Positive

A Memoir

By: Paige Rawl, Ali Benjamin

Narrated by: Paige Rawl, Jay Asher

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, co-written with bestselling author Ali Benjamin (The Truth About Jellyfish), calls for readers to choose action over complacency, compassion over cruelty—and above all, to be Positive.

Paige continues to speak publicly about HIV and bullying, participate in conferences, and contribute to advocacy projects in and beyond her home state of Indiana. Paige has served as an ambassador for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. She hopes that her continued work in this field can help change the way her generation thinks and talks about HIV/AIDS and bullying. To all HIV-positive youth, Paige consistently affirms, “You are living with HIV, but HIV is not who you are.”

Her incredible bravery.

Paige is such a beautiful person, inside and out. Thanks for sharing her incredible journey.

Couldn't put it down!

One amazing girl! Paige is very brave and strong for enduring such bullying! I wonder what her bullies think now! Thank you for sharing your story! I

Loved it.

Awesome book that everyone should read. My students will love it. I really did. Inspiring.

A waste of credit

The story revolves around the girl with HIV . The story is too shallow and too monotonous . The book literally puts me to sleep . I thought I bought an 15 hr book .