"Boys Will Be Boys" is a children's picture book addressing the bullying that arises due to stereotypes and deviations from them. It teaches that, even though bullying does occur, one friend can make a huge difference and that some of the best acceptance is that which we give to ourselves.
John has different interests than the boys in his school, and the other children mock him because of it. As time goes on, he learns to suppress who he really is in order to avoid being bullied, but in the process he compromises his own happiness.
When Kate stands up for John and becomes his friend, accepting him for who he is and supporting him in his uniqueness, John learns that he is fine the way he is, and it is the bullies who have something to change. In the end, he even learns to stand up to the bullies for the sake of another.