by Karen Rivers
And if someone doesn’t listen to “no” (and I sincerely hope this never happens to you), then press charges. Follow through. Let everyone know that this isn’t okay. What often happens is that it becomes a secret. A shameful secret. And yet you – the victim, in this case – have no reason to be ashamed. You said “no.” Someone didn’t listen. And you have nothing to be ashamed of. They do. I hope you understand that. And I hope that if anything like this ever happens to anyone you know that you will stand beside them while they take the right path. Press charges. Tell people. Stand up for your right to say “no” and mean it and have it mean exactly that. No.
Check out my website, karenrivers.com, where I’ve posted links to some great rape-support websites that offer much better advice than I can.
Please.
About the Author
Karen Rivers has published nine previous young adult and juvenile books, including Surviving Sam, which was shortlisted for the 2004 White Pine Award, and the Haley Andromeda trilogy (The Healing Time of Hickeys, The Cure for Crushes, The Quirky Girls’ Guide to Rest Stops and Road Trips). The Healing Time of Hickeys was shortlisted for the 2003 Canadian Library Association’s “Young Adult Book of the Year” award, is a Children’s Book Centre “Our Choice” selection and was a featured title for Barnes & Noble and Amazon.ca.
Karen lives in Victoria, British Columbia.
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