by
When seventeen year-old Mario discovers their aunt’s boyfriend is molesting Eddie, he knows he has to take action to protect his little brother, even if it means giving up school, his girlfriend, everything he has known. Where can they run to be safe? The story of two brothers and their fight to survive.
Note: Find out what happens to Eddie as a teenager in Eddie's Choice.
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Paperback
160 pages
ISBN 978-1-929777-07-5
Grades 8 and up
Reading level: 4.4
Lexile count: HL750
A: 10.0 IL: UG BL: 4.4
“If I don’t come back from Iraq, if I die over there, you’ve got to be the maximum brother for Eddie. He’s only nine.”
“I’ll take care of Eddie, Mom. You know that.”
But now, I’ve got to get Eddie out of here!
Booklist wrote:The suspense builds as Mario must take big risks and suffer personal losses to keep his brother safe. Written with a keen understanding of teens and a remarkable awareness of sexual abuse dynamics, this wise novel is an important addition for any collection serving teens.
Readers wrote:All teens can find something to identify with or learn from in this cathartic and ultimately hopeful tale of recovery from sexual abuse.
Thank you for your book Shut Up. It is the best book on child abuse (sexual) that I’ve ever read. I have read it several times, recommended it to several inmates and several members of our mental health department. It’s AMAZING. I can relate to both Mario and Eddie and what they went through and I only wish that I could have done what Mario did instead of killing my abuser. I look forward to reading your other books if we can get them at our library. –Folsom Prison Inmate
I can also say I have grabbed my brother and ran to a relative's house because that was the safest place. I was younger than Mario when we ran though, and I had my older brother there too. But that hopeful ending you gave was lovely and fills me with my own hope. Things are good in my life now, and I hope one day things are good for Mario and Eddie and Max. Real or not, you've created people that have been lingering in my head and I just want them to be happy –Sarah, Australia
I just read SHUT UP. Wow! What a title! What a book! Probably the most skillfully crafted, carefully researched and heartbreaking book I have read in a long time. Each character is essential to the telling of the story. Nevertheless, however grim and truthful the story is, it will also be helpful to someone who HAS to read it and that reader will be grateful for the kind and hopeful ending. —B. [teacher]
