Michelangelo Tangelo

A Bully No More

'Michelangelo Tangelo – A Bully No More' is the third book in the Michelangelo Tangelo series.  This story takes place in the ancient fantasy land of Fruitasia. In this story, Penelope Pear overcomes her struggle to combat peer pressure to bully another fruit being (Alice Apple), but not until she first participates in bullying Alice. After bullying Alice, she has an encounter with the Great Gardener who makes her aware that her actions were wrong and that her friends who have influenced her to bully Alice Apple are not true friends. As a result, Penelope examines her behavior, makes a courageous decision to become accountable for her actions, and discovers the meaning of true friendship. Peer pressure exists at every level and stage of development and is a factor in influencing behavior, especially in youth and adolescents. While the root causes of bullying are more than one dimensional, there is wide spread agreement that peer pressure is one factor for some who participate in bullying. Youth place a strong value on acceptance and the desire to be liked and will sometimes participate in wrongful behavior in an attempt to gain social status or to fit in. Bullying can be a vehicle to gain such acceptance even when the behavior and actions are against one’s better judgment. It takes direction, guidance, structure, self-examination and inner strength to resist negative peer pressure and the desire to exert power and control over another individual.