thank you for considering Speechless for your book club...
why this book, why now?
Speechless explores our perceptions about people with disabilities and challenges us to think past ‘the chair’. It is told in the first person, in the voice of a character who would usually have no voice. One recent reviewer said…
‘…the real star is being in the head of the main character.’
A younger reader said…
‘The kids in my class think I am the kid with the special needs… but reading Speechless made me realise I hardly have anything wrong with me. It’s a really good book to read when your feeling sad or worried about yourself… This book is UTTERLY SO TOTALLY THE WORLDS BEST BOOK EVER!… I was still shaking with excitement 10 minutes after I finished it.’
But it’s not just youngsters who enjoy it. I recently had a lovely email from someone who told me she is 74. She said…
‘Thank you for making me laugh and cry and understand.’
You can find more testimonials here.
from the author...
I know there’s nothing like having a chat in person, but in this new world, I’ve been trying to up my skills, so I decided to tell you a bit more in ‘person’ (by video!)…
about my inspiration
author reading of chapter one
book me for a virtual chat!
I love nothing more than connecting with readers!
Contact me if you’d like me to do a virtual Q&A, a book reading or a chat about my inspiration.
great book club questions...
- What does Harriet’s ‘inner voice’ tell you about her character?
- We rarely see mum in the story. What kind of mum do you think she is?
- Dad has to go away on a business trip. Do you think that by going he is shirking his responsibility to his family or is he doing the responsible thing?
- Do you have any sympathy with Gloria’s attitude towards Harriet at the beginning? What changes her opinions and feelings about Harriet?
- Harriet doesn’t trust Charlotte at the beginning of the story. Why not? Is it more about Charlotte or about Harriet herself?
- When Greg ridicules Harriet in the music lesson, what do Charlotte and Juliette do to support her? What about the other kids in the class? Does their silence (or laughter) encourage or discourage the bullying?
- How do you think Harriet and Jake get on before the story?
- On the very first page, Harriet says ‘Nothing will ever be normal in this family.’ What pressures does being the brother of a disabled person put on Jake in everyday life?
- When his parents go away, Jake’s behaviour seems to change dramatically. What steps does Harriet take to try and help him before she takes the risky step of leaving home and crossing town to find him?
- Harriet calls herself ‘the cripple’ in Chapter Three. Such language is obviously hurtful. Do you think it is acceptable for Harriet to use such language about herself? Why might she think of herself in those terms?
- At the end of the book, Harriet suggests that her mother could have an abortion. Have your own feelings about abortion become clearer or more complicated since reading Speechless?
- Who is your favourite character in the story and why?
- In what ways will Harriet’s life have changed by the end of the book?
- How would you describe your feelings towards Harriet when you finished reading the story? How have your attitudes and opinions about her changed over the course of the book?