Want a NOOK? Explore Now
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.
Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.
But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.
Keeping secrets isn't my specialty. It never has been, ever since kindergarten when I found out Becky Swanson had a crush on Tommy Barnes, and I managed to circulate that fact to the entire class, including Tommy himself, within our fifteen minute recess—a pretty impressive feat, in retrospect. That was ten years ago, and it still may hold the record for my personal best.
The secret I have right now is so, so much juicier than that. I'm just about ready to burst at the seams.
"Will you stop the teasing already?" Kristen says. We're in her bedroom where I'm helping her decide on an outfit for tonight—a drawn-out process when your wardrobe is as massive as hers. "It's annoying. Just tell me."
Kristen is not a patient person. I realize I've been pushing it by alluding to my newfound information over the past twenty minutes without actually divulging anything. Of course I'm going to tell her; she's my best friend, and I can't keep it to myself much longer without truly pissing her off. A pissed-off Kristen is not a fun Kristen. Still, it's rare for me to have the upper hand with her, so I can't help but hold it over her head just a little.
"I don't know," I say innocently. "I'm not sure you can handle it "
She turns around from where she's digging through her closet and chucks a black leather sandal at me. I shield my face with both hands, laughing as the shoe bounces off one arm and onto the mattress. Kristen props a hand on her narrow hip and cocks her head at me, her glossy, shoulder-length blond hair swaying with the motion.
"You're building this up way too much," she says. She yanks out a shimmery red top from her closet before facing me again. "I bet whatever it is, it's completely lame."
"Well, in that case, I'll keep it to myself." When she glares at me, I just smile in return and say, "Don't wear that. That baby-doll cut looks like something out of the maternity section."
She hangs the top back up and comes over to the bed, flopping down on her stomach next to me. "Spill," she whines, the previous iciness dissolving into borderline desperation. This is as close as Kristen ever gets to groveling. "Otherwise I'm uninviting you from the party."
The threat can't be real—Kristen knows I've been looking forward to her New Year's Eve party for over a month now. She even helped concoct the cover story necessary to convince my mother to let me come over to her house despite the grounding I received after my parents saw my latest report card. Like I'm ever going to need geometry in real life anyway.
Even though Kristen can be touchy, she wouldn't uninvite me from the party over something like this—but I decide it's better to cave already than to test her on it.
"Okay, okay," I relent. "I'll tell you."
She breaks into a grin and scoots closer to me. I like having her attention like this; Kristen is easily bored, so when I do get her full focus, it makes me feel like I'm doing something right. She is, after all, one of—if not the—most popular girls in the sophomore class, if you keep track of that sort of thing, which I do. She's used to people fawning all over her to get on her good side. I've been on her good side for almost two years now, and I intend to stay there. I'd better make this good.
"So I met up with Megan today because she wanted me to help her pick out new shoes, right?" I start. "She also wanted to bitch to me about Owen, because he totally blew her off last weekend and they've been fighting a lot, and she's wondering if she should break up with him."
Kristen's mouth tugs into a frown. "Um, yawn. I already know this."
"I'm not done yet," I assure her. "Anyway, so Megan brings along Tessa Schauer, which whatever. She's annoying, but I can deal. We shop for a while and everything's fine, and then I remember I need to call my mom about picking stuff up from the dry cleaners, except I'm an idiot who didn't charge my phone and the battery's dead. I ask Tessa if I can borrow hers since she's right there, and she hands it off and walks away. I call my mom, and then I'm about to give it back, but I decided to look through the pictures on the phone because I'm nosy like that, and " I pause for a moment, just to draw out the anticipation.
"And ?" Kristen prompts. She's totally hanging on to every word.
"And," I say, "the first one I see? It's of Tessa. With Owen. Looking very shall we say friendly."
Her eyes widen. "How friendly?" she asks.
I dig my phone out of my pocket and toss it at her. "Look for yourself."
I watch in amusement as she fumbles with my phone, scrolling through my text messages. "Shut up," she gasps, looking back up at me. "You forwarded the pictures to yourself?"
"Duh."
"Won't Tessa know?"
I'm a little insulted by the question, to be honest. Of course I thought ahead. I'm not an amateur. "I deleted the sent texts," I explain. "She'll have no idea."
"That is " Kristen pauses, and then grins up at me. "Totally brilliant."
