One Year Blogversary Event: "The Cardboard Girl Gives Bullying the Flick" Review and Giveaway! - CLOSED!

Bullying is something that I really worry about. I don't want my children to be the victim of bullying and also don't want them to be bullies themselves. Right now Sam is safe with me at home so I don't have to worry about that with him. I do worry about Bella though. She is in the first grade and thankfully hasn't had any big problems with bullying... yet. We recently received the book "The Cardboard Girl Gives Bullying The Flick" written by Marika Spaseska. Bella and I have been reading this together at night. This book has a very important message about bullying and I am happy to have read it with my daughter. In this book Erin is a victim of bullying by a girl named Brooke. Cora, the cardboard girl, helps Erin to solve her bullying problem. This is a great book to share with your child! You can read the synopsis below:

SYNOPSIS: 'The Cardboard Girl: Gives Bullying the flick.'

Meet Cora, who has curly, red hair, wears a cardboard outfit and uses her magical cubby house and special powers to make a difference in children's lives mostly within her primary school environment. She heals, dances and sings. Through her love of magic, Cora is determined to help kids in pain and uses the magical realms of her tree house and cardboard outfit to share her powers and inspire others.

Cora's parents didn't wrap her younger brother or her in cotton wool nor smother them. They were virtually free to explore, use their imagination and achieve things in their lives. At times her mum worried about Cora spending too much time in her cubby house with other kids and not enough time doing her homework!

Cora’s aim was to fulfill her role as a healer by helping other kids better deal with problems they face like accepting a step-family and the loss of a pet and show how she turns things around for them.

At least, that's what she thought.

Turns out, she couldn't have been more wrong.

There was a bully at school!

There was a girl.

And during the battle, there seemed to be no light.

The girl was Erin, dark-haired, skinny, sensitive and kind, she will touch your heart.

Somehow, during school time, Cora gravitates towards Erin and is shocked to witness her being bullied by some girls, Brooke, especially.

Brooke, who is in the same class as Erin and Cora, has black, bobbed hair bluntly cut and is often untidy with her clothes and appearance. Brooke is known to have dirty fingernails and clothes.

Since Brooke has never been paid much attention or care by her parents, being in a family of six children, she didn't really understand the hurt she was causing Erin. Infact, Brooke kind of felt good bossing Erin around as it gave her some control and power over someone, instead of always being bossed around by her family. What was the problem with that?

Well, for one, Cora had a problem with that! Cora shows up at Erin's side at many times when she is being bullied and tries to challenge Brooke to stop her bullying.

Erin show's us how she feel's and act's when bullied at school - the confused thoughts, regret, hurt and embarrassment. Erin takes us through many scenes in the classroom and playground where we see horrible acts of bullying occur, how she struggles to deal with it, who to trust and who to tell.

Erin’s lawyer mum and father were often too busy to notice her suffering at school. She knew they loved her but didn’t feel she could tell them about being bullied. They often went out and left her brother and her in the care of a babysitter.

Cora and Erin's friendship unfolds through a series of short meetings, usually during the act's of bullying.

Cora and Erin are somewhat trapped. Erin has only her to depend on. Cora feels limited by what she can do for Erin as Erin asks her not to interfere to stop the bullying as she's scared she may make things worse for her.

Cora continues to help other kids in need, unveiling a world like no other. She shows kids that when bad things happen they can switch their mind and turn it into a positive and happy experience.

Cora gains alot of support and strength from her mum, as well as her best friend, Beth, discussing Erin's situation with them and getting ideas on how to better deal with her.

Erin becomes Cora's new mission to heal, despite Erin's resistance to her friendship and help. Cora tries to support Erin by showing her that she is there for her and encouraging her not to accept bullying. Erin is surprised by Cora's help, as she's unsure about who to trust.

Erin does not have the strength to face Brooke and to turn her situation around. Erin becomes frustrated at times that everyone around her made bullying sound so easy. Saying 'no' to Brooke or to tell her to stop bullying her was not easy. She was terrified of Brooke and really hurt to see some of her 'friends' at school also turn against her.

Brooke continues to invade Erin's privacy, doing all sorts of naughty things to embarrass her in front of the class or their peers and threatening her. Erin persists with having muddled thoughts about being bullied at school and what to do about it. Whether or not to tell her parents, the teacher or friends.

When Erin does tell her busy mum about being bullied she does not find her advice helpful. According to her mum, she should tell the bully 'to stop' and all would be fine. Sometimes, adults seemed to think it was so easy to solve kid's problems, Erin thought!

Telling her teacher doesn't work for Erin, either. Infact, it only makes the situation worse, leading to a nasty scene inflicted by Brooke.

As time ticks down to an explosive detonation, during which Brooke and her 'helpers' commit a horrible act of bullying on Erin. The situation becomes personal for Cora and she is shaken to the core when she sees Erin being bullied in horrible ways.

Cora begins to question if she can actually help Erin. Somehow, she also begins to doubt her connection to the magic within her tree house and the flow of earth magic. She has further talks with her mum and her best friend, doubting her ability to help Erin.

But, nothing held Cora down for long. That had always been her way and she wasn’t going to change. She felt compelled to help kids, sometimes at risk to her own happiness. She couldn't understand or accept the nasty things Brooke unleashed on Erin. Erin was fragile and in need of protection.

Could one girl and her secret, healing powers change everything?

Eventually, bitterness storm's in for Erin. Then anger. Then the fight back.

Though scared, together with Cora, she stand's up for herself by facing Brooke and demands that she stop bullying her or else she is prepared to follow through on further talks with their teacher or take other steps.

Cora persists and uses her magical powers to help Erin find her wings to deal with those who are bullying her. Erin's had enough bullying and is determined to find her own path and become her own woman.

Cora put's things right, so come along with her and learn that bullying is wrong and what you can do to stop it.

Erin is a girl you will admire for her courage in dealing with being bullied. Cora is fun, creative and brave. She will take you into a world that you will find strange, but exciting and so beautiful.

BUY IT:

You can purchase "The Cardboard Girl Gives Bullying The Flick" here!

WIN IT:

Thanks to the author, one lucky Adventures of a Thrifty Mommy reader will win a copy of "The Cardboard Girl Gives Bullying The Flick"! (US Residents Only)

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This giveaway ends November 3, 2011 at 11:59 pm. Good luck!

* Lucky winner or winners will be selected through True Random Number Generator.* If your profile page does not show your email address, please include your email address in your comment. For example: adventuresofathriftymommy@gmail.com -- so that I may get in touch with you if you are selected as the giveaway winner. * Each giveaway winner has 48 hours to respond to my email about getting the awesome giveaway prize to him/her. If the winner does not reply to my email within 48 hours, I will choose another winner using the True Random Number Generator. * I do contact each winner via email

Disclosure: I received the products mentioned above for this review. No monetary compensation was received by me. This is my completely honest opinion above and may differ from yours. Because I do not directly ship most giveaways from my home, I cannot be held liable for lost or not received products.