Speak Up!: A Guide to Having Your Say and Speaking Your Mind

by Halley Bondy, Jordyn Bonds (Illustrator)

Middle school is a tough time for nearly everyone, but it can be especially hard on girls. Between social and cultural pressures, academic challenges, family dynamics, changing hormones, and a growing awareness of the world around them, middle school girls often end up feeling voiceless and powerless. They can struggle with speaking in class, standing up for their beliefs, navigating complicated social situations, and generally letting their voices be heard.

Speak Up! confronts these issues head on. In a relatable, frank tone, Speak Up! lets young girls know that what they have to say is important and that their thoughts are worth hearing. By presenting real issues and scenarios that girls will recognize from their own day-to-day lives, as well as exploring the negative thoughts and feelings that can hold them back, Speak Up! will supply girls with the tools they need to understand their feelings and speak up in any situation. Interactive exercises, lists, real-life examples, and attractive graphics will keep the readers engaged from start to finish. More than a book about self-esteem, Speak Up! addresses the cultural factors that hold girls back, and features real strategies to enable them in finding, and using, their voices.

Genres: Nonfiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published June 9, 2015

About the author

Halley Bondy is a professional freelance writer, journalist, editor, producer, and mom based in Brooklyn. You can find her articles in NBC News, The Balance, Contently, Digital Trends, Bustle, Romper, The Outline, MTV, and more. She writes scripts for the “Masters of Scale” podcast, and has written for “You Must Remember This.” She has written three other books for Zest including "Speak Up, a guide to having a say and speaking your mind." Learn more at www.thisishalley.com.

Reviews

[Zest Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

“[A] well-organized and well-rounded self-help book that addresses the difficulties of being a girl in middle school . . . The graphics are appealing, and the resources are current. The author also includes personal anecdotes of situations she has faced and how she has dealt with them, which is a welcome and relatable touch." -VOYA

[Jaie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to my 8yo daughter and we had many interesting conversations during and after. Highly recommended.

[Cindy Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speaking up for ourselves in important matters seems like it should be easy. After all, if we can’t say what we like, dislike, or won’t accept, who will do it for us? Yet, many people have trouble doing this. They may be afraid to hurt others feelings, lack confidence that their point of view will be accepted, or they may worry that others will retaliate.
Learning to speak up may be especially important for kids in the tween phase, those middle school years when so many things are changing and they may not be clear enough or confident enough in what they believe to say something about it. A guide written by Halley Bondy is designed to help kids that age, girls in particular, find their voice in a variety of situations.
Speak Up! A Guide to Having Your Say and Speaking Your Mind addresses all kinds of issues, including how to voice your concerns to friends, family and people at school. It delves into how to recognize bullying and tell someone about it, how to go through a relationship break up, and more. The material is presented in easy to digest small bites, with sample conversations, lists of do’s and don’ts, quizzes, and bullet points that help readers identify what they feel strongly about and learn to communicate effectively.
Speak Up! is geared to girls, but it should also be good for moms and daughters to read and discuss the issues together. I recommend it for ages 10 to 13.