An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong 2009

Chrissa Maxwell [Sammi Hanratty] and her family move from Iowa to Minnesota to be closer to Chrissa’s grandmother, Nana Louise Hanlon [Michael Learned], after the death of Chrissa’s grandfather. At her new school, Chrissa has a hard time making friends and soon finds herself targeted by a trio of bullies known as the Mean Bees — Tara James [Adair Tishler], Sonali Matthews [Ariela Barer], and Jayden Johnson [Shelby Harmon]. The pressure builds as Chrissa struggles to fit in, while the girls’ cruel posts and rumors begin to spread online, casting a shadow over her days.

Seeking solidarity, Chrissa tries to reach out to Gwen Thompson [Kaitlyn Dever], who is also dealing with bullying. Gwen initially keeps her distance, but Chrissa learns that Gwen’s silence stems from a painful secret: she is homeless. After Chrissa promises not to reveal this, the two girls forge a strong bond, becoming best friends. Gwen shares that her mom has found a job and they’re moving into an apartment, a glimmer of hope that the two can lean on each other. The moment they open up in the music room, the Mean Bees overhear, and Gwen asks Chrissa to help her cut her bangs, hoping for a fresh start. Tara [Adair Tishler] offers to cut them but does a terrible job and cruelly tells Gwen she looks like a homeless person. Gwen accuses Chrissa of telling Tara about her situation, and the incident lands them in the principal’s office.

Mrs. Ziminsky [Joanne Baron], the school principal, suspends Tara for three days and assigns Sonali [Ariela Barer] and Jayden [Shelby Harmon] one-day suspensions after the truth about what happened comes out. Sonali publicly apologizes to Gwen and, in a quiet turn of growth, begins to repair the damage by befriending Chrissa and Gwen. The consequences of the bullying intensify as posters and online rumors continue to target Chrissa, forcing her to cope with the social fallout in addition to the everyday challenges of school life.

Guidance comes from Mrs. Rundell [Jennifer Tilly], Chrissa’s art teacher, who encourages her to tell her parents about the bullying. With her parents’ support, Chrissa learns that bullies often behave that way to feel better about themselves, and she gains the confidence to stand up for herself and others. This newfound strength empowers Chrissa to rejoin her swim team, where she and her friends begin to transform their school climate with positive energy, even as Tara’s jealousy and the others’ taunts persist.

To prove that kindness can triumph over cruelty, Chrissa and her friends wear homemade, painted headbands and take on a school project that raises awareness about the effects of bullying. Their resilience sparks a shift in the class, and the big swim relay becomes a testament to teamwork rather than rivalry. Tara, though hesitant, agrees to work with Chrissa, and together they push through to victory, culminating in a heartfelt moment of reconciliation and hugs.

The fourth-grade class eventually presents their anti-bullying project to the school, emphasizing how bullying impacts everyone and how friendship can overcome even the toughest challenges. Chrissa’s best friend from Iowa, Amanda, visits for the summer and forms new bonds with Sonali and Gwen, reminding everyone that friendships can endure across distances and difficult times. The story closes on a note of resilience, promise, and the enduring power of choosing kindness over cruelty.