rape

From her first moment as a freshman at Merryweather High School, Melinda knows she's an outcast. She busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, a major infraction of high school society rules. And now no one will talk to her. But something happened at that party that Melinda doesn't want to think about, doesn't want to confront, would do anything to avoid. But the thoughts won't go away. After she endures a confrontation Melinda must tell the truth. She must speak.

Discusses various traumas inflicted on children and teenagers, particularly rape and incest, the psychological impact of these traumatic events, and how to deal with them.

Presents evidence drawn from a study by "Ms." magazine in the 1980s on the extent of acquaintance rape, and features first-person accounts as well as scholarly perspectives that offer insight into what date rape is, how it happens, and how it can be prevented.

Fifteen-year-old Alexandra finds that her boyfriend Cliff demands all her time, isolates her by his jealousy, and finally becomes physically abusive.