Cliques: Eight Steps to Help Your Child Survive the Social Jungle
By Charlene C. Giannetti and Margaret Sagarese

Named by Publisher Weekly as one of the Best Books of 1997, this book both describes what your child may encounter in middle school, and advises you on how to help.  The authors address both bullying and dealing with cliques, as well as how you can go about changing things at your child’s school.

Easing the Teasing: Helping Your Child Cope with Name-Calling, Ridicule, and Verbal Bullying
By Judy S. Freedman

A great resource for parents, this book focuses on helping grade school and junior high kids deal with social problems at school. The author recommends methods of deflecting teasing and ridicule, such as positive self-talk, humor, and visualization. Definitely a more in-depth look at viable ways to help your child cope, beyond telling him or her to simply “ignore” the abuse.

Girlwise: How to Be Confident, Capable, Cool, and in Control by Julia Devillers

Really it's more of a survival guide for any teen girl, but with some great info. specifically on the social scene at school. An enjoyable read and a great resource for how to maintain your composure even in tough situations (like giving a speech in class!)

Mean Girls starring Lindsay Lohan
A movie about a new girl desperately trying to fit in and ultimately getting her revenge on the “mean girls”.

Mom, They’re Teasing Me: Helping Your Child Solve Problems
By Michael Thompson

Written by the author of Speaking of Boys, this book is due out in August of 2004. The book is designed to help parents distinguish between normal pain in their child’s social relations and more extreme and lasting trauma. Issues such as stalking, bullying, and teacher behavior are also discussed.

National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center Hotline
1-866-SAFEYOUTH (1-866-723-3968)

This hotline provides information on youth violence and can refer you to other organizations offering prevention and intervention services.

Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls
By Rachel Simmons

This is a good book to read with your daughter. The author explores why girls act cruelly in more subtle ways, from passing notes to evaluating the fashion sense of classmates. She suggests it is a result of how girls are socialized: to form friendships but never to express anger. Lots of stories from actual girls and women who have been ridiculed, excluded, or victimized.

Queen Bees and Wannabes
By Rosalind Wiseman

A great resource to learn mre about your daughter’s social life. This  books focuses on girls’ social interactions, from the roles that girls play within cliques, to how cliques influence different situations (in either good or bad ways). You’ll also find information on your role as a parent, and how your past experiences influence how you relate to your daughter.

The Roller Coaster Years: Raising Your Child Through the Maddening Yet Magical Middle School Years
By Charlene C. Giannetti and Margaret Sagarese

An overall guide to the middle school years, this book covers a wide variety of topics. You’ll find information on your middle schooler’s fears, anxiety over his or her appearance, and issues of friendship and peer pressure. Great if you want a general resource guide (as opposed to something more specifically on cliques and popularity).

Time to Tell 'Em Off! A Pocket Guide to Overcoming Peer Ridicule by Deanna Miller

This book does more than just explain the situation, it tells you how to go about fixing it. The author was a target at her school, and knows how cliques and ridiculing work in the real world. She also has lots of tips on how to stop it. If you want advice on dealing with teasing and insults, this is a good resource. Learn how to defend yourself by avoiding the victim role!