by Shanti Hershenson
Genre: Contemporary
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: July 27, 2021
Blurb:
“I thought they were my best friends…”
There lives a little girl whom you will never know the name of, and for her, a terrible storm is coming. She is going to a new, public middle school knowing no one but her sister, and the horrors are absolutely endless.
But she doesn’t expect what is to come.
In her first few months of school, terrible and unspeakable things begin to happen, that go beyond what is considered “normal”. Finding the courage to get away from the wrong people is a difficult thing, but when a horrific incident occurs, she finds herself running from who she once thought to be friends.
Now lost and alone, The Girl turns to one thing to help her get through her darkest moments. Writing poetry is the one way she can express her anger, and when her school announces that they will be hosting an open-mic night, she knows she has to enter. But entering means that she will have to face her demons, and it could be her worst nightmare…
From a teenaged author, You Won't Know Her Name shines a light on a heartbreaking reality that often goes unspoken about - the issue that is bullying in middle school. From hateful comments to real, shocking violence, this book shares what cannot be ignored.
A COMING STORM
There lives a little girl
Whom you will never learn the name of
But she exists; she’s real in these pages
Her features, you may never learn
But you can know one thing
She is a survivor
Or, she thinks she is
She thinks she’s faced the worst storm
But that’s a lie, and things are only calm
Because a deadly hurricane is coming
THREE DAYS LATE
The Girl is starting middle school three days late
Once because of a car accident
Then, because of a tragedy
And lastly, because of what is supposed to be good news
She’s moving to a new school
WALKING THROUGH THE DOORS
The Girl walks through the doors for the very first time
Her sister by her side
She takes in a deep breath
Other kids flooding around her
The public school is like nothing she’s ever seen before
LOST IN THE DARK
The school floors are grey
They feel dark and dreary
And for The Girl, everything feels like a nightmare
She is lost and cannot find the way
HEADING TO THE CLASSROOM
The Girl is given a fresh slip of paper
With bold lettering telling her where to go
It’s like a map, and it gives her a classroom number
She needs to go there soon, or else she’ll be horribly late
On her already chaotic first day
STAIRS AND STARES
The Girl hurries up the stairs
And makes it to a large door
Where she can hear voices inside
Preparing to start the day
And with her backpack slung over her shoulder
She steps inside, and is met with the stares
Lots and lots of stares
TOO MANY CLASSMATES
Up until this point,
The Girl had attended private school
But now she’s struggling to fit in In a new city
With too many classmates
That she does not know
She’ll come to learn their names, in time
But for now, they are strangers, and she is alone
INTRODUCTION
She is asked to introduce herself to her classmates
To make new friends in the process
“Hey, my name is-”
It’s important for you to not know her name
“-and I like a few things.”
She explains how she likes to read and write
And the shows she watches
The movies she likes
The games she plays
She’s a normal, innocent child
My Thoughts
A heart wrenching story told through poetry in verse format that moves you to tears.
I did not know what to expect when I began this book and I was so glad that I got the opportunity to read it.
Shanti Hershenson is gifted and wise beyond her years, from the title of the book to the flow of her verse, her poetry gives you a clear picture of the angst experienced vs the apathy of the powers that be.
It reminded me of my short-lived experience off attempted bullying when I first arrived from Trinidad and Tobago at age thirteen and stood to address the teacher and spoke with an accent.
I say attempted because I understood that it was ignorance and I tried to wait them out. When I saw that they were really trying to keep it going, I cornered the leader of the pack one day in the gym locker room and acted menacing and crazy like my dad and threatened to whup the daylights out of her if she and her gang didn't quit.
She reported me to the principal but since there were no witnesses and I was a model student, she ended up in trouble and was too scared to attempt retribution.
What she didn't know was that it was all a bluff. I grew up watching my dad play psychological games and doling out abuse on my mother, my brother and older sisters, so she and her group were truly child's play.
What I liked
- The chapter headings
- Clear trigger warnings before chapters
- The flow of her writing style
- Real emotion that brought me into the story being told. I felt fourteen again and that no one hears me.
- The empowering aspect and the resources listed at the end.
What gave me pause.
Not a thing!
I recommend for teachers, families and youth groups.
I received a free digital copy of this book via Lolasblogtours and I have written this review voluntarily.
Shanti Hershenson's first two novellas were published when she was in the sixth grade, although her writing journey started long before then. Ever since she could hold a pencil, marker, or crayon, she was creating stories. They started from pictures, mere scribbles, and eventually, turned into captivating tales.
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