Review: A Must Read for Youth and Adults
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 1, 2014
I will gladly admit Staci Stallings is my favorite author and I can't wait to read anything she writes.  I will also admit that I really dragged my feet in reading Price of Silence.  It is labeled as a Young Adult or Teen Book.  It looks nothing like a romance novel.  For someone who is over forty and hates any book with violence, Price of Silence just did not have the normal appeal that a Stallings' novel has.  Boy, was I surprised.As Robyn Lockhart walked into James Madison High School for her first day at a new school, I walked right back into my high school.  The busy hallways. . .  the rushing to class. . .  the bullying, the good looking boy we just knew would never look at us.  We all can remember our high school days.  I was instantly drawn into the lives of Robyn and Sean at James Madison.  Robyn was quickly faced with a decision to either stand up for what was right and what she believed in or say nothing and go along with the crowd.  I truly believe Robyn did not understand the consequences of her decision.  But honestly, do any of us?  As she wrote articles in the school newspaper to bring to light school violence and the lack of security, she found her own safety in jeopardy.  In comes Sean to the rescue.  He tries to the best of his ability to protect Robyn.  I love how Staci has woven their love story throughout the high school drama.Some people have written that this book is just for high school students.  I totally disagree.  Not only should high school students read it but so should adults of all ages.  The bullying and violence portrayed at James Madison is real.  As adults, to believe this type of bullying and violence does not exist in today's schools is just being irresponsible to our youth.  I gave Price of Silence to my teenage daughter to read so she is aware.  It takes more people like Robyn and Sean to stand up for what is right and what they believe to make this world better.  But it is not easy and comes with a price.  As adults, we may not face high school bullies, but we do face trials, storms and even persecutors who make us want to bolt the doors and hide under boxes in our closet.  Standing up to our fears is hard and difficult.  But having friends who ultimately would give their lives to support and protect us makes all the difference in the world as Robyn and Sean found out.Price of Silence not only is a must read for high school students but is a must for all."You have to remember that if you don't know fear, you can never really understand courage. . .  To understand courage, one must understand fear because the two are inseparable pieces of the whole."  Fear and courage are ageless.Price of Silence has turned out to be one of my favorite Stallings' novels.  You just have to read it!