Destroying Avalon facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Kate McCaffrey |
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| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Genre | novel |
| Set in | Perth |
| Publisher | Fremantle Arts Centre Press |
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Publication date
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2006 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 264 |
| ISBN | 9781921064579 |
| OCLC | 7 |
Destroying Avalon is a book written in 2006 by Australian author Kate McCaffrey. It's a novel for young people. The story is about a fourteen-year-old girl named Avalon. She moves from the quiet countryside to a busy high school in the city.
In 2006, Destroying Avalon won an award. It was the top book in the "Young Adult's Books" group at the Western Australian Premier's Book Awards. Later, in 2010, the book was added to a special reading list. This list was for students taking the New South Wales HSC English exam in Australia.
Contents
Awards for Destroying Avalon
This book has won several important awards:
- Winner, Western Australian Premier's Book Awards, 2007.
- Notable Book, Children's Book Council of Australia, 2007.
- Winner, West Australian Young Readers' Book Award, 2007.
Understanding Cyberbullying Today
Cyberbullying is a big problem that affects many young people. A study in Australia found that 42% of girls aged 12 to 15 reported being bullied online. This included being scared or put down through the internet or phone messages. This shows a negative side of new technology. The book Destroying Avalon helps us understand cyberbullying. It explores how this new type of bullying can be very hurtful.
How Cyberbullying is Different
For young people who are always online, cyberbullying can happen all the time. With traditional bullying, victims might feel safe once they get home. But with phones and the internet, the harassment can be constant. It can feel overwhelming and very damaging.
One reason cyberbullying is growing is how young people use technology. Adults might use the internet for banking or emails. Teenagers, however, use it mainly to socialize. They feel they can't turn off their phones or stay offline. If they do, they might feel left out by their friends. Also, traditional bullying often stops when school ends. Cyberbullying, though, can go on all night and through the weekends.
The Anonymity of Online Bullying
Another key part of cyberbullying is that bullies can hide. The internet allows kids to be mean without showing their faces. These kids might not bully someone in person. They might not want to see the victim's pain or get caught.
Cyberbullying, especially in chat rooms, can make people act like a mob. It can make kids get carried away because everyone else is doing it. They think no one knows who they are.
Consequences of Cyberbullying
What many bullies don't realize is that they can be found out. Everything you do online leaves a trace. If someone makes serious threats, they can get into trouble with the law. Laws are always changing to deal with online crimes.
Sadly, many victims of bullying, both traditional and online, suffer in silence. They are often afraid of more bullying. They might also not believe that anyone can help them. This secrecy allows bullies to keep hurting others.
Cyberbullying in Destroying Avalon
In the novel, Avalon becomes the target of online harassment. She experiences many types of cyberbullying. The bullying is constant, happening day and night, even on weekends. Avalon also has to deal with public teasing at school. Students mock her openly because of the online abuse.
Why Kate McCaffrey Wrote the Book
Before becoming a full-time writer, Kate McCaffrey was a high school teacher. She worked at a technology school. There, she first saw cyberbullying starting to happen. Kids were using email and internet accounts to put down other kids. Teachers had to learn more about computers to keep up with the students' advanced skills.
McCaffrey shared what inspired her. She said that one day, she saw a TV show. A young American girl was talking about what she went through at her school. The girl spoke about others creating websites to spread rumors about her. She also got constant threatening emails and text messages. The girl felt there was no escape. After hearing this, McCaffrey stopped working on her other book. She quickly wrote down the main ideas for Destroying Avalon.
McCaffrey also wrote about her main goal for the book. She wanted to raise awareness about cyberbullying. She hoped the book would make people realize how serious the problem is. She wanted teachers, parents, and leaders to ask, "What can we do about it?" She hoped for new education programs. She also wanted ways to make it harder for bullies to hide online. She wanted people to be held responsible for their actions. She also wished parents would set stricter rules for their kids' phone use. Her goal was to bring attention to the issue and find solutions. She felt that at the time, there wasn't a clear solution, and the problem could get much worse.
