Laurie Halse Anderson is the New York Times-bestselling author of Speak, a novel about a young survivor of sexual assault. Her recent memoir, Shout, uses poetry to tell the story of the experiences that inspired the book. In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Anderson discusses the pain and trauma of this difficult subject and shares recommendations that touch on hope and healing for young readers.
Sexual violence can be deeply traumatizing and life-altering. It's also the crime that is most easily prevented with education. This year's theme for Sexual Assault Awareness Month focuses on consent: "I Ask." The heart of consent is mutual communication. Consent is respect in action, honoring the emotional and personal boundaries of another person. Consent is mandatory.
We can start teaching the basic lessons of consent, i.e. don't touch someone without their permission, to toddlers. As puberty approaches, it’s time to learn how, when, and why to give and get consent in sexual situations. The “I Ask” campaign covers the entire range of consent, from asking to hold someone’s hand to asking if they are interested in having sex—and everything in between. The getting and giving of consent—sober, informed, ongoing, and enthusiastic consent—is necessary to ensure that both partners have the same expectations and desires. Simple, right?
But some people feel awkward discussing things like consent and sex with young adults. They think that conversations like that should be postponed until some distant point in the future. But young people are incredibly vulnerable to sexual violence. Women age 16 to 19 are four times more likely than the general population to be victims.
Because young adults are at a much higher risk, they should be reading books that confront the issue of sexual violence. Here are a few that I recommend to everyone:
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This heartbreaking novel focuses on the aftermath of a rape victim in a small town that sides with her attacker. She endures relentless bullying, harassment, blaming, and shaming from her school and community, driving her to the edge of despair. This book is about claiming your space when the world refuses to give it to you.
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Indigenous women in the United States are at the greatest risk of sexual violence than women of any other racial group. This powerful novel explores the search for justice after an Ojibwe woman is sexually assaulted and the hunger for revenge when that justice is denied.
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In this book, Roxane Gay has collected 29 essays from survivors of sexual trauma that explore how our culture urges us to downplay the gravity of sexual harassment and violence. In these essays, the survivors discuss what happened and what happened after, the ways the trauma altered their lives and their ongoing struggle to heal.
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I Have the Right To: A High School Survivor's Story of Sexual Assault, Justice, and Hope
by Chessy Prout and Jenn Abelson
This moving memoir of Chessy Prout’s sexual assault at a boarding school is an overdue indictment of schools and other institutions that turn a blind eye to misogyny and sexual violence. This book should be read by all school administrators and policy makers across the country, as well as teens and their families.
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Queering Sexual Violence: Radical Voices from Within the Anti-Violence Movement
by Jennifer Patterson
LGBTQ people face higher rates of sexual violence than heterosexual and/or cis-gendered people. Their ability to receive emotional support after an assault is often complicated by homo- or transphobic law enforcement and medical professionals. This affirming collection from 37 contributors will open your heart to the need to support all victims and survivors.
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Faith communities such as the Catholic and Southern Baptist churches are finally being called to account for allowing generations of ordained predators to abuse and assault the faithful. This devastating novel about a teenage boy whose life is in turmoil in the wake of being groomed and sexually assaulted by an abusive priest offers an important glance into the life of a male victim.
Let’s speak up about sexual violence.
Let’s shout together and make the world a better place.
Check out more recent articles:
The Best Young Adult Books of April
14 YA Retellings Inspired by History and Literature
The Best Romance Books of April
posted by Marie on March, 30
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