Say the Word
Publisher
Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Publication Year
2011
ISBN
9781599903330
Pages
368 pages
Genre
realism
Format
novel
Item Type
Fiction
Annotation
Perfectionist Shawna dates the right boys, gets good grades, and follows her father's every rule. So when her estranged lesbian mother dies, Shawna needs to figure out how to have the perfect reaction. But anger from being abandoned ten years ago, combined with the introduction of her mother's other family, threatens to leave Shawna spinning out of control. A relatable and honest teen voice-and a shocking secret-make this novel a true page-turner.
Grade Level
9-12
Lexile Measure
HL580L
Diversity Topics
Family Relationships; LGBTQ (Gender and Sexuality); Divorce; Family member death; Single parent; Step parent; Legal guardianship; Family violence; Gay/Lesbian; divorced parents; death of a parent; death of a mother; single father; step mother; step brother; custody; spousal abuse; domestic abuse; verbal abuse; violent parent; rape; lesbian; lesbian mother; lesbian teenager; same-sex relationship
Main Character
female teenager
Race/Ethnicities
White
Family Formation
single father
LGBTQ+
lesbian females
Awards
Ohioana Book Awards, 2010, Finalist, Juvenile Literature
Booklist Book Review Stars, 2009
Rainbow List, 2010 Fiction
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2010
Keywords
perfectionism; secrets; abandonment; custody battle; civil rights; emotions; homophobia; friendship; sibling relationship
Diversity Impact
direct
STARS Citation
Garsee, Jeannine, "Say the Word" (2011). Diverse Families. 1507.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/diversefamilies/1507