What Do You Do When Your Mouth Won't Open?

by Susan Beth Pfeffer, Lorna Tomei

Reesa's delight in winning the junior high school essay contest vanishes as soon as she learns she is expected to read her essay to an audience of 500 people.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult

114 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Susan Beth Pfeffer was an American author best known for young adult and science fiction. After writing for 35 years, she received wider notice for her series of post-apocalyptic novels, officially titled "The Life as We Knew It Series", but often called "The Last Survivors" or "Moon Crash" series, some of which appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list.

Reviews

[Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What Do You Do When Your Mouth Won't Open?" is a good book for any kid with a social anxiety or phobia to read to see that there are ways to cope and relax. I enjoyed it when I read it as a kid, although some of the relaxation methods seemed ridiculous and embarrassing on their own---then again, I had no fear of public speaking, so maybe the methods were the lesser of two evils. I do remember it over twenty years later, so I'd recommend it as a worthwhile read as well. I don't know why they shortened the name, because it sounds rather nonsensical as simply "Mouth Won't Open."

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story about a girl whose essay wins a prize, but then she has to read it aloud at an awards ceremony. She is terrified of public speaking, but manages to take steps to overcome her fear and get help for herself.

[L. Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ran across this book recently and read it on an impulse. It is well written and reminds me of students who could not seem to find the confidence to speak up, yet, their written work revealed a hidden talent.