[2.] TITLE: KINDNESS HOME: COUNSELING OFFICE This Go­Bag focuses on the social and emotional. Its focus is to cultivate kindness and compassion on campus, touching also some on stress. This bag is intended for any child on campus, but may be especially relevant for sensitive or empathetic students, or for students struggling with social or emotional stressors. This bag is meant to bolster the spirit, soothe the troubled mind, and lend solidarity and empowerment.

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DID YOU KNOW?: Provide stats from studies about loneliness, depression, kindness, etc. The counseling office might provide general info about the campus’ own mental health profile. CHALLENGE: Start a ‘Friend Bench’ or an equivalent. Start a club / action plan for finding a social or emotional problem on campus and work to fix it! Find a challenge for yourself from the Bully Project or the Kind Campaign , Send a letter to a friend, a teacher, a family member, a classmate, telling them something kind or thanking them for something they have done.

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We want you to know: kids talk about bullying

gr 4­9 Link * Starred Review * Gr 4 – 9 — As part of her work with an anti­bullying campaign in her local Canadian community, Ellis interviewed young people between the ages of 9 and 19 about their experiences. In honest, straightforward prose, she shares their stories, many as targets and some as perpetrators or bystanders. The essays are loosely organized around a few themes, such as bullying based on some form of difference, whether real or perceived, and being targeted "just because." The final chapter, "Redemption," highlights those kids who have managed to rise above bullying and find strength. The selections in which students talk about experiencing repeated psychological and/or physical abuse and educators who turn a blind eye to the problems or subversively encourage or participate in the behavior are particularly distressing. Each story is written from the first­person point of view, some with real names and photos, providing an intimacy and immediacy that are critical with these kinds of issues. Readers will find at least one or two stories they can relate to, and educators should be able to use many of the narratives to jumpstart conversation. A good choice for schools stepping up their efforts to address bullying.—Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA ­­Jody Kopple (Reviewed September 1, 2010) (School Library Journal, vol 56, issue 9, p17 2)

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Depression and stress Amazon $24 age 12+

Link Gr 9 Up­While unflinching in content, this series is not gloom­and­doom in tone. Report writers and, more importantly, teens who may need a starting place for confronting a crisis will not be turned off by attempts to scare them straight or preach to them. Instead, Marsico gives abundant, solid information. The titles are effectively organized, starting with thorough descriptions of the subjects/problems, which are followed by their mental, physical, emotional, and social impacts and realistic means for surmounting them. The main texts are supplemented with personal anecdotes and meaningful statistics; they conclude with noteworthy documentations of sources and suggestions for further reading. This series is a standout because it's factual without being clinical and compelling without being maudlin.α(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journal. LLC.

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Wonder Amazon $12 age 8+ link Already in collection * Starred Review */ Gr 4 – 7 — Due to a rare genetic disorder, Auggie Pullman's head is malformed, his facial features are misshapen, and he has scars from corrective surgery. After much discussion and waffling, he and his parents decide it's time for him to go to a regular school for the fifth grade instead of being homeschooled. All his life Auggie has seen the shocked expressions and heard the whispers his appearance generates, and he has his coping strategies. He knows that except for how he looks, he's a normal kid. What he experiences is typical middle school—the good and the bad. Meanwhile, his beautiful sister is starting high school and having her own problems. She's finding that friendships change and, though it makes her feel guilty, she likes not being labeled as Auggie's sister. Multiple people tell this story, including Auggie, two of his new school friends, his sister, and his sister's former best friend. Palacio has an exceptional knack for writing realistic conversation and describing the thoughts and emotions of the characters. Everyone grows and develops as the story progresses, especially the middle school students. This is a fast read and would be a great discussion starter about love, support, and judging people on their appearance. A well­written, thought­provoking book .—Nancy P. Reeder, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia, SC ­­Nancy P. Reeder (Reviewed February 1, 2012) (School Library Journal, vol 57, issue 14, p130)

