CJ, Eva, Zoe, Jax, and Ryan are all thrilled to be working on the school play...until CJ turns on Eva! CJ's diva-fied behavior makes Eva's life miserable, and her friends uncomfortable. With the help of their school counselor, CJ's friends discover that they have the power to stand up to CJ's bullying. Together they learn how to be upstanding bystanders - and transform their school environment to a place where kind actions take center stage. Shield Up! also includes a Note to Readers with even more information about bullying, and practical strategies for standing up to bullying behavior and practicing kindness. Are you ready to Shield Up?

Author Biography

Marcella Marino Craver, MSEd, CAS, recently started a new career as a school counselor after nineteen years as a school psychologist in New Jersey and New York public schools. She is the author of Learn to Study: A Comprehensive Guide to Academic Success and Chillax! How Ernie Learns to Chill Out, Relax, and Take Charge of His Anger. Chillax! was awarded the Mom's Choice Gold Award for Juvenile Books - Self-Improvement and the Gold Moonbeam Children's Book Award for Comic Books/Graphic Novels. Her next book, Joey Daring Caring and Curious: How a Mischief Maker Uncovers Unconditional Love, is due out in fall 2014. Marcella lives with her wonderful husband, their two musically inclined teenagers, and a mischievous cat, who all fill her life with love, music, and laughter. Amerigo Pinelli lives in the heart of Naples, among narrow streets and churches. A long time ago, when he was a child, he met a pencil, and from that moment on he started to play, joke, fight, and make peace with it. He dreams of becoming a cartoon character...but some say that he already is. Since the birth of his daughter Chiara his life has been overfilled with color and overfilled with joy. He is over the moon! You can find him chasing pigeons on the roof when the sun climbs on Vesuvio. Ask his wife, Giulia.