I Have to Speak Loudly

Hi everyone,

So I know it is Sunday, and not my usual day to post, but when I saw this, I had to respond. Another author has called on me to do so, and I'll answer that call because I honestly have something to say.

Here's the story.

Six years ago, I had the privilege of working as a substitute teacher for a local middle school. During that time, I had the opportunity to read a lot of young adult literature. One of the books I happened to pick up was Speak by author Laurie Halse Anderson.

I read it that day, in every spare second I could. I was so moved by the book, that when I saw on my Twitter feed that someone is trying to ban this book, I immediately remembered the story and responded with personal outrage. Six years later, after having read the book one afternoon, it is still with me.

Six years later these are the things that imprinted themselves so deeply into my heart, I have to share them with you.

Speak is the story of a young girl just about to start High School. She gets invited to a party, excited for the beginning of her new social life. At that party she's raped by the most popular football player in the school. In shock, she calls the police but is unable to say what happened. The police show up and break up the party, but no one knows what happened to her. When school starts, she is now a pariah because every other kid in school believes she called the cops because she was some goody-two-shoes freak that just wanted to ruin their fun.

She's outcast, scorned, belittled, and all the while she's struggling internally with the feeling that she's brought everything on herself.

She begins to withdraw, doesn't take care of herself, and the slow spiral into terrible depression was so realistic, it broke my heart. I'm tearing up just thinking about it.

One scene in particular stood out to me. She's asked to do an art project that is a reflection of how she sees herself. She creates this terrible hallow thing out of dried chicken bones. It's dark, it's ugly, but it is powerful. It is the first time she shows outwardly what she's feeling inside and begins the journey to find the power to finally speak about what happened.

And when she does, she finds she's not alone.

This is a story about a girl. This girl could be any girl. Unfortunately she's too many girls. I read this book and I immediately saw the power of this book to face the truth and horror of date rape in a way that was honest and real. It is a book I recommend to any young girl I know.

It's a book of warning, redemption, healing and strength.

It's a great book, and to even suggest for a second that it is "pornographic" and therefore unfit for kids, frankly disgusts me. This is rape. Not sex. Period.

I will always speak up against the banning of books. Anyone who wishes to limit knowledge is seeking personal power. That is an exercise in ego, and has nothing to do with God. Limiting knowledge is the most fundamental way to control people. Someone seeking to control others in the name of God, is not doing God's will, but attempting to feel the power of being God by controlling others, judging, and holding themselves as something greater than other men.

That is a dangerous and ugly path to tread, and one that won't bring you any closer to the God you are seeking, because it is a blatant attempt to put yourself in the place of God.

I promised I wouldn't speak about religion on this blog, but I had to break that rule only to say that banning books is evil. It will never prevent us from being evil, only blind us to recognizing evil when it comes.

So I am speaking, Laurie. I'm speaking loudly because your book moved me.

Thank you. You have my support.

If you would like to speak as well, read this blog post from the author of Speak.

Sincerely,

Jess Granger