I take the phone back and look at the screen, where the high-angled self-portrait of Tessa and Owen midkiss stares back at me. So tacky. Not just the picture, or how Owen's mouth is open so wide I can actually see his tongue entering Tessa's mouth (gross, gross, gross), but making out with your alleged best friend's boyfriend behind her back? That's just classless. I would never in a million years hook up with Kristen's boyfriend, Warren Snyder, while she's dating him. Okay, I would never hook up with him, period, because he's a sleaze, but that's beside the point. The point is, some things are sacred.
"She's a shitty friend," I tell Kristen. "I can't believe she did that to Megan." There's no way Megan will forgive her when she finds out. She's dated Owen for over a year, and Tessa's been her best friend for longer than that. An entire friendship down the drain, all because Tessa couldn't keep her hands off Owen. No boy is worth that. Not even Bren-don Ryan, whom I would do a number of immoral and insane things for, and who is quite possibly the love of my life, even if he doesn't know it yet. We've been caught in a wildly passionate, completely one-sided affair since freshman year.
"Tessa Schauer is a slutty bitch. I hope Megan kicks her ass," Kristen says. "When are you going to tell her?"
"Tonight, probably." Megan and Tessa will both be at the party, so I'll have to find a way to corner Megan alone and break the news. Tessa will know it's me, even if I erased my tracks, but whatever. Who cares? Snooping on someone's phone is a far more minor offense than slutting around with your best friend's boyfriend. No one will have sympathy for her.
Kristen rolls off the bed and stands in front of her full-length mirror, fiddling with the ends of her perfect hair. "You know, you could have some fun with this," she muses.
I sit up. "How?"
"If you tell Tessa you know about her and Owen, I bet she'd do just about anything to keep you from sharing that with Megan."
"Like blackmail?" I frown. "I don't know "
"I'm just saying," Kristen says, "I know for afact that she has a fake ID. She was attention-whoring like crazy, showing it off to everyone who would listen in Econ last week. Maybe you could convince her to hook up the two of us with our own."
Interesting idea. Except—
"What would we do with a fake ID?" I ask. Buying booze is the obvious answer, but while Kristen might pass for twenty-one with the right push-up bra and a pair of heels, there's no way I could. I am much less developed than her.
"Well, I could go to Rave with Warren, for starters," she says. "You only have to be eighteen to get in."
Rave is this nightclub in Westfield, the next town over. Warren turned eighteen last month and went there to celebrate, and wouldn't shut up about it for two weeks. I have to admit, it would be interesting to see what all the fuss is about.
And if it's important to Kristen, then it's important to me.
"I'll see what I can do," I tell her, and by the way Kristen smiles at me, I know that was exactly what she wanted to hear.
Anonymous
Posted September 16, 2012
The author combines cussing along with innapropiate thems that even an adult would be disgusted with this book. She throws cuss words, and even God's name around like it's no big deal. I am ashamed at this book for the horrible rep it gives to teens. Not worth spending your money on. DO NOT BUY!!!!! It involves drinking, gay scenes and so much more that it makes u feel guilty for even reading the first chapter. :(
6 out of 27 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 20, 2012
I was speechless when i read this. Very good book!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Back in the old days, when I was a teenager, bullying was a rare thing in the public schools I attended. That’s not to say cruelty to others didn’t exist but it took a much quieter form, that of dismissal. There were three distinct social groups. The top rung was the popular kids, the “pretty ones”, the jocks and their friends, and they simply ignored the existence of everyone beneath them. The lowest group was a collection of hoods (black leather, no weapons, maybe a little marijuana), nerds (although I don’t think that specific term existed then), economically deprived, shop classers, those bound for blue-collar jobs after graduation. Everybody else fell into the middle stratum, generally those who were college-bound and sociable, on an economic level with the top group but not accepted into the inner circles. Essentially, all three groups cohabited nicely during classes but not in the halls or outside the school grounds. Even with such distinct lines drawn, though, the three groups didn’t actively try to make life miserable for each other. We managed to get along because people “knew their places”.
Today’s world is much different for teens and middle-graders and bullying is visible and frequently vicious, whether it’s physical, verbal or emotional. Physical appearance is a common cause and I can’t help thinking that our love affair with TV, movies and celebrities has fed that particular worm. Sexual orientation is another major platform and I believe that has become more of a bullying issue as society has changed and LGBT kids are less likely to hide than they used to be. If there were LGBT kids in my schools, I never knew it, and I had known many of my fellow students since first grade. That lack of knowledge is not a good thing, just different from today’s atmosphere.
