The “Classroom, a Laboratory of Stereotypes?” When Children’s Literature Questions the Motives of School Bullying

School bullying often begins with demeaning nicknames. Students use socio-cultural stereotypes about their physique or behaviour to rename their target. Contemporary children’s literature offers novels telling stories of school bullying. These novels emphasize the role of stereotypes in the implementation of discrimination and violence associated with harassment. This article demonstrates how these novels explain the operation of school bullying to the young reader, demonstrating the authors’ interest in preventative pedagogy.