Speak for Yourself

Against a backdrop of religious extremism and bigotry, three young men are thrown together and forced to examine their values and attitudes in the culturally diverse city of Leicester. They all soon realise that if you don't or can't speak for yourself, you could soon be isolated. The trouble is, if you let others speak for you, can you trust them to get it right?


Immigration, common language, racism, and fundamentalism are all explored in this appealing and engaging book, developed from story ideas created by a group of young people honestly expressing how they view their rapidly changing world.


“It was good to openly discuss racist comments that we hear in the playground but wouldn't normally say in class, as it led to a better understanding of why they were wrong”, said one student.


For another, the project meant: “We understand the problems and experiences of those from other countries and that means we wouldn't just tell them to go away like others would.”


Another added: “We know it’s hard but we thought everyone must learn English . My mum doesn’t speak much English but it is really hard for her and if she did then she would know more people and they would understand us more.”