Please Stop Laughing at Me, Updated Edition

The memoir that started it all, narrated by the author. In this timely update of the seminal classic, author and activist Jodee Blanco reveals how she simply set out to share her story—and ended up igniting a grassroots movement in the nation’s schools. The first survivor of school bullying to look back on those experiences as an adult, Jodee, with this latest update, sheds new light on the core cause of bullying—and what schools and parents can do to protect everyone. While other children were daydreaming about dances, first kisses, and college, Jodee Blanco was trying to figure out how to go from homeroom to study hall without being taunted or spit upon as she walked through the halls. This powerful, unforgettable memoir chronicles how one child was shunned—and even physically abused—by her classmates from elementary school through high school. It is an unflinching look at what it means to be the outcast, how even the most loving parent can get it all wrong, why schools are often unable to prevent disaster, and how both victims and bullies have been misunderstood and mishandled by the mental health community. Featuring new discussion questions for students, parents, and teachers, this vivid story will open your eyes to the harsh realities and long-term consequences of bullying—and how all of us can make a difference in the lives of children today.