Although Tara is reluctant, Chrissa assures her that though they may not be best friends, they can still work together to win.

The big swim competition approaches, and she realizes that she and Tara have to work together if they want to win the relay. Chrissa decides to do a project to make people aware that many kids are bullied, which Tara begrudgingly knows to have something to do with her, and rejoins the swim team. Their happiness and confidence annoys Tara and Jayden, but the girls did not care. With her newfound confidence, Chrissa and her friends show everyone that they are happy with who they are by doing fun things such as wearing homemade painted headbands. After she tells her parents, they reply that sometimes, bullies are mean, because they want to feel better about themselves, and try to do so by insulting others and putting them down.

Rundell, her art teacher, to tell her parents about the bullying. Chrissa quits her school swim team as a result of being picked on, as well as an incident that involved her older brother, Tyler. Posters and rumors about Chrissa on the Internet are passed around by Tara and Jayden. After her suspension, Sonali apologizes to Gwen about all the mean things she has done to her, and leaves Tara and Jayden, therefore befriending Chrissa and Gwen.Īfter the incident, the bullying gets more intense. The principal suspends Tara, Sonali and Jayden - Tara for 3 days, and Sonali and Jayden for only a day. Tara lies and says that Chrissa told her about Gwen being homeless Jayden also lies and says that she didn't see anything. The other girls are sent to the principal's office by Mrs. Gwen got mad at Chrissa because she thinks that Chrissa told Tara that Gwen is homeless. She purposely did a terrible job, telling Gwen she really looks like a homeless person. Tara, Jayden, and Sonali came in and Tara offered Gwen to cut it for her. Gwen asked Chrissa to cut her bangs for her in the bathroom. Tara, Jayden, and Sonali overheard the conversation between them. Later, Gwen told Chrissa in the music room that her mom got a job and they're moving into an apartment. Gwen avoids Chrissa at first, but Chrissa later finds out that Gwen avoided her because she was homeless and ashamed of it Chrissa and Gwen then become best friends. At her new school, Chrissa has a hard time making friends and soon finds herself bullied by Tara James, Sonali Matthews and Jayden Johnson, a trio of girls called the Mean Bees.Ĭhrissa tries to befriend another girl, Gwen Thompson, who is also being bullied by Tara, Sonali and Jayden.

Chrissa Maxwell and her family move from Iowa to Minnesota in order to be closer to Chrissa's grandmother, Louise 'Nana' Hanlon, after their grandfather died.

Chrissa Stands Strong by Mary Casanova