Websites:

• www.buzzin.net/revision_tips – how to make learning fun… and effective!
• www.childline.org.uk – sections on school, homework and exams
• www.bbc.co.uk/schools/bitesize/ – help on revision for whichever level you are at

Cathy’s Books… Published by Puffin

• Shine On, Daizy Star – life in Year Six…
• GingerSnaps – starting secondary school, new friends, new teacher…
• Indigo Blue – when things go wrong at home, who can you tell (Year Six)?
• Scarlett – being expelled, starting school in a new place, home schooling…
• Driftwood – school uniform issues, bullying
• Sundae Girl – life in Year Eight, catholic high school
• Angel Cake – starting a new school in a new country…
• Lucky Star – life in Special Ed, dyslexia, getting into trouble at school…

5. Beat Bullying

I get more letters and emails about bullying than any other subject, and I’ve written about it in several of my books because I know it is a big worry for some of you.

Bullying is nothing new. Your parents and grandparents will remember bullying incidents from their early years, but they may say things like ‘It didn’t do me any harm,’ or ‘It’s a part of growing up.’ Bullying is a part of growing up for some people, but it shouldn’t be – ever. And it can cause a lot of harm.

It is not OK to push people around, treat them like dirt, call them cruel names or hurt them. If we accept this kind of behaviour as normal, the bullies will grow up thinking it’s OK to treat others like this. Whether you’re being bullied, have been bullied in the past, seen a friend suffer or have even bullied people yourself, it’s time to call a halt. We can stop bullying, but we have to accept that it’s wrong and act together to make it unacceptable.

Don’t Pick On Me

Dear Cathy

I’ve just read GingerSnaps and the way Ginger was treated back when she was in primary school was exactly like what happened to me. Things are better now, but I wanted to ask, were you ever bullied at school? You write about it as if you really understand.

Mischa, age 14

I wasn’t bullied at school, but I was teased… luckily, it never went any further. At primary, I was pretty confident and knew how to stick up for myself, but by the time I was eleven, things changed. Suddenly, I stood out from the crowd – I was growing up, literally! At eleven years old I was five feet eight inches tall and towered above my classmates. I towered above most of my teachers too!

I was called names and jokers liked to ask what the weather was like ‘up there’. I hated the teasing and the attention. I hunched my shoulders and wished I could be invisible. My confidence had been dented, big style, and that shyness stayed with me for years. I thought I might go on growing forever, but five feet eight was as tall as I ever got… and I love being that height now. I just wish I’d got here a little more gradually!