“In honor of National Anti-Bullying Awareness month, we’re talking about SPEECHLESS by Hannah Harrington, a young adult novel about bulling.”
If you’ve checked out my blog before you may remember that I reviewed this book earlier and was also lucky enough to be included on a phone interview with the author. So why am I posting about it again? Because I think the issue is just that important and the book that incredible. Also, this tour has a bit of a different focus. The bloggers participating are each sharing a “speechless” moment from their lives. Read on to learn a bit more about high school me, the book, Love is Louder, and a giveaway.
My speechless moment:
I don’t know that I really have one definitive momentlike Chelsea in Speechless. Instead, it was a thousand little things… in some I was the victim, in some I added to the problem.
Looking back, the bullying I encountered was what you might call your “run of the mill” bullying… it wasn’t anything “drastic.” I have a wonderful and loving family and I wouldn’t trade them for the world. My parents have worked hard to provide for my siblings and me and I appreciate everything they did for us. When I was younger my mom worked and was going to school to be an LPN. My dad was the one who got me ready most mornings. He’s a great guy but he had no clue how to do a little girl’s hair or pick out her clothes. I pretty much did this on my own. Unfortunately, I also had no clue. When I was really little no one else seemed to notice or care. I can vividly remember when that changed.
I was in third grade. I was always a shy kid but I had friends and was happy. Then one day, as we were lining up to go inside after a rough and tumble recess, a classmate turned to me and said, “Don’t you ever wash or brush your hair?” I can still see it in my mind. Her turning around. The look on her face as she said it… and when she saw me stunned and trying to blink back tears. Over the rest of the day she went on to talk about my clothes (not cool), my hair (dirty), my teeth (so crooked), my weight (too cubby), any and everything she could think of. And then it was over. It didn’t happen again for a few days. And then it did. And then it didn’t. And then it did. I think that was the hard part… never knowing. She and some of the other girls would laugh at me or make a comment one day and then play with me like nothing happened the next. I never told on them. She moved away. We moved on to fourth grade. Life moved on.
As I got older I learned how take take better care of my appearance and, more importantly in my mind, I learned how to not draw attention to myself. I was quiet and painfully shy. I second guessed decisions I made based on if I thought people would say something about it. I was always sure that other people were judging me and finding me lacking… not smart enough, not pretty, not talented, not whatever. I didn’t join any teams or try anything new in front of other people for fear of failing and being laughed at. (I still have a hard time with this!) But more than that… I learned to be speechless. When someone else was getting picked on or someone was spreading rumors I just kept my head down and thanked God that it wasn’t me. My silence added to the bullying that was going on. Of all of the effects of the bullying I encountered this is the one that makes me the most furious as an adult. The other stuf… whatever. Those girls didn’t know me. But for me to stand by and let someone else feel the same way I felt, believe the same things about themselves that I believed about myself… that is my regret.
Bullying is bullying. Whether it’s “run of the mill” like a mean spirited comment about my messy hair or something more drastic like getting shoved in a locker (which didn’t happen to me but did to a boy I went to high school with.) Anytime some one says or does something to you that makes you feel belittled or bad about yourself it is unacceptable. I don’t care if it’s a friend or a stranger who says/does it. It. Is. Unacceptable. Hear me now… you deserve better. You have value. You are worthy of respect. You are precious. You are priceless. Mistakes you may have made or regrets you have do not define you. Please, please, please talk to someone who can help (parent, teacher, friend, whoever!) If you need help or someone to talk to Love is Louder has put together two great pages with resources. You can find them here and here. You deserve more than just surviving it. You deserve to overcome and to flourish.
About Love is Louder:
The Love is Louder movement was started when the Jed Foundation, MTV and actress Brittany Snow decided to do something to help those feeling mistreated, misunderstood or alone. Now hundreds of thousands of people around the world have joined the Love is Louder movement and are using their actions to make their communities and schools better places for everyone. Come join the Love is Louder movement with us. Get started now at LoveisLouder.com/SPEECHLESS
Giveaway:
Each blog on the tour will be giving away a copy of Speechless and “Read for the Fun Mood” pens to support the Teen Reading Week
One winner from all entries during the tour gets an epic Prize Pack: KindlePaperwhite with Speechless Skin, 1 iPhone Skin, 5 Copies of Speechless to share with friends & family and 1 copy of Saving June!
About Hannah Harrington – website | blog | Twitter | tumblr |Goodreads | Harlequin Author site
Hannah Harrington resides in Michigan with one dog and too many cats. When she isn’t busy writing like a crazy person, she enjoys arguing about politics, watching documentaries, playing guitar (very badly) and speaking about herself in the third person. She released her debut novel Saving June in December 2011 and wowed readers with its intense subject of teen suicide. Her latest novel, Speechless (September 2012), explores the topic of bullying. You can find her online at www.hannahharrington.com
Tour Schedule:
Monday, October 15th – Page Turners
Tuesday, October 16th – Love Is Louder
Wednesday, October 17th – Harlequin Blog
Thursday, October 18th – My 5 Monkeys
Friday, October 19th – The Daily Bookmark
Monday, October 22nd – Wastepaper Prose
Tuesday, October, 23rd – YA Bibliophile
Wednesday, October 24th – The O.W.L.
Thursday, October 25th – In Between
Friday, October 26th – I’m a Book Shark
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