Lilly Traps the Bullies. (First Novels). Brenda Bellingham. Illustrated by Clarke MacDonald. Halifax, NS: Formac, 2011. 61 pp., pbk. & hc., $5.95 (pbk.), $14.95 (hc.). ISBN 978-0-88780-959-0 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-88780-961-3 (hc.). Grades 3-4 / Ages 8-9. Review by Wendy Williams. ** /4

excerpt:

I remember how Theresa fought a neighbour once and saved kitten. .....But can she fight Spider and Bugsy, two against one? I doubt it. She needs help.

The author of Lilly Traps the Bullies has her heart in the right place – bullying can be a huge issue in our schools and playgrounds. This story concerns a group of girls (we are not told how old) who face a test when two obnoxious boys try to muscle in on their group by crude but effective means. The two boys pretend to be interested in joining their group, but they make life nasty for the girls when the girls go to the pool. When the girls try to rescue a house mouse and set it free and the boys try to spoil things, the girls come up with a simple little trick to expose the bullies for the cowards they really are.

     Lilly Traps the Bullies is a very simple story which is told mainly by conversations which are not particularly interesting or original. The illustrations are in black and white and not attractive. There are many other books that deal effectively with bullying, and unfortunately this one is not a stand out in any way.

Recommended with reservations.

Wendy Williams is a school librarian from Calgary, AB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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