Don’t hurt & don’t put up with being hurt

This is the start of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week. Anything that hurts teens makes me want to scream. Nobody deserves to be hurt. Period.

What can you do?

Learn about the problem.

Study the numbers.

Review the research.

Know the signs.

“Break the silence, make the call.”

Read Lynn Evarts’ article, “The School Library as Sanctuary” (VOYA, Dec, 2006 – thanks YALSA blog for the tip).

Please pass on these links to anyone you know who is caught in an emotionally or physically violent relationship.

::totally changes topic::

The best part of yesterday (aside from walking around in a daze and muttering “I turned it in… I turned it in…) was going to the gym for the first time in two weeks. Aaaaahhhhh, sweat!

We got LOTS of snow overnight, so I will spend the day watching the wind blow it around.

4 Replies to “Don’t hurt & don’t put up with being hurt”

  1. I had no idea that it was National Teen Dating Awareness Week…I just wrote an entry today about an abusive relationship I had when I was a teenager. It was the first time I’d ever spoken up about it, and its a crazy coincidence that I should speak up about it for the first time this week.

    Thank you so much for the links. 🙂

  2. My opinion

    Hello Ms. Anderson

    I would just like to commend you on your book “Speak”. It was a very entertaining. I enjoyed all the characters and all the different roles they carried. I loved the story because it allowed me to relate to Melinda from her school and home point of view. The setting was too pleasing it actually felt as if I was re-walking the high schools hallways and reliving the classroom environment as a student. The story painted a clear picture of how important it is for the parents to be involved in their child’s life. I enjoyed how the book touched on practically every group stereotype in a high school. The fact that the story illustrated teachers as actual people with different styles was very interesting. So many times we get a certain picture painted of images of teachers that doesn’t match this day and time teachers. It’s so hard to believe that you didn’t want to write this book in the beginning. Why not share this story! You website was very nice and creative. The pictures create a warm welcoming feeling that drew me in even more. Throughout school I never saw this part of the school’s environment. I was always popular and well liked, So Thank You for completing this story and allowing me to live in the shoes of Melinda.

    Christine Quarles
    An Inspiring Teacher

  3. Speak

    Wow, today I got directed to your blog after reading Speak and looking around on your website! I am currently taking an adolescent literature course in Little Rock, AR and our teacher had us read that book! It was amazing! I am not very familiar with adolescent literature, and when I went through high school (which wasn’t long ago) we still read Jane Eyre and Romeo and Juliet. However, I really wish that I had been able to read a book like that in high school. It was so eye-opening, and while I got a lot out of reading it at my current age (22), I think I would have really enjoyed reading it in high school. Melinda was such a great character and the things she observed were so indicative of high school and all its stereotypes. Also, besides having great characters and a great story, you have a tremendous writing style. I was hooked to the very end! Great job and thank you for sharing such a great story! I hope that when I am a teacher I get a chance to have my class read this book. Thanks again and I am looking forward to your newest, Twisted!

    Anne Fruge
    Student, University of Arkansas in Little Rock

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