Author Hannah Harrington has taken an all-too-common problem and expanded it. In Speechless, the victim is not just the gay teen who is exposed and subsequently attacked, it’s also the girl from the highest echelons who not only outed Noah but then turned in the jocks who beat him to the police. Her betrayal of her circle is what they find unforgiveable, not the hate crime itself. Chelsea starts out as a shallow girl whose interests lie in shopping, gossip, partying, and being BFF to the top girl in school but, for some reason, a spark of real decency exists in her. Her vow of silence is at first rather quixotic, an escape from reality, but could it become the means of her salvation?
Chelsea is a complex character, much like a teen in real life, and it’s a pleasure to follow her search for redemption, her journey to maturity. Along the way, the reader meets some people it would be a delight to know and they’re well-rounded with problems of their own while being very appealing individuals, Asha and Sam in particular. Even some of the bullies have the occasional mitigating aspect which surely is the case outside the realm of novels. Ms. Harrington presents a storyline and all its side issues that grips the reader from the very beginning and her characters bring it to life. I wish that any teen in a position of power over others would read Speechless and perhaps gain a little insight into how that power can be misused.
One last note—kudos to the publisher for such a great cover. Think about it. Speechlessness can lead to invisibility, can’t it?
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 29, 2012
This book is my type it's mystery,thriller combined with a danger and hint of romance haven't read it yet but i must buy no exceptions
2 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 31, 2013
Well judging by the title rthis book is honestly speechless it is written amazingly and gives great life lessons! But i do have to say this is for mature readers probably around ages 12-14ish that are mature and can handle language and mature situations. Aside from the maturity level i was just stunned by this book i loved it and it even taught me a fee lessons!! It is a magnificent boo!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 30, 2013
Found this book, hidden back in a bookshelf in Barnes and Noble. The cover really drew me in. Thanks to this book, I do not gossip anymore and I stopped bullying people. This book has helped me change. Might I add, that Chelsea Knot is very similar to me. I love this book. It is also full of amazing quotes.
"Hate is…it's too easy, Love. Love takes courage."
Anonymous
Posted March 27, 2013
I loved this book beecause it told areally good message and that is what i look for in books so i LOVED it!!!!!!!! :)
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I. Adored. This. Book.
There were actually quite a few reviews of this book that mentioned how they liked Saving June, Harrington's debut, a lot more then Speechless. I'm really happy that I read Speechless first because maybe I wouldn't have liked it as much as I did. Also, this means I have Saving June to look forward to reading!
While this may sound like an insult to some people, I think of it as a compliment: Speechless made me feel like I was watching a really good Lifetime movie. Almost like a moderately different but still similar version of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. And while there are similarities, the differences are large enough so I don't feel like I'm reading the same book.
Two of the main characters, Sam and Asha, are some of the most lovable characters I've had the pleasure to meet. What I loved the most about Chelsea and Sam's relationship, is that it took time. Yeah, they connected and there might have been some instant chemistry, but it took time for the both of them to realize that. It was real and believable. Asha (Chelsea's new BFF,) is the sweetest girl ever. I hope I get to meet someone like her someday, because she's absolutely perfect.
Let's talk about the cover. I know there's a few different covers for Speechless, but I prefer the blank white one. It's definitely risky, because it's so blank. A lot of people (including myself) choose books by their cover. That's exactly what attracted me to this book though! The cover made me curious enough to figure out why it's so plain. I like how it fits the novel so well and I hope other readers can agree with that!
I've had a craving for contemp novels lately, and Speechless definitely helped while making me want more. Overall, I'm really pleased that I read this book and I would recommend it to anyone in the mood for a great contemp and fans of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.
Anonymous
Posted February 28, 2013
I was considering getting this book. Then I read your review and decided to buy the book, because honestly, your review kinda pissed me off. And guess what? The book was amazing. I now love Hannah Harrington and highly recommend another book by her, Saving June. Thanks, "Too much cussing"!
Oh yeah, there's absolutely nothing wrong with being gay. That was actually an important message in the book! So, "Too much cussing", I suggest you become more accepting of real life and the people who live in it.
(And yeah, this is getting ridiculously long, but I have to say this; it's a high school book. Of course there's cussing and sexual themes. Have you even BEEN to high school?)
