I Only Said I Had No Choice

I Only Said #1

by Celia Banting

Shane's mom never gave him a choice; everything changed because she wanted it to. He tried to tell her but she wouldn't listen, so he did the only thing he could think of to get her attention. Shane learns how to control his anger and make positive life choices; and he gains understanding about adult co-dependency.

203 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Julie Suzanne]

The author sent me a letter promoting her "I only said" book series as fiction written by counselors that provides counseling to students vicariously. I decided to check a few out before deciding to purchase the collection for my library.

The book begins as the 14-year-old protagonist is being slammed to the ground and injected with a tranquilizer in a juvenile detention facility, and by the third page is about to gang raped in a bathroom. It was graphic enough to make me a bit sick and to seem somewhat realistic. My expectation is that my middle school students may be hooked right away, only possibly being deterred by the use of the word "buttocks" on page one and some graphic bowel movement imagery.

After a suicide attempt and discovering what the kid's problem is (he's full of rage due to his mother getting married and he threatened to kill his stepdad), he gets shipped off to "Beach Haven" which is clearly an in-patient mental health treatment facility for teens, and there he is perfectly counseled by caring staff. He and his peers gladly attend classes and group therapy sessions in which expert counselors teach about controlling and coping with anger, codependency, releasing blame, and of course, talking about feelings. The therapists are warm and loving, and good at using visual imagery, story-telling, analogies, hands on experiences, etc. to teach their concepts and I'll be honest in saying that I learned a bit myself! I'm going to make my son read it because everyone could use some counseling on how to control anger, right?

There were a few problems that may lead to the book becoming outdated before it's fully appreciated such as a very unappetizing cover, some slang (or lack of slang) that is already outdated since 2006 ("babes," and "buttocks"), but really, it is a great access point for students who can read but aren't in a position to be receiving high quality therapy. I look forward to reading the next one, for its content alone. I didn't love the writing, but the style and art of the book is not the point....it's meant to teach and counsel.

[Moe]

This book was the worst writing I have seen in a while. The only reason why I didn't give this a 1 star is because it had a lot of meaning. The protagonist deals with a psychologically abusing step father, who does his best to try and cut between the close bond the boy and his mother have. I couldn't really relate, and I didn't have much respect for the main character either. He started in juvenile hall, and after a close call in the shower room, he decided that the best way to not experience that again is to not stick up for himself and fight, but decided to attack the security guards every time they try and get him out of his little padded room. Retarded. I guess someone could argue that he was only 14, and he was too young to know what to do. But seriously, there is always a better way to get out of whatever is facing you, anything besidesthat. You'd have to read it to understand. I guess this is also a series? Not going to read that. I think this is a good book/series for kids who don't have their own counselors, but if you are a healthy individual, I doubt this will be interesting or revealing in any way.

[My]

A really fantastically written book.
Almost put the book down on Pg.19, but so glad I didn't. It will most likely make you scream out, cry, and laugh out loud. Ok, maybe not cry but close to it. A book any teen could enjoy. xD