I just have to say this right off the bat: the characters in this book are both racist and homophobic. Sorry, but as a liberal 21st century America, that just doesn't fly with me.It would have been an ok premise, girl has racist and homophobic father, mother was a lesbian, meets her mom's partner, eventually overcomes the homophobia and stands up to her dad.That's not what happens. She never stands up to her dad, and she is still homophobic at the end of the book. All that happens is she becomes slightly sympathetic to her mom's partner and sweeps the whole problem under the bed by striking up a deal with her dad.I did not see the kind of character growth that I wanted to see, which was a girl seeing past differences and forging bonds. I saw a girl being afraid and letting that stop her from truly feeling compassion. This book was probably one of my greatest reads of the year. The thing about it is, you are a product of your environment. Whether you embrace it, as Shawna did in the beginning, or tell it to go to hell and forge your own path despite your environment. Either way it influences you.Shawna's mother left her and her father when she was very young. Not only that, but she left both of them for another woman. As if her own mother seemingly abandoning her wasn't enough she had to listen to her father's venomous attitude against homosexuality. It was no wonder that Shawna was not only homophobic, but also bigoted. It was basically what she had known. I have never felt sorry for someone who displayed such blatant ignorance as Shawna. She let her bitterness and anger towards her mother feed into her father's toxic opinions.Shawna's father was a piece of work. I genuinely have never disliked a character in a book more than I disliked this man. He was condescending, rude, overbearing, and cruel. I realize that the divorce probably changed him more than anyone realized other than Shawna. He made me really really thankful for my parents.I think my favorite character came in the form of Shawna's mother's partner Fran's oldest son. He never let Shawna get away with the bull that tended to spew out of her mouth. He made her think, he helped change her mind. I wish there had been more of them than there was, but once again this was not a story of love...at least not the romantic kind. This was a story about family, the ties that really bind, and discovering who you really are along with what you believe.
What do You think about Say The Word (2009)?
Edgy, well plotted. Read it in a day-so that's my meter for awesomeness!
—Molly
I could completely relate to how she feels. I love this book!
—Mabi
Very good book! Will reccomend to my friends and students!
—capone
It had an interesting twist to it.
—richardwattoptom