If you read all this, thanks! This book totally rules, and so does the author!
Another amazing book from Hannah - I can't say I loved it as much as I love Saving June (mainly because SJ had the road trip,
California, and The Doors) but it's now my second favorite book, right beneath SJ. All of her stories have a true, clear meaning
behind them;whether it's letting go and moving on, or making a promise to yourself and becoming a better person. Yes, there
is cussing, but the story is from a sixteen year olds point of view - what would you expect? The way it is written is so refreshing
and lovely. You really do feel like you are there with Chelsea, Sam, Asha, and Andy. Asha might've been my personal favorite
character, she just has this light heart and sweet personality that's hard not to like :)
Anonymous
Posted December 23, 2012
Ok i must admit, I did not think this book was going to be as amazing as it was. I loved the way the author described everything! I related to thia book a lot because I was bullied for pretty much the exact reason and that's really how people treat you. Like a pile of dirt that's caked to the bottom of your shoe. It's a horrible feeling but then unexpected friends come out of the dark and make everything ok. This book tells a lot people that you are never alone. And don't let other people ruin your life because they are not worth it!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 11, 2012
This book did have a lot of cussing and wrong things in it but it still was an enjoyable book. I think while reading this you have to understand the wrongness of it. I read it and it didnt have an affect on how i talk or my views. This book gives a realistic view of how high school really is now in days. This book was amazing! I couldnt put it down! I recommend it for anyone that likes realistic teenage high school stories with a hint of romance :)
The story is essentially about what happens when you can’t keep a secret. Or that you just enjoy spreading gossip so much, you don’t see the ramifications of what your actions have on other people.
Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can’t keep a secret.
This is the very premise of the story. Chelsea at the beginning is your stereotypical teenager who has been granted access to the popular crowd because she’s best friend with the queen bee of the school. The reality is Chelsea at the beginning of the book is the most annoying, self-serving and vindictive person I think I’ve read in quite some time. In fact, after the first section of the book, I had to put it down because of how strongly I despised Chelsea’s voice. Thankfully I decided to pick it back up after a few days.
Now I have to give major props to Hannah Harrington for managing to turn my opinion of the main character completely around by about a third of the way into the book. See, Chelsea lets a very personal secret out that ultimately almost costs someone his life. When she finally decides to do the right thing, she becomes an outcast in her school. She decides to take a vow of silence since she can’t seem to say anything that doesn’t get her in trouble. Once we’re allowed into Chelsea’s thoughts, her annoying teenage verbal diarrhea ends and we actually get a glimpse into someone who actually has to think before she writes out what she wants to say to someone.
I really enjoyed how Chelsea grew as a person and ultimately how the rest of her new friends grow by being friends with Chelsea too. Friendship is a two way street and it was lovely to see the new relationships blossom underneath her silence.
Of course no Y/A books are complete without some sort of love interest, and Chelsea does eventually find someone unexpectedly in Sam. He’s pretty swoon worthy all the more because he’s not someone she would have ever seen herself being attracted to when she was still perched among the popular crowd.
Aside from a few minor editing problems and that my nook hates PDFs, it was a lovely read.
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to my young adult genre readers out there.
I was so taken by Hannah Harrington's earlier book Saving June that I knew I would want to read this book, and I wasnt dissapointed. I like that Chelsea Knot starts out the book as a willing second fiddle to Kristen(her best friend, but very mean girl) and after witnessing an act between two guys at the New Years party Kristen threw, she speaks out and gets in alot of trouble herself. Chelsea actually takes a vow of silence and that is what makes this book interesting. she is shunned by all her old friends at school, including Kristen, who tries to make her life a living hell. But she starts to find new friends in Asha and Sam and even starts to work at the local diner after school.
I like how Ms. Harrington makes us go through all the bad things that happen to Chelsea after she speaks out, but we also get to see all the good things that happen as well. I love Sam alot!! He seems like a nice guy that really cares for Chelsea. Hannah's writing makes you feel the giddy, first love feeling again and again, and while there are alot of cuss words and mature scenes, its all done in the context of the plot and not really that offensive.
This is a great book for anyone in high school, or even college to show that if you see bullying, speak out!!!! The consequences of not are worse than the short term bad feelings you get at school.
