Speak Loudly

This is a poem author Laurie Halse Anderson wrote in response to all the feedback she got in regards to her book, SPEAK, about a young girl who is raped but never reports it.

Now there is a criticizer out there trying to get it banned because he considers it "soft porn". There is nothing pornographic about rape. It is a destructive and cruel thing, for the victim and their family.

There are many people out there blogging about this. Check it out and form your own opinion. Be educated and have a voice. I, personally, agree with everything they say. Censorship/banishment--whatever you want to call it--on this book, this topic, is outrageous. And to think that rape is pornography will ensure that even fewer women come forward to report it and to seek help.

--Me

First, what the criticizer says here.
The author, Laurie Halse Anderson, here.
Janet Reid, Query Shark here.
Author Myra McEntire, here.
Author C.J. Redwine, here.
Author Veronica Roth, here.

Information on Banned Book Week, here.