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Stargirl Amazon $17 gr 5­10 link [Already in HS collection] * Starred Review */ Newbery­winning Spinelli spins a magical and heartbreaking tale from the stuff of high school. Eleventh­grader Leo Borlock cannot quite believe the new student who calls herself Stargirl . Formerly home­schooled, Stargirl comes to their Arizona high school with a pet rat and a ukulele, wild clothes and amazing habits. She sings "Happy Birthday" to classmates in the lunchroom, props a small glass vase with a daisy on her desk each class, and reenergizes the cheerleading squad with her boundless enthusiasm. But Stargirl even cheers for the opposing team. She's so threatening to the regular ways of her fellows that she's shunned. No one will touch her or speak to her—or applaud her success when she wins a state speech tournament. Leo's in love with her, but finds that if he's with her, he's shunned, too. She loves him enough to try to fit in, but when that fails spectacularly, she illuminates the spring school dance like a Roman candle and disappears. The desert—old bones, flowering cactus, scented silence—is a living presence here. So is the demon of conformity, a teen monster of what's normal, a demon no less hideous because it's so well internalized in us all. Leo chooses normalcy over star stuff, but looking back as an adult he finds Stargirl's presence in a hundred different ways in his own and in his former classmates' lives. Once again Spinelli takes his readers on a journey where choices between the self and the group must be made, and he is wise enough to show how hard they are, even when sweet. (Fiction. 11­14) (Kirkus Reviews, June 15, 2000)

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Counting by 7s Amazon $11 gr 5­10 link Already in collection * Starred Review */ Gr 5 – 8 — Twelve­year­old Willow Chase lived with her adoptive parents in Bakersfield, California. There in the midst of the high desert, she grew a garden in her backyard, her sanctuary. She was excited about starting a new school, hoping this time she might fit in, might find a friend. Willow had been identified in preschool as highly gifted, most of the time causing confusion and feelings of ineptness in her teachers. Now at her new school she is accused of cheating because no one has ever finished the state proficiency test in just 17 minutes, let alone gotten a perfect score. Her reward is behavioral counseling with Dell Duke, an ineffectual counselor with organizational and social issues of his own. She does make a friend when Mai Nguyen brings her brother, Quang­ha, to his appointment, and their lives begin to intertwine when Willow's parents are killed in an auto accident. For the second time in her life she is an orphan, forced to find a "new normal." She is taken in temporarily by Mai's mother, who must stay ahead of Social Services. While Willow sees herself as just an observer, trying to figure out the social norms of regular family life, she is actually a catalyst for change, bringing together unsuspecting people and changing their lives forever. The narration cleverly shifts among characters as the story evolves. Willow's philosophical and intellectual observations contrast with Quang­ha's typical teenage boy obsessions and the struggles of a Vietnamese family fighting to live above the poverty level. Willow's story is one of renewal, and her journey of rebuilding the ties that unite people as a family will stay in readers' hearts long after the last page.—Cheryl Ashton, Amherst Public Library, OH ­­Cheryl Ashton (Reviewed September 1, 2013) (School Library Journal, vol 59, issue 9, p148)

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Kindness for weakness Amazon $14 gr 8+ Link * Starred Review */ Gr 8 Up — In this gut­wrenching narrative of loneliness and anger, disillusion and hope, 15­year­old James desperately wants to reconnect with his estranged older brother, Louis, and agrees to deliver drugs to several clients. When he is arrested, he is abandoned by Louis and sent to a juvenile detention facility where intimidation, abuse, and violence among guards and inmates are daily occurrences. As James struggles to find his own voice and reconcile his feelings about his negligent brother and mother, he begins to realize that everyone can make choices about how they live and treat others. James is comforted by letters from a favorite English teacher, reading Jack London's The Sea Wolf , and the encouragement of a guard who teaches him to lift weights. In a climactic confrontation, he sheds his passive demeanor and attacks a cruel guard who is relentlessly punishing a gay