SomaRostam
Posted September 23, 2012
I have heard so many good things about Hannah Harrington's "Saving June". When I got a copy of this book, I started building so many expectations that when they didn't all come true, I got depressed and disappointed. But overall, this was an insightful read.
Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot cannot keep a secret. She has always been the gossip-girl, spreading gossip and secrets about everyone, without thinking about the consequences. When she discovers a new secret at a party, she immediately tells her friends. But what should have been just a little joke, turned into a disastrous fight that lead someone to the hospital.
Chelsea decides to take a vow of silence. She needs to keep her mouth shut, so that nobody else will get hurt. Turns out, being mute has its advantages. Chelsea gets to make many new friends, build strong relationships, know her true self, and even fall in love. But a journey like Chelsea's is not so easy to start, to keep going, or to stop.
What did Chelsea do that caused so much trouble? What will she learn from her vow of silence? Will she find her true self or stay speechless forever? Find out much more when you read Hannah Harrington's realistic, thought-provoking novel, Speechless...
I liked this book VERY much. I was pretty confused while rating it between 3.5 stars or 4 stars. But I decided to go for 4 stars. I have to admit that I LOVED Hannah Harrington's style. I am such a sucker for simple and straight-forward writing. It was a beautiful style, a little amount of description, and a whole lot of feelings laid bare.
The thing that I didn't like about this novel is some of the characters. Some were hallow, like a pieces of card box. I admit that I still don't like Chelsea very much. She was an arrogant and a little self-centered girl. But as the plot progressed, she began to grow on me. I began to respect her decisions and admire her strength to keep the vow of silence even when she get bullied, and assaulted. Overall, I think that I like her. The secondary characters were believable and relate-able, I loved them!
This book addressed a very interesting subject and I got to see it from a very different perspective. The plot plays out very well and the story is deeply intriguing. Even though it lacked the "wow" factor, I still enjoyed Chelsea's journey. I will be going back to read Hannah Harrington's "Saving June" very soon! Speechless is recommended to every contemporary lover, old or young. Specially the ones who have been through a tough high school life, or the ones who are still going through it. You'll find out that YOU are not ALONE when you read this heart-wrenching journey, SPEECHLESS.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Speechless by Hannah Harrington
Is a young adult book about Chelsea Knot and how she lies to her parents and goes with her best friend Kristen for the New Year Eve party where there is alcohol and guys.
She has a bit too many and on her way to the guest bathroom she comes across a scene that she takes back downstairs and blabbers to others who inform her they will take care of the people, and they leave the house.
She wakes up the next morning to find out what happened when she passed out and she tells her parents what happened.
In school she now has to live with herself and others as they shun her so she takes a vow of silence even at school. One teacher daily gives her a detention slip while other teachers help her to still communicate without her voice.
What inspired her was a National Geographic story about a monk. Some of her older friends really beat up on her car, locker, etc, it's like she's being bullied.
As things get worse for her with the kids at school it also gets good for her because of a new friend that takes her to a diner. That friendship leads to many things for the family in time.
Glad to see the ending and how the one she hurt the most with her lie had the right answers for her.
When you read this book, be prepared to have it rattle your emotions. Written so explicitly well, this story will steal your heart.
Obviously it is the plot that totally rocks! What happens when something you said takes an unexpected turn? It causes anger and almost death. WOW! Let me tell you that this girl took a lot. I mean A LOT! Some of the things that are done to her, said to her...it got me so angry! I just couldn't understand these people ignorance. But then again, that's what happens in high school. People are small minded and do not understand the impact that those things can have.
There wasn't so much of a love interest but there are some amazing friendships that are established. I really enjoyed watching some friends come along to give her chance and know her. Even though they heard rumors, I loved that they didn't care what others thought. They were selfish in any of their actions despite what Chelsea.
I think the greatest lesson in this book is to SPEAK UP! Despite what your beliefs are, of who you are, nobody deserves to be bullied. PERIOD.
Speechless is an amazingly raw book. Fresh and unique, Speechless depicts the acts of human idiocy. The horror of single secret let out into a world of bullies make me shutter. If you truly want to dive into a world of selfish people, read Speechless. It will change your heart.
This is one of those books that leave you speechless. There was such character growth in Chelsea it was unbelievable, and the secondary cast of characters was amazing.
