Bully

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, bullying, emotional abuse, child abuse, substance use, and cursing.

In Bully, Tate’s journey explores the need to develop emotional resilience and set boundaries with one’s peers, both of which are important lessons characteristic of the adolescent years—a period fraught with conflict, emotional intensity, drama, and major life decisions. From the outset, Tate faces relentless bullying from Jared, her former best friend, who has transformed into her bully after spending a traumatic summer away with his abusive father. The years of emotional and psychological anguish that Tate has endured because of this reversal are also complicated by the fact that she does not understand the reasons for Jared’s transformation. Burdened by her memories of a kinder Jared, she has delayed a full confrontation with him for years, instead relying on drastic forms of avoidance—such as fleeing to a study abroad program in France. Only when she decides to face the issue head-on and takes steps to protect herself does she finally learn the hard lesson that she is not obligated to tolerate bullying and abuse. 

Tate’s inner resolve becomes apparent when she punches Jared’s malicious sidekick,