Blubber by Judy Blume

Although this books was published in 1974, it still has relevance today. Fifth-grader Jill becomes one the class bullies along with pack leader Wendy. The object of their merciless teasing? An overweight girl named Linda. After Linda gives a report on whales, Wendy convinces the class to call Linda 'Blubber.' She is teased about her lunch which includes Hostess cupcakes and is teased when she changes her lunch to just celery, cheese and few saltine crackers.

At Halloween Jill goes out with her best friend Tracy Wu. They egg the inside of the mailbox of man they think hates children but the man snaps their picture and Linda (Blubber) threatens to tell who they were even though they wore pillow cases over their heads.

Wendy's teasing of Linda includes lifting her dress to show the boys Linda's underwear, having one girl hold Linda in the bathroom while another stripped her (term for taking the blubber off a whale), tripping her, leaving Linda to sing an embarrassing word alone in the class performance, and forcing Linda to eat what Wendy said was a chocolate covered ant-causing Linda to throw up. Linda never tells for fear that it will only make things worse.

When Jill's parents receive a letter from the messy mailbox victim, Jill tells Wendy who swears Linda (Blubber) is the tattletale. Jill decides Linda deserves a trial but Wendy insists the accused does not get a lawyer for representation. When Jill says that without a lawyer for Linda (Blubber) she won't participate, Wendy says she is turning into a chicken like her chink friend, Tracy. At that point Jill becomes the target of the teasing, being cornered in the bathroom by Wendy and her friends, sitting alone at lunch.

Soon after another one of Wendy's directives to the other girls to pick on Jill, Jill asks the other girls why they do as Wendy says and don't they have minds of their own? Jill makes friends with another girl in class and her life goes on a little quieter.
*the two girls pee in the yard when no bathroom is close by
*the Asian character is called 'chink'
*Jill's mom locks herself in the bathroom to smoke although she is trying to quit
*some cursing, Jill's parents say it is okay at home
For girls age 8-11 Grades 3-6