When Chelsea gets bullied for speaking out against some violent teens, she decides to take a vow of silence. Kidzworld reviews a book about bullying at its worst - Speechless by Hannah Harrington.
The Hate Crime
Ever since she became best friends with Kristin, the school’s Queen Bee, Chelsea has been part of the popular crowd. Until the party that changes it all. She walked in on two guys kissing and couldn’t wait to announce this juicy bit of gossip the rest of the party. Noah is gay. But when she spills the beans, she doesn’t get the reaction she was hoping for. Immediately, two jocks take off after Noah and his boyfriend and beat Noah to pulp at the local corner store.
The Vow of Silence
Chelsea had no idea that her big mouth would result in a hate crime that would nearly cost a boy his life. So after she tells the police which guys were responsible for the attack, she takes a vow of silence. Unfortunately, Chelsea’s honesty with the police gets her in trouble with the popular crowd at school. Not only do they refuse to be her friend for ratting the jocks out, but they’re making her life a living nightmare - vandalizing her locker and car, calling her horrible names, and treating her like she is less than nothing.
The True Meaning of Friendship
Luckily, Chelsea meets Asha, a not-so-popular girl with a kind heart who doesn’t judge her even though she runs in the same circles as Noah. Asha introduces Chelsea to a whole new life - a new job, new friends, and a crush worthy of her affections. Even though she was bullied for an entire month, it may have been worth it to discover the true meaning of friendship.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve ever wondered what people who are bullied feel like, Speechless is the book you should read. It explores all of the horrors that so many people face on a daily basis and how nearly everyone, including teachers, simply turn a blind eye to it. It’s no wonder kids and teens are scared to speak out or stand up to anything. This is the type of book that should be read and discussed in classrooms so that kids - both bullies and victims - can see the horrible consequences of bullying. If Chelsea hadn’t had a friend to lean on, who knows what might have happened.
Have Your Say
Have you ever been bullied? Tell us about it in our comment section below!
