Beat the Band Discussion Question #3

        Compare and contrast Helen with Prudence.

Five Great Facts About Bullying

    Cooper Redmond has feelings mainly towards two girls in the story, Prudence Nash and Helen Harriwick, both of which are extremely different in appearance, but similar underneath. For as long as anyone can remember, Helen Harriwick has been picked on and called names like "Hot Dog Helen" but nobody is sure why; they all just follow the crowd. Prudence seems to be the ring leader of the crowd of bullies as she is usually the first one to call her "Hot Dog Helen" in any situation. Cooper has feelings for both girls for different reasons. As stated in the book, Prudence has a great body and a strangely attractive attitude, consisting mostly of snarky comments and put-downs. Helen, on the other hand, always wears baggy clothing, probably because she has low confidence from all of the rudeness and hatred towards her, but has a very soft, kind personality that is warm and welcoming. But even though Prudence is nothing but rude to her now, she was not always that way. In fact, Prudence and Helen used to be best friends in eighth grade until Prudence claimed Helen stole her boyfriend after he left Prudence for someone else. Prudence, even after learning that Helen did not steal him, continued to call Helen names because it was making herself more popular. While Helen is telling this story to Cooper, she says, "Back then Prudence and I did everything together... We had everything in common: bands, the boys we liked, and even pizza toppings..I just think all of the attention got to her head and made her go crazy"(Calame,335). Helen and Prudence shared a lot in common together, and they probably still do. There is only one difference: Prudence is popular and Helen is not. This one difference, though seemingly small actually makes all the difference. Because of Prudence's popularity, her confidence rises and she spends more time trying to impress others by bullying people like Helen and improving her appearance. And Helen is left, alone and depressed, in her baggy clothing and barely brushed hair with no friends because people are afraid to associate with her. Helen and Prudence, seemingly polar opposites on the outside actually have tons in common. This connects greatly to the theme of not judging a book by it's cover. If people got to know the real Prudence and the real Helen, not just the people they see bullying or being bullied, they would see that they are the same person underneath.

This is a Great Segment From an Episode of the Tyra Banks Show About Bullies and Victims of Bullying.