Positive : surviving my bullies, finding hope, and living to change the world : a memoir

In this compelling and compulsively readable memoir, nineteen-year-old Paige Rawl tells the story of how she was mercilessly bullied in middle school...and how she overcame the ordeal to change her world for the better. In this astonishing memoir, Paige tells a story that is both deeply personal and completely universalone that will resonate deeply with the thousands of children and adults whose lives have been touched by bullying. Paige Rawl has been HIV positive since birthbut growing up, she never felt like her illness defined her. It never prevented her from entering beauty pageants or playing soccer or making the honor role. On an unremarkable day in middle school, while attempting to console a friend, Paige disclosed her HIV-positive statusand within hours the bullying began. She was called "PAIDS," first in whispers, then out in the open. Her soccer coach joked that she was an asset because opposing team members would be too afraid to touch her. Her guidance counselor told her to stop all the drama, and her principal said she couldnt protect her. One night, desperate for escape, Paige swallowed fifteen sleeping pillsone for each year of her life to date. That could have been the end of her story. Instead, it was only the beginning. The gripping first-person account of Paiges life will pull in even the most reluctant readers of nonfiction, and her call to action to choose compassion over cruelty will stay with them long after they turn the last page. An astonishing memoir for the untold number of children whose lives have been touched by bullying. Positive is a must-read for teens, their parents, educators, and administrators--a brave, visceral work that will save lives and resonate deeply. Paige Rawl has been HIV positive since birth, but growing up, she never felt like her illness defined her. On an unremarkable day in middle school, she disclosed to a friend her HIV-positive status--and within hours the bullying began. From that moment forward, every day was like walking through a minefield. Paige was never sure when or from where the next text, taunt, or hateful message would come. Then one night, desperate for escape, fifteen-year-old Paige found herself in her bathroom staring at a bottle of sleeping pills. That could have been the end of her story. Instead, it was only the beginning. Paige's memoir calls for readers to choose action over complacency, compassion over cruelty--and above all, to be... Paige Rawl has been HIV positive since birth, but growing up, she never felt like her illness defined her. On an unremarkable day in middle school, she disclosed to a friend her HIV-positive status ... and within hours the bullying began. From that moment forward, every day was like walking through a minefield. Paige was never sure when or from where the next text, taunt, or hateful message would come. Then one night, desperate for escape, fifteen-year-old Paige found herself in her bathroom staring at a bottle of sleeping pills. That could have been the end of her story. Instead, it was only the beginning Paige Rawl was a typical teenager until she disclosed that she was HIV positive. In this memoir, she shares how she survived the bullying and found the strength to become a force for positive change in this world. The coauthor is Ali Benjamin "A teenager's memoir of the experinces of bullying, being HIV positive and surviving the experiences to become a force for positive change in this world"-- Provided by publisher