Dear Sara Shandler,

Before I read your book, I would have considered myself blind and ignorant. Your book discussed problems that I had never bothered myself with because they did not happen to me. However, about a year ago, I had this downfall and these problems happened to me: eating disorders, depression, cutting myself, family issues, and school issues. I just could not believe it. I did not make it happen, it just did. At times, I remember how I felt I was the only one with my problems and it was terrible! Not realizing it then, months later your book would contradict that thought.

At the beginning of my school year, I was in my mom’s office and picked up your book and started reading. I thought it was just going to be a book of poems and letters of other girls’ lives, but boy was I wrong! As I was reading, I guess my eyes were just clearing themselves from the madness I was seeing and hearing all my life. I guess this was a turning point for me reading Ophelia Speaks. I realized I wasn’t the only one dealing with these issues and that there were real people with the same problems. I guess you could say it gave me some satisfaction, reassurance, and hope that I wasn’t the only one. I was also appalled at what had happened to these girls. I compared that to me and thought this could be me in a few years if I don’t get help, it could be serious.

Having finished the book, it made me think how hard it must have been for these girls to write these letters to you and have millions of people read them. It makes me wonder if their letters were the only way they had to tell others what they have been through. Being me, I did not have enough courage to stand up and talk about my problems with other people, let alone put my thoughts in a letter or poem to someone I don’t even know. However though I didn’t write them, some parts of your book felt like parts of my life written down on pages in the book.

I know I still have to face my problems. I look at my friends and wonder what it would be like to not have any problems, but maybe they too have problems they are afraid to talk about.

I look back at the past year in my life and it just crushes me. I know it didn’t have to be like this but it was. In time it will unravel and show itself more clearly, but for now it is still a haze. To you, I just want to say thank you and your book and all those girls’ letters for making a change in me and letting me know I am not alone.

Sincerely,
Caroline Everts

Grade 7

Randy Smith Middle School, Fairbanks, Alaska

Teacher: Jessica Westfall