Please Stop Laughing at Me

A Look into Bullying Please Stop Laughing at Me by Jodee Blanco is an inspirational autobiography about how she was severely bullied physically and socially throughout all elementary, middle, and high school. She explains her struggles dealing with bullies and how she coped. It gives you a look into what it means to be the outcast and how bullying has been mishandled by the mental health community.

“You can learn how to turn your pain into purpose and make a difference in the world, or you can allow it to extinguish the light inside you” (213) “Reasons: You’re prettier than me. You’re all prettier than me. Bang-Bang-You’re Dead! You’re smarter than me. You’re all smarter than me. Bang-Bang-You’re dead! You’re better than me. You’re all better than me. Bang-Bang-You’re dead! Now I’m the prettiest. Now I’m the smartest. Now I’m the best, now I’m the best. Now I’m the loneliest…” (166)

“I’m aware that being different is a social death warrant when you’re fourteen. I didn’t choose to be different any more than anyone chooses to be gay or tall. You don’t get to pick who you are in this life, but you can decide what you want to become.” (159)

Please Stop Laughing at Me covers many important topics. It covers school bullying, being misunderstood by doctors/specialists, and how kids don’t need to be popular to fit in. Jodee was severely bullied all throughout elementary all the way to her senior year. The schools’ principals, teachers, and counselors didn’t seem to help out very much stating “kids will be kids”. Jodee’s parents think that she may have some issues because she has being out casted by her peers. They take her to a specialist and do many tests to see if anything is wrong. The specialist tries to aid her, but it doesn’t seem to help. All Jodee’s life she wanted to be that head cheerleader who dated the football captain, and smoked cigarettes between classes. She tried so hard to be one of the popular kids. She befriended some the summer before seventh grade but soon she realized that she isn’t like them. She doesn’t want to be mean to people for no reason. Once the popular kids realize this, they start bullying her for no reason. Jodee emphasizes that there is a friend for everyone; you don’t have to be popular.

Blanco, Jodee, and Jodee Blanco. Please Stop Laughing at Me: One Woman's Inspirational Story.

Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2003. Print.