I started out not really liking Chelsea, but I think that was the whole point. It was so hard to watch her make such bad choices, but then completely redeem herself by making a very hard one... One that ended up alienating her from her friends, who then turn to bullying her. She decides to take a vow of silence that changes her so much. I can't imagine the resolve it would take to go as long as her without speaking. But she made such an impact on me that when my husband or kids would talk to me after I was reading, I would stare at them and think that I wasn't supposed to be talking. Then I would remember it is Chelsea and not me... I was that engrossed.
As for the secondary characters, there was the good and the evil, and both were done so well. Asha was so amazing. I loved her bubbliness and her willingness to befriend Chelsea. I loved watching their friendship grown and what Asha brought to the story.
I loved the tight knit bunch at Rosie's the local diner, and how that quickly became essential to Chelsea's life now that she was cast out of her circle of friends. The relationships with Sam and Andy the friends and boyfriend of Noah, the boy who was injured indirectly because of her but ultimately helped by Chelsea by her actions. I loved the interactions with Chelsea and Sam, and his bravery for opening himself up to her.
As far as Kristen, she is the it girl, and every bit what I couldn't stand yet somehow found myself envying in high school. Beauty, circle of friends, yet could and would turn on them in an instant. I never knew just how cruel it went though because there were moments when I thought I saw the glimmer of hope for growth in her, and then I wasn't sure if it was dashed the second that she opened her mouth.
This was a deep novel about speaking up for what's right, learning when to keep a secret, the power of friendship, bullying, self identity including being gay, and also featured involved parents and issues with the dad losing a job. Hannah Harrington weaved it all intricately, tactfully and powerfully into Speechless.
The moments where Chelsea had "aha" moments about herself, her actions and when she finally stood up for what ultimately got her into the mess were so powerful.
Bottom line: emotional story sprinkled with sarcasm, witty and light moments. Speechless has a touch of romance and characters that are dynamic and beautifully written.
Seeing Speechless on NetGalley made me so happy. After reading Hannah Harrington's debut novel, Saving June, I became a major fan. The cover immediately told me that there was something special about this book. Speechless has a message to all the readers out there, and a very strong message. Hannah Harrington talked about a very important topic, and it's talking. Not just normal talking, bad talking. Gossip, making fun, embarrassment, all of that stuff. The main protagonist, Chelsea, is a person who can keep no secret. She's such a blabbermouth, and will always tell people any information she gets. Just a person who genuinely loves gossip. Chelsea being in the popular crowd, and Kristen's puppet, everyone loves her. That is until she spills some other major gossip she got, and serious stuff happens. Chelsea doesn't realize how her words hurt many people around her. injuries and the police being involved, Chelsea had to go and tell the truth.
People blamed her. Kristen hates her now. Chelsea isn't popular anymore, and all of that just because she hadn't kept her mouth shut. Later on, she finds an article from National Geographic, talking about the Vow of silence. Bam, she gets the idea, and decides to do it. Chelsea literally becomes silent. She doesn't talk with her parents, with her teachers, even when she's all by herself. Even though Chelsea annoyed me at first, and seemed like one of those girls who only cared about popularity, I really liked how determined she seem. She put her mind to something, and didn't stop no matter how much she got in trouble for it. Speaking of trouble, she got detention from one of her teachers for not participating in class and refusing to speak, and that's where she meets Asha. Asha is an amazing character. I actually found her to perfect to be alive. She was always super duper nice, and gave Chelsea a chance. Chelsea meets Asha, Asha is friends with Sam, Sam is friends with Adam, so they all become friends. I really liked the flow of how all the characters meet, and how they just don't click as soon as they meet. It did take time, and each character had their own reason for it. Sam is an adorable character. He's one of those guys who you don't and do notice at school. He's kind of in the middle, like any normal kid at school. Not popular, and not at the bottom of the status. He was so normal, which I really liked. Not your "bad boy" or "popular boy" or any of those categories. I definitely enjoyed all the characters here.
If i had to compare Speechless to Saving June, i'd still say I liked Saving June more, but this was a good book as well. I have to say, even though everything was fun and awesome, there was just something about it that ticked me off. Something felt off about it, and I was annoyed at something for some reason. Maybe it's just me, but at some points maybe I felt like Chelsea was overdoing it, or the school was making a bigger deal, but that's just my opinion. Overall, I do recommend it to young adult readers, and I cannot wait to read more from Hannah Harrington!
Anonymous
Posted September 3, 2012
Good
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
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.
Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.
But there's strength in ...