Weird!: A Story About Dealing with Bullying in Schools

by Erin Frankel, Paula Heaphy (Illustrator)

Overview

Luisa is repeatedly teased and called "weird" by her classmate Sam, even though she is simply being herself—laughing with her friends, answering questions in class, greeting her father in Spanish, and wearing her favorite polka-dot boots. Luisa initially reacts to the bullying by withdrawing and hiding her colorful nature. But with the support of her teachers, parents, classmates, and one special friend named Jayla, she is able to reclaim her color and resist Sam’s put-downs. The Weird! Series These three books tell the story of an ongoing case of bullying from three third graders’ perspectives. Luisa describes being targeted by bullying in Weird! Jayla shares her experience as a bystander to bullying in Dare! And in Tough!, Sam speaks from the point of view of someone initiating bullying. Kids will easily relate to Luisa, Jayla, and Sam, as each girl has her own unique experience, eventually learning how to face her challenges with the help of friends, peers, and caring adults. Part of the Bully Free Kids™ line

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781575426600
Publisher:	Free Spirit Publishing
Publication date:	07/27/2012
Series:	Weird Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	48
Lexile:	540L (what's this?)
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Erin Frankel loves telling stories of hope and wonder. She is the author of the Weird Series (Free Spirit, 2012), Remembering Barkley (Albert Whitman&Company, 2020), A Plate of Hope (Random House Studio, 2024), and Mary Oliver, Holding on To Wonder (Calkins Creek, 2025). Erin has an M.A. in English education and is passionate about teaching and writing. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is represented by Susan Cohen at Writers House Literary Agency.

Paula Heaphy is a print and pattern designer in the fashion industry.

She’s an explorer of all artistic mediums from glassblowing to shoemaking, but her biggest love is drawing. She jumped at the chance to illustrate her friend Erin’s story, having been bullied herself as a child. As the character of Luisa came to life on paper, Paula felt her path in life suddenly shift into focus.

She lives in Brooklyn, New York, where she hopes to use her creativity to light up the hearts of children for years to come.