#SPEAKloudly + Giveaway (X posted)

Hey Guys, This is cross posted from my personal blog Frankie Writes. I posted here as well to continue spreading the word--but if you'd like to enter the giveaway please comment at Frankie Writes.

Wow. I've just read so many posts about the latest book banner and his attack on Laurie Halse Anderson's brilliant, amazing and should-be-required-reading SPEAK!

I don't think there is anymore I can say at this point that hasn't been said if you're reading through the blogosphere. I am completely against book banning--I personally do not believe that anyone has the right to decide what someone can and can't read. At all!

Book bannings happen unfortunately all the time.

But this latest attack is beyond disgusting. To actually refer to the rape in SPEAK as soft porn is the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard.

If you need some catch up, here is the link to Laurie Halse Anderson's blog and response.

CJ Redwine also wrote a heartbreakingly beautiful post on why this book is so important to her.

We have to SPEAK up about SPEAK!!! I didn't go through the same horrors Melinda did, but I did suffer from depression in middle school. I never publicly admitted this before, but... for a period of time, I was a cutter. I cut because I was in pain, because I felt alone and because I didn't think anyone cared.

Having a book like SPEAK could have been tremendously helpful to me, because the message in there goes beyond speaking out against rape--this book is for anyone who has ever felt alone, anyone who has ever been depressed, anyone who has ever been assaulted, or any other horror and felt that they had no voice. If someone is lucky enough to never go through any of what I mentioned than at the very least they should be aware that you never know what another person is really going through. One of the most heart breaking moments for me in SPEAK is when Melinda is harassed by another student for breaking up the party--if the student had any idea what Melinda was going through I'm sure she would have reacted differently. This is a book for everyone.

Taking away SPEAK is one of the worst offenses I can think of. And the kind of ignorance spouted by the banner needs to have some light shed on it.

So what can we do?

Laurie has suggested ways to speak out on her blog and there's also a campaign on twitter to get SPEAK back on the New York Times Best Seller list--a place that this book really ought to live in forever.

I'm so proud of the way the YA community is banding together. I've never been so proud to be a part of this community. So here's what I want to do to help.

I feel SO passionately about this issue, about this book and about having SPEAK reach more readers that I am purchasing 10 copies of SPEAK.

And I'm giving them away. (Head over to Frankie Writes for the giveaway)

If you've never read SPEAK, comment below. Or even if you already own a copy-- if you know someone who hasn't read SPEAK and might benefit from it then comment, if your library doesn't currently carry SPEAK, comment below, if you'd like to give it a to a teacher, or a counselor or anyone who might get it into the right hands, comment below. If I get 10 comments, I'll give a copy to each commenter, if I get more, I'll draw randomly. Whatever happens, I'm determined to get those books into readers' hands.

There are no rules for this giveaway. But there's one thing you should do. Comment below and ALSO if you are on twitter and/or facebook you can add the SPEAK LOUDLY twibbon to your picture by clicking HERE! I have the twibbon on both profiles.

SPEAK LOUDLY!