Thursday, August 2, 2012

Review: Speechess by Hannah Harrington

Speechless 
by Hannah Harrington

Release Date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Pages: 336
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction
Source: ARC
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Haunt Author: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret.
Until now.
Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast-and nearly got someone killed.
Chelsea has taken a vow of silence-to learn to keep her mouth shut and to stop hurting anyone else. There's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way. Including a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive her..if only she can forgive herself.

Chelsea Knot loves to gossip. It is exciting to have the latest news and have everyone gather around her and be so impressed with what she knows. If you find out a friend is messing around with another friend's boyfriend you should tell right? But Chelsea doesn't always think about how the other people will accept this information. One night while at a party she catches one of her male classmates messing around with another male and decides it is hot gossip, not knowing that her best friend's boyfriend will physically assault him.

By the book's description I was worried I would dislike Chelsea but she actually does the right thing right off the bat. She knows her best friend will be mad and that she will face consequences but she still comes forth and tells the truth of what she knows. I was really proud of her cause doing the right thing really is hard when there is such strong peer pressure. Being bullied every single day at school for doing the right thing is so unfair and horrible but that really does happen. The kids were all pure evil and attacked Chelsea for standing up and turning in the guy who did wrong. I did not understand how the heck these kids could seriously think it was wrong to turn in someone who put another student in the hospital?!!?!?

Now that Chelsea has seen the error of her ways she decides to take a vow of silence. Speaking before thinking gets her in trouble so she writes on a whiteboard. I was glad Chelsea was changing her ways but being completely silent isn't always the answer either. Sometimes you have to speak up and she slowly learns the balance between standing up for what is right and thinking before you speak. She also has some great new friends that see the real her and are so kind and understanding. Her so called best friend was never a good friend and having real friends allows Chelsea to grow. Also a cute and sweet boy named Sam. The romance wasn't a huge part of the book but they had a nice friendship that built into a great romance.

Sometimes I wonder how I survived high school. lol But really this book dealt with some very serious bullying issues and I thought it was handled really realistically and well which at times was very sad and disturbing. I felt so very depressed and angry and then scared all through the book along with Chelsea. Anyone that would have to go through something like this is a very strong person. I was a huge fan of Saving June and I loved this one as well. Can't wait to see what Hannah Harrington writes next!


His eyes flicker over my face. "I really want to kiss you right now," he blurts out. "If that's okay."
He leans toward me, slowly, inch by inch, leaving me plenty of time to pull away from him. I don't. Instead I close my eyes and hold my breath as I wait for his mouth to meet mine, the anticipation tingling all the way from my stomach to my throat. I can feel him coming closer, his breath warm against my cheek in contrast to the freezing air, make me shiver.

And when it happened I did nothing. It barely even registered; it was like white noise. Sometimes I even laughed along for show. At least it wasn't being said about me-and I know how embarrassed I would've been if it had, because that was how awful everyone I hung out with agreed being gay was. And I thought it was okay as long as I didn't actively participate, that it was enough for me to secretly believe in my heart of hearts that there was absolutely nothing wrong with being gay even if I never dared say it out loud.
I thought it was enough, and it is so far from enough. I can't change what I've done and what I haven't done, but I can change what I do now. I can actually do something. Stand for something.

Rating: 5/5

12 comments:

  1. I didn't love this as much as you did, but I still enjoyed it very much. Amazing review:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you enjoyed it! I thought it was really emotional and thought provoking. I think it was a great book that high school kids should read. I liked the way that Chelsea grew as a character.

      Delete
  2. Great review Jennifer. I still don't know if this would be one for me but you definitely make it sound more interesting. Glad you enjoyed it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like the rise in books about bullying. Definitely makes you think twice before spreading gossip. Not that I was ever a big gossip! But sometimes you do want to share news...lol I thought Chelsea did a great job with the situation she was in and made good strides to improve.

      Delete
  3. Looking forward to reading this! Nice review!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I just got this one from Netgalley! I cannot wait to read it! and I know, High School sucked. BIG TIME. Bullies are not nice, we should go egg their cars [you're such a bad influence, now I want to throw eggs at everyone :P ]

    But yes, High School really tends to suck, and from the summary I also thought I was going to hate Chelsea, apparently I won't. I really want to read this one now, I haven't read Saving June but I also heard great things about it, seems like I'm missing out.

    Loved this review :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HAHA In the book Chelsea gets egged!!! In which I would have egged them back but she tries to lay low and be silent for awhile. They are so mean to her for telling on someone who did something horrible! It's not like she told on someone smoking in the parking lot, she told on someone who beat someone into a coma! Yeah Chelsea was a bit of a gossip at first but you can tell she just wants to fit in and be liked. And then when this happens she tells her parents right away and that was really awesome of her. She suffered a lot for doing the right thing but she never went back on it. I hope you enjoy it!

      Delete
  5. This sounds interesting... I can't imagine taking a vow of silence.
    I'm with you though-sometimes I wonder how I survived high school.
    Brandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. haha right high school kids are evil! I think I was lucky and things definitely could have been a lot worse. A vow of silence would be so difficult but I think it did her a little bit of good. Hope you enjoy the book!

      Delete
  6. What an excellent review! I think the cover is very intriguing and the storyline sounds amazing. Adding it to my list!
    ~Jess

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love the simple cover. It works for the story. It was very emotional and a little inspirational. Such great character strength and growth. Hope you enjoy it!

      Delete

Thanks so much for visiting and commenting! I read and love every single comment!