Preller’s book Bystander serves as a great tool to discuss empathy, peer pressure, bullying and the bystander effect with middle school kids.
Eric is the new kid in seventh grade. Griffin, the cool, confident and popular kid makes Eric an offer of friendship. But something isn’t right about Griffin. He always seems to be in the middle of bad things. And if Griffin doesn’t like you, you’d better watch your back. As Eric gets drawn deeper into Griffin’s dark world, he begins to see the truth about Griffin. Will Eric be able to live with himself if he stays a bystander? Eric wants to break away and do the right thing, but he quickly goes from being a bystander to the bully’s next victim.
