Zara and the Mean Girl: The Courage of Kindness
In Zara and the Mean Girl, children will learn how to walk with Jesus when someone is unkind, and with God’s help, respond with love, grace, and courage.
When Zara’s classmate Rory is teased by Ava for having red hair, Zara wonders what she can do to help. But things don’t go as planned. Ava starts bullying Zara too. With the support of her family and friends who point her to Jesus, Zara discovers how to see the beauty in everyone’s differences and show kindness to all, even those who seem unkind.
Written by Rebekah Hannah and Jocelyn Flenders, Zara and the Mean Girl offers the assurance that Jesus is always with us, no matter what. It is the first book in the Following Jesus series that connects Scripture to real-life issues, encouraging young readers to walk with Jesus, even when life feels hard.
- A special section at the end of the book guides parents in helping their kids talk through difficult situations and trust God’s presence, love, and care.
- Children ages four to seven will be entertained by Lee Wildish’s fun, engaging illustrations that bring the characters and emotions to life.
- Teaches children and parents about the importance of kindness, empathy, and standing up for others.
“It can be difficult to know how to respond wisely when our children share about unkind behavior from others. Zara and the Mean Girl equips parents to navigate difficult peer relationships with their children. With warmth and wisdom, this story encourages conversations marked by kindness, grace, and the hope of the gospel.”
—Melissa Kruger, VP of Discipleship Programming, The Gospel Coalition
“Parents hurt when we see our kids hurting. How much more does Jesus hurt with us? I love the message behind Zara’s story—that God loves us fully and draws near to us when others are unkind. I look forward to sharing her tale of courageous kindness with my kids!”
—Kristen Wetherell, Author of Teach Me to Pray
Format: Hardcover