inmate friend. In retaliation, James is brutally beaten by two guards. The unexpected intervention of a staff nurse brings paramedics who airlift James to a hospital and to a "second chance." Despite the harsh, stark circumstances of his broken home and the upstate New York detention center, James becomes more than a survivor. His nonaggressive disposition provokes contempt but enables him to see more clearly vulnerabilities and injustices around him. Like Shavonne in Goodman's Something Like Hope (Delacorte, 2010), James must set his own course in life and find supportive adults. Gripping action, gritty dialogue, vivid characters, and palpable tension permeate the brief chapters of James's powerful, honest, compelling narrative.—Gerry Larson, formerly at Durham School of the Arts, NC ­­Gerry Larson (Reviewed June 1, 2013) (School Library Journal, vol 59, issue 6, p124)

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Goodbye Stranger Amazon $14 gr 5­9 Link Already in collectio n * Starred Review */ Gr 6 – 9 — Ah, seventh grade! A year when your friends transform inexplicably, your own body and emotions perplex you, and the world seems fraught with questions, and the most confusing ones of all concern the nature of love. Stead focuses on Bridge Barsamian, her best girlfriends, and her newest friend Sherm—a boy who is definitely not her boyfriend (probably). They're navigating the shoals of adolescence on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Emily has suddenly developed a figure that attracts a lot of attention, Tabitha is an increasingly committed human rights activist, and Bridge has taken to wearing a headband with black cat's ears for reasons that are unclear even to her. The seventh graders aren't the only characters working out relationships. There are married parents and divorced parents and then there's Sherm's grandfather who has suddenly left his wife of 50 years and moved to New Jersey. There's also a mysterious character whose Valentine's Day is doled out in second­person snippets interspersed within the rest of the story. Love is serious, but Stead's writing isn't ponderous. It's filled with humor, delightful coincidences, and the sorts of things (salacious cell phone photos, lunchroom politics, talent show auditions) that escalate in ways that can seem life­shattering to a 13­year­old. The author keeps all her balls in the air until she catches them safely with ineffable grace. VERDICT An immensely satisfying addition for Stead's many fans.—Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Library, NY ­­Miriam Lang Budin (Reviewed May 1, 2015) (School Library Journal, vol 61, issue 5, p116)

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All rise for the honorable Perry T. Cook

Amazon $13 gr 5­8 Link * Starred Review */ Gr 5 – 7 — Eleven­year­old Perry's home life is like that of most kids his age: morning ritual, school, dinner with his mom, and games with his extended family. Unlike other kids, however, Perry lives at the Blue River Co­Ed Correctional Facility, where he's stayed since birth with his mother, Jessica. Nearing the end of her sentence, Jessica is up for parole, and she and Perry are eager to start a new life on the outside. Opposing Jessica's parole is the county's ambitious district attorney, Tom VanLeer, stepfather of Perry's best friend. VanLeer is outraged that a child was raised in a prison and demands that Perry live with the VanLeers while the case is sorted out. Perry knows he has traded a prison that feels like home for a home that feels like a prison. He resolves to reunite with his mother and have her appeal granted. Connor subtly conveys Perry's restrained anger over being torn from his Blue River family (for instance, the boy refers to objects in his foster home as "the VanLeer closet" or "a VanLeer towel"). Perry is a memorable protagonist whose unusual upbringing gives him an understanding of and faith in human nature that brings out the best in everyone around him. He's a perfect foil for the superficial morality of VanLeer, who is no match for Perry's integrity when the boy confronts the adult on his duplicity, declaring, "Your word is no good." Rich characterizations give the novel its big heart: Jessica, Big Ed, and the other Blue River inmates are nuanced, vivid characters whose stories of perseverance after tragedy embody the novel's themes of redemption,

hope, and community. VERDICT This beautifully written work will send readers' spirits soaring.—Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY ­­Marybeth Kozikowski (Reviewed December 1, 2015) (School Library Journal, vol 61, issue 12, p100)

