5.  "I can't go," said Nona." 
(mid-chapter break)

Oh, dear, it's time for school for Nona!  Of course she is nervous and doesn't want to go to school. Her first day is as bad as she thought!  Poor Nona, she works herself right up into a crying jag.

Belinda of course doesn't understand why she is so terrified, but then, Belinda can't conceive of being afraid of school.  Unfortunately, as Nona is being made fun of, Belinda not only doesn't step in to help, she is actually ashamed of Nona.

JOC

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 It is so hard for young children to understand the plights of other children. They can be so cruel. I don't think Belinda is intentionally mean . Pauline 

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I don’t think so either, Pauline. I think she is starting to recognize something is wrong. I have gotten the feeling through the book so far that Belinda, as the baby, was allowed to get away with a lot. And now she is discovering that she is going to be held to the same standards her brother and sister are held to.  This is probably more the fault of her parents than Belinda herself.  Or, perhaps, this is just the age children do begin to be held to a standard…?

 JOC

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Agreed.  Kids can be cruel without realizing or understanding that's what they are doing.  I think it's hard for kids to be anything other than self-centered and to look outside of themselves with any empathy.  But youth is on Belinda's side - she will mature.  Happy

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Oh I can so relate to this as unfortunately my school days were not especially wonderful memories…nor those of taking my children to school!  In fact I home educated my eldest for five years after taking him out of school due to bullying by both students AND teachers! 

 In defence of Belinda, I think for someone who hasn’t had any problems it can be difficult to understand, especially when as young as Belinda is and although I wish she didn’t feel ashamed of Nona nor help her, it is not unusual for children to sometimes react in this way. 

Lorraine

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I had a small school--8 kids in my grade until I was in 7th, and then it swelled to a whopping 52!  So the wide-spread bullying that appears to be rampant now just either didn't exist or nat the least didn't exist as badly.

I think you are right--if one has never been bullied I don't think someone can understand it, especially,  as you say, when kids are little.

JOC
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  This book actually really bothered me because of the bullying. I don't know why kids can't be nicer to each other. Yes, I was bullied. So was my Sister. (6th & 7th grades) 

 Believe it or not, our main reason for being picked on was because we chose to still play (collect) dolls past the normal age. Neither of us ever gave up our dolls. Of course by High School, no one cared about our doll collections. Kids change and grow so quickly...

 I was really pleased when Belinda had a change of heart at the end of the book, but I still think her behavior should have (caught?) by the adults much sooner.

 Dolly hugs,
 Nancy G. 

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I think it was a different time--and also a different country. So, it may not have even been noticed.
JOC