Speechless

Among the many books about bullies, Harrington’s stands out for its authentic voice and unflinching portrayal of what it means to be part of the bullying. Sixteen-year-old Chelsea relishes her in-crowd status, gained through her friendship with popular Kristen and cemented by her penchant for passing along gossip. But after Chelsea drunkenly outs her classmate Noah at a party, he is brutally beaten by two jocks, one of whom is Kristen’s boyfriend. Despite promising Kristen otherwise, Chelsea tells the police what happened. As Chelsea’s social life implodes, and she herself is bullied, she takes a vow of silence, communicating her thoughts via a small whiteboard. The vow, along with new friendships and a budding romance with Noah’s best friend, change and deepen Chelsea, who learns about the power of love over hate, real friendship, and being true to oneself. In Chelsea, Harrington (Saving June) has created a powerful, strong-willed character, portraying her with true-to-life complexity. Even at her most unlikable, Chelsea never ceases to be fascinating. Ages 14–up. Agent: Diana Fox, Fox Literary. (Sept.)