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Out of my mind Amazon $13 gr 4­6 link Already in collectio n * Starred Review */ Gr 4–6— Born with cerebral palsy, Melody, 10, has never spoken a word. She is a brilliant fifth grader trapped in an uncontrollable body. Her world is enhanced by insight and intellect, but gypped by physical limitations and misunderstandings. She will never sing or dance, talk on the phone, or whisper secrets to her friends. She's not complaining, though; she's planning and fighting the odds. In her court are family, good neighbors, and an attentive student teacher. Pitted against her is the "normal" world: schools with limited resources, cliquish girls, superficial assumptions, and her own disability. Melody's life is tragically complicated. She is mainly placed in the special­ed classroom where education means being babysat in a room with replayed cartoons and nursery tunes. Her supportive family sets her up with a computer. She learns the strength of thumbs as she taps on a special keyboard that finally lets her "talk." When she is transitioned into the regular classroom, Melody's undeniable contribution enables her class to make it to the national quiz team finals. Then something happens that causes her to miss the finals, and she is devastated by her classmates' actions. Kids will benefit from being introduced to Melody and her gutsy, candid, and compelling story. It speaks volumes and reveals the quiet strength and fortitude it takes to overcome disabilities and the misconceptions that go with them.—Alison Follos, North Country School, Lake Placid, NY ­­Alison Follos (Reviewed March 1, 2010) (School Library Journal, vol 56, issue 3, p156)

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Harriet the spy Amazon $15 gr 3­7 Link Eleven­year­old Harriet, who wants to be a writer, writes down everything she sees, but alienates her friends in the process.

DVD Bully Amazon $11 age 12+

link Parents need to know that Bully is a no­holds­barred documentary that intimately portrays bullying victims' daily lives. While it's often heartbreaking and deals with tough issues like suicide, the movie addresses an incredibly important, timely topic ­­ bullying ­­ in a frank, relatable way that's age appropriate for teens and relevant for middle schoolers if an adult is present to guide discussion. Bully 's strong language (including a brutal, profanity­laden scene in which one boy says to another that he'll "shove a broomstick up your a­­" and "cut your face off and s­­t") initially earned it an R rating from the MPAA ­­ a rating that the production company chose not to accept, officially releasing the film as unrated. But none of the swearing is gratuitous. Like it or not, it's a realistic portrayal of what every middle schooler and older hears every day. This gives the film veracity and credibility with kids, and it will justifiably shock parents. Bully 's most challenging material isn't just the language, but the suicides. Seeing grieving parents and friends could potentially be upsetting to teens and preteens, so they should definitely watch with adults. Bully also addresses the concepts of cutting, physical abuse, and more, but in a way that presents the consequences as well as the behavior itself. Victims' parents are generally portrayed as supportive and loving, while school administrators come off in a much less positive light. Ultimately, Bully encourages kids to stand up to bullies, not stand by, and reinforces the fact that everyone can make a difference when it comes to this essential issue.

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Wonder Journal Amazon $12 na na

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Chalkboard Inspiration ­ 36 Note Cards

Amazon X2 $24

na na

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Words For Friends: 10 Assorted Blank All­Occasion Note Cards Featuring Inspirational Sayings Surrounded by Beautiful Watercolor Flowers, w/White Envelopes.

Amazon X2 $24

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Book of stamps [10 per book] Post Office

X9 $45

na na * This is totally optional. Patrons can supply their own stamps; also, chances are, students will be passing cards to people rather than mailing

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4 Pack Neon Smile Face Stress Balls With Yarn Hair For Relaxation, Party Favor Or Giveaways ­ By Kidsco

Amazon $12 na na

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50 Classics For Relaxation (2 CD)

Amazon $12 na na

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Premium Aromatherapy Mist ­ "PURE SOOTHING COMFORT" ­ Relax Your Body & Mind

Amazon $16 na na

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Ghirardelli Hot Cocoa, Premium Indulgence, 1.5­Ounce Envelopes, 15­Count

Amazon x3 $36

na na

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Art for Mindfulness: Landscapes Coloring book

Amazon x2 $8

na na

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Artlicious ­ 50 Premium Distinct Colored Pencils for Adult Coloring Books ­ Bonus Sharpener ­ Color Names on Pencils

Amazon $10 na na