bully after everyone has left for the long weekend - and then three thieves break in to the s…
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Small Things
Author: Mel Tregonning
Interest level: 4-8
Reading age: 5+
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Small Things
Author: Mel Tregonning
Interest level: 4-8
Reading age: 5+
This brilliant book manages to deal with bullying, fear of being different, frustration at underachieving, and the fact that while…
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Mind Your Head
Author: Juno Dawson with advice from Dr Olivia Hewitt Illustrator: Gemma Correll
Interest level: 12-18
Reading age: 12+
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Mind Your Head
Author: Juno Dawson with advice from Dr Olivia Hewitt Illustrator: Gemma Correll
Interest level: 12-18
Reading age: 12+
In this upfront and accessible book, Juno Dawson tackles all things mental health. Packed with practical advice, guidance from cli…
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A Seven-Letter Word
Author: Kim Slater
Interest level: 9-14
Reading age: 9+
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A Seven-Letter Word
Author: Kim Slater
Interest level: 9-14
Reading age: 9+
It's a difficult time for Finlay. It's two years since his mother left the family home without any explanation. Marrying some unus…
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Cloud Busting
Author: Malorie Blackman
Interest level: 7+
Reading age: 8+
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Cloud Busting
Author: Malorie Blackman
Interest level: 7+
Reading age: 8+
Shortlisted for the 2004 Nestlé Smarties Book Prize (age 6-8 category), an exploration of an unlikely friendship between tw…
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The Starman and Me
Author: Sharon Cohen
Interest level: 9-12
Reading age: 9-12
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The Starman and Me
Author: Sharon Cohen
Interest level: 9-12
Reading age: 9-12
Twelve-year-old Kofi discovers Rorty Thrutch, a prehistoric human, on a supermarket roundabout. Themes of bullying and friend…
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Feather Boy
Author: Nicky Singer
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 11+
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Feather Boy
Author: Nicky Singer
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 11+
Robert is having a tough time at school, being bullied by Nicker; he's also trying to deal with the break-up of his parents' marri…
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The Muslims
Author: Zanib Mian
Interest level: 7-9
Reading age: 7-9
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The Muslims
Author: Zanib Mian
Interest level: 7-9
Reading age: 7-9
When class bully Daniel tells Omar to go back to his own country, he's not sure how - he's never been there, he can't speak the la…
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Buried Alive!
Author: Jacqueline Wilson Illustrator: Nick Sharratt and Sue Heap
Interest level: 8+
Reading age: 8+
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Buried Alive!
Author: Jacqueline Wilson Illustrator: Nick Sharratt and Sue Heap
Interest level: 8+
Reading age: 8+
This humorous tale sensitively highlights issues such as friendship and bullying.
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Don't Pick on Me!
Author: Rosemary Stones
Interest level: 9+
Reading age: 9+
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Don't Pick on Me!
Author: Rosemary Stones
Interest level: 9+
Reading age: 9+
This book explores why some people bully, why others are bullied and what you can do to change things
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Mango Delight
Author: Fracaswell Hyman
Interest level: 11-13
Reading age: 10+
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Mango Delight
Author: Fracaswell Hyman
Interest level: 11-13
Reading age: 10+
This school story features a multi-ethnic cast of characters and tackles issues of bullying, isolation, family dynamics, self-disc…
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The Song from Somewhere Else
Author: AF Harrold Illustrator: Levi Pinfold
Interest level: 8+
Reading age: 8+
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The Song from Somewhere Else
Author: AF Harrold Illustrator: Levi Pinfold
Interest level: 8+
Reading age: 8+
Frank is being bullied - for what, she's not sure. Being smart? Being different, perhaps. One day, after her bike is thrown in the…
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A Monster Calls
Author: Patrick Ness (From an idea by Siobhan Dowd) Illustrator: Jim Kay
Interest level: 11-14
Reading age: 10+
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A Monster Calls
Author: Patrick Ness (From an idea by Siobhan Dowd) Illustrator: Jim Kay
Interest level: 11-14
Reading age: 10+
Connor's mum has cancer and life is changing. There is the nightmare, then there is school, where people avoid him, or persecute h…
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Secret Friends
Author: Elizabeth Laird Illustrator: Jason Cockcroft
Interest level: 7-11
Reading age: 8+
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Secret Friends
Author: Elizabeth Laird Illustrator: Jason Cockcroft
Interest level: 7-11
Reading age: 8+
Rafaella suffers daily name-calling from her peers. Lucy feels partly responsible, having herself invented the nickname 'Earwig' a…
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The War Next Door
Author: Phil Earle Illustrator: Sara Ogilvie
Interest level: 8-11
Reading age: 8+
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The War Next Door
Author: Phil Earle Illustrator: Sara Ogilvie
Interest level: 8-11
Reading age: 8+
The War Next Door turns its focus to Masher, the bully of Storey Street. Part of the Storey Street series, Phil Earle's book has a…
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We Are All Made of Molecules
Author: Susin Nielsen
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 12+
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We Are All Made of Molecules
Author: Susin Nielsen
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 12+
High-functioning Stewart is happy at Genius Academy but his life is shattered when his Mum dies from cancer. Ashley is obsessed wi…
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The Muslims
Author: Zanib Mian
Interest level: 7-9
Reading age: 7-9
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The Muslims
Author: Zanib Mian
Interest level: 7-9
Reading age: 7-9
When class bully Daniel tells Omar to go back to his own country, he's not sure how - he's never been there, he can't speak the la…
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Sam Wu is Not Afraid of Ghosts
Author: Katie and Kevin Tsang Illustrator: Nathan Reed
Interest level: 7-11
Reading age: 9+
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Sam Wu is Not Afraid of Ghosts
Author: Katie and Kevin Tsang Illustrator: Nathan Reed
Interest level: 7-11
Reading age: 9+
Sam Wu is scared of many things but is determined not to let anyone find out. However, after an unfortunate incident in a space si…
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