Synopses & Reviews
Paige Rawl was an ordinary girl.
Cheerleader, soccer player, honor roll student. One of the good kids at her middle school.
Then, on an unremarkable day, Paige disclosed the one thing that made her "different": her HIV-positive status.
It didn't matter that she was born with the disease or that her illness posed no danger to her classmates.
Within hours, the bullying began.
They called her PAIDS. Left cruel notes on her locker. Talked in whispers about her and mocked her openly.
She turned to school administrators for help. Instead of assisting her, they ignored her urgent pleas . . . and told her to stop the drama.
She had never felt more alone.
One night, desperate for escape, Paige found herself in front of the medicine cabinet, staring at a bottle of sleeping pills.
That could have been the end of her story. Instead, it was only the beginning.
Finding comfort in steadfast friends and a community of other kids touched by HIV, Paige discovered the strength inside of her, and she embarked on a mission to change things for the bullied kids who would follow in her footsteps.
In this astonishing memoir, Paige immerses the reader in her experience and tells a story that is both deeply personal and completely universal: a story of one girl overcoming relentless bullying by choosing to be Positive.
Review
“Rawl and Benjamin deftly capture the mindset of middle schooler Paige with anecdotes that reveal the teens innocence and naïveté. They tackle tough subjects such as suicide delicately but honestly. Readers will come away feeling inspired by Rawls work as an HIV/AIDS speaker and anti-bullying advocate.” Kirkus
Review
“This realistic and honest biography of a young woman living with HIV will draw readers in, shedding light on this difficult topic. The book beautifully conveys what its like to grow up with HIV, dispelling myths about the virus and imparting useful knowledge.” School Library Journal
Synopsis
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 Positive.
Includes twenty-five photos from Paige's personal collection throughout.
Supports the Common Core State Standards
About the Author
Paige Rawl is an accomplished speaker and an inspirational figure for the tens of thousands of kids to whom she has spoken. Today, Paige is a national youth advocate, antibullying crusader, and powerful HIV/AIDS educator. Paige has been featured in multiple national media outlets, including
USA Today,
People magazine,
Seventeen magazine,
Nick News with Linda Ellerbee, the
Huffington Post, and
Poz magazine. Since Paige was eight years old, she has participated enthusiastically in pageants. Most recently, Paige was Miss Indiana Teen Essence 2011 and Miss Indiana High School America 2012. She is currently a student at Ball State University, where she plans to study molecular biology.
Ali Benjamin's work has appeared in print, online, and on television. She lives with her family in rural Massachusetts.