Girls in Charge (15 page)

1. Don't get angry with her. Very likely she's just being herself, not trying to make you feel bad.

2. Focus on your strengths. We are sure you have great qualities and talents. Work on stuff that you enjoy, whether it's music or sports or bird-watching. You'll feel less jealous—and happier—if you're following your own path.

3. Be honest with her, in a kind way. If you feel left out, it's OK to say so. People don't always notice when a friend's feelings are hurt. It's fine to ask her to be more sensitive, but remember that the solution to the jealousy problem is you!

How can I get a question answered on the Pink Locker Society blog?

We receive A LOT of questions, but you always have a chance! Go to
pinklockersociety.org
and submit your question on the Ask the PLS page.

It's located here:
www.pinklockersociety.org/ask/ask.html
.

On that page, you'll also find a bunch of already-answered questions, including these:

• What can you do if your boobs are too big?

• I'm the tallest girl in my class. Will I ever stop growing?

• Do periods hurt?

After submitting your question, check the PLS blog page to see if it gets answered.

It's here:
blog.pinklockersociety.org
.

And while you're there, please give the Pink Locker world some of your fabulous advice!

 

Spread the Kindness!

In
Girls in Charge,
Jemma helps Taylor deal with a bully even though Jemma isn't exactly Taylor's BFF.

If you see someone being bullied, tell a grown-up. Even better, consider escorting the person away from the situation. Just say “Come on. Let's go.” All of a sudden, the bully is alone without a victim. And you have done a good deed.

These Web sites offer good ideas about how to reduce bullying. Check them out!

Kind Campaign

Finding Kind
is a movie and a movement. Two twenty-something women traveled across the United States to interview girls about meanness and bullying. Now the filmmaker duo wants girls everywhere to take a pledge to be nicer.

www.kindcampaign.com

Brigitte Berman

High school student Brigitte Berman became an antibullying advocate to help other young people. Brigitte, once a bullying victim herself, wrote a bullying survival guide and often takes her show on the road and visits with school groups.

www.doriewitt.com

Stop Bullying

This federal government site offers specialized advice for kids, teens, and even adults. The bottom line: Don't suffer in silence.

www.stopbullying.gov

 

Be Strong, Girls!

The Pink Locker Society characters are each strong in their own ways. But what is strength? You can be physically strong, like when you're fit and healthy. You can also show you're strong when you do something challenging, like running a race.

It takes a strong girl to do what's right, like when Jemma helped Taylor with her bullying situation. And you can gain strength when you learn how to take charge and become a leader.

Want to be a strong girl and someday a strong woman? These groups can show you how it's done!

Best Bones Forever

Let's start with physical strength and health. What you do (and eat) when you're young affects how strong your bones will be for your whole life. Did you know that dancing is good for your bones?

www.bestbonesforever.gov

Girl Scouts

Being a Girl Scout means a lot more than selling cookies. Through fun activities, the program builds confidence and inspires girls to think like leaders.

www.girlscouts.org/forgirls

Girls on the Run

Like Jemma, thousands of girls start running every year. Girls on the Run helps girls train to run a 5K race (about three miles). Think you can't possibly run that far? Oh, yes you can!

www.girlsontherun.org

 

Also by Debra Moffitt

Only Girls Allowed

Best Kept Secret

The Forever Crush

About the Author

Debra Moffitt lives in a house full of boys—with three sons and one husband. She was a newspaper reporter for more than ten years and is now the kids' editor of
KidsHealth.org
. That means she gets paid to write about stuff kids care about, like pimples, crushes, and puberty. She'd like to thank all the girls who visit
www.pinklockersociety.org
. You've asked over 30,000 questions about growing up and have given tons of kind, thoughtful advice to one another. That's thinking pink!

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

GIRLS IN CHARGE
. Copyright © 2011 by Debra Moffitt. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.stmartins.com

e-ISBN 9781429984591

First Edition: September 2011