Blubber

Blume, J.  (1974).  Blubber.  New York:  Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
This book is on the 100 Most Challenged Books list.

Exposition:  Jill is a fifth grader who, along with her friends Tracy, Caroline, and Wendy begin bullying a girl named Linda. Jill and her best friend, Tracy, put rotten eggs in the mailbox of a neighbor.

Conflict:  Jill and her friends are bullying, both emotionally and physically, a fellow student named Linda.  The neighbor finds out who put the rotten eggs in the mailbox and everyone suspects Linda told on them.  Eventually, Jill begins being bullied by Linda, Wendy, and Caroline.

Rising Action:  Jill, Caroline, Tracy, and Wendy begin calling a fellow classmate blubber.  On Halloween night, Tracy and Jill put rotten eggs in the mailbox of a neighbor named Mr. Machinist.  Mr. Machinist is bound and determined to find out who the culprits were.  The bullying of Linda continues and escalates to physical bullying.  Mr. Machinist finds out that it was Tracy and Jill that put the rotten eggs in his mailbox.  The girls are punished for the incident.  The girls suspect that it was Linda that told on them, but then begin to suspect that maybe it was Wendy and Caroline.  During lunch, the class decides to hold a mock trial to determine if it was Linda that told on Jill and Tracy.  When Linda doesn't have a "lawyer" to represent her, Jill defies Wendy by calling off the trial.

Climax:  The day after the trial, Jill is confronted by Linda and Wendy where they begin to call her names and pick on her.  Now it is Jill that is being bullied.

Falling Action:  Jill speaks with her mother about what is going on at school.  Her mother advises her to laugh at herself. 

Resolution:  When students begin to make fun of her, Jill is able to poke fun at the comments and the bullying begins to slow.  Although Jill is no longer friends with Wendy and Caroline, she realizes she'll always be best friends with Tracy.

As I've said before, Judy Blume does a great job with dialogue.  The dialogue gives a feel for the severity of the bullying that is being conducted.  Even though this story was written back in the 1970s, the theme is one that is familiar.  Bullying has come to the forefront the past several years and this book can still resonate with students.