VBT# Louder than Words - Iris St. Clair

 

 

Review: Louder than Words - Iris St. Clair - September 2014

What happens when someone you trust betrays you ? Worst when it starts to affect not only you but others around you ? For Ellen Grayson, she has grown up with a world of disappointment from a father who was killed by a drunk driver to a mother who after her husband died went on an alcoholic and drug bender that never seemed to stop which caused Ellen to be put in the custody of her older brother Robbie. When during school last year, she finds her teacher easy to talk to , she thinks she has found a friend in him - that is until he forces himself onto her and kisses her. She manages to escape before it got to the level of rape but for Ellen , that was enough to break her. She cuts her hair and changes in her personality begin. Summer break starts and Ellen gets a job as a summer camp counsellor at the rec centre where she will met newcomer Rex who is perfect in every way, the downside is he is dating popular girl Gracie. Over the summer Rex and Ellen will learn what it means to have a best friend and someone to confide in , but as the next school year begins and Ellen finds herself face to face with Mr. H - the teacher from last year, she is not sure how she will cope and to make matters worst, she is witnessing the same thing happening to other students.  When Ellen catches him at the school dance in the bathroom, she realises that enough is enough and that she must stand up for what is right and that in order to move forward with her life, she cannot always cower in fear of what may or may not happen.  So begins the allegations against the teacher and Ellen endures daily reactions and bullying from students who favoured Mr. H , but what will happen when others who have had the same experience as Ellen notice she won't back down and will stand for what is right and start to come out of the sidelines ? 

This was such a moving story about one girl's courage to stand up for what is right and not bow down and follow the sheep of the school. Louder than Words by Iris St. Clair also reminded me a bit of the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.