The Wednesday Letters

1. The Wednesday Letters By Becca Beaudoin

2. His 2007 novel, The Wednesday Letters, reached #6 on The New York Times bestseller list. Born February 1, 1971 in Florissant, Missouri March 2, 2010, Jason released The Cross Gardener, his first hardcover novel with Penguin. Jason also works as a political and public policy consultant and is the founder of PoliticalDerby.com Jason F. Wright

3. Protagonist • The protagonist is this book is Malcolm. He is a hero because he triumphs over a lot of hardships in his life. He is there for his family and shows great qualities including forgiving others

4. Antagonist • Nathan is the antagonist in this book because he does a lot of hurtful things to a lot of people. He frames Malcolm into a crime and shows little sympathy in the death of the Coopers.

5. Favorite Character • My favorite character is Malcolm because he overcomes a lot in his life and is a forgiving person. He was a fun character to want to relate to.

6. Least Favorite Character • My least favorite character in this book is Malcolm’s attorney, Nathan. I don’t like him because he gets into other people’s business and he framed Malcolm for a crime he did not commit.

7. Exposition • Jack and Laurel Cooper die in each other’s arms in their bed. This reunites their three children to come together for the funeral

8. Rising Action • The kids find letters that their dad wrote to their mom. He wrote her every single Wednesday from the day that they were married. While reading the thousands of letters, they discover many family secrets and are brought together with a life-changing moment of truth.

9. Climax • The Children read many shocking and disturbing things, and to go along with this topic, they find out that their mother was raped and did not tell anyone about it. Malcolm finds out that Jack is not his real dad. Malcolm blames his older brother for lying to him. There is much contention.

10. Falling Action • The funeral is held and things are sorted out about the rape. Malcolm finds out who raped his mother, Pastor Doug White. Surprisingly, Malcolm handles the news well and the children are united again.

11. Resolution • Malcolm pulls his life together. He gets married and has a son. He starts his own thing with his wife with writing her letters.

12. Setting • The Domus Jefferson – The home of Jefferson (a B&B) rested in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia

13. Themes • betrayal and pain • healing and forgiveness • rebirth and change • love and commitment • forgiveness and redemption

14. Book Rating • Wednesday Letters, reached #6 on The New York Times bestseller list.

15. Social Issue: Rape • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7uColRBaag

16. Lyrics • "Haunted"Long lost words whisper slowly to meStill can't find what keeps me hereWhen all this time I've been so hollow insideI know you're still thereWatching me, wanting meI can feel you pull me downFearing you, loving youI won't let you pull me downHunting you, I can smell you - aliveYour heart pounding in my headWatching me, wanting meI can feel you pull me downSaving me, raping me, watching meWatching me, wanting meI can feel you pull me downFearing you... loving youI won't let you pull me down http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/evanescence/haunted.html

17. Poem • Rape.....loss of innocenceRape.....didn't have a choiceRape.....Nobody heard my voiceRape.....memory of the pastRape.....hope it crosses my minderases out of my memoryso i don't have to remember the pasti wish she didn't tell me to goso I would still have itmy innocence i meanI used to be so clean now i'm violated, unclean and dirtyand the guilt is killing meeven though its not my faulti feel as though it iswhen she told me to go i could have refused and ranI could have dropped the stuff at the doorand ran.....but no.....i chose to go inand he accomplished his missionwhat he set out to doi was only 5 years old.....he was 18i hated every minute of it I closed my eyes and imagined I was invisiblebut he took all the invisibilityinside of me and i still remember the daythe scene keeps playing in my head like a movieRape.....didn't have a choiceRape.....nobody heard my voice. Funmi Esuruoso http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/rape-13/

18. Broadcast • http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/play/1288089

19. Local News Salt Lake City man charged with rape of child By Abigail Shaha Deseret News Published: Friday, Feb. 12, 2010 8:17 p.m. MST SALT LAKE CITY — A Salt Lake City man accused of sexually abusing a girl for nine years was charged Friday with seven first-degree felonies, including rape of a child and sodomy on a child. The abuse reportedly began when the girl was 7 years old in April 2001, continuing through January 2010. The girl said 36-year-old Jose Manuel Gadea sexually violated her in numerous ways and forced her to touch him inappropriately on a daily basis for years. Gadea is charged with four counts of sex abuse of a child, two counts of sodomy on a child, two counts of forcible sodomy, one count of rape and one count of rape of a child. — Abigail Shaha http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700009233/Salt-Lake-City-man-charged-with-rape-of-child.html

20. Introduction to Rape • What: Rape is the crime of forcing another person to submit to sexual intercourse. • Why: People rape not for the sexual desire, but for the feeling of ultimate control • Who: Rape occurs with a friend, date, or trusted adult 93% of the time • When and Where: Rapes can occur at anytime and in any place, but most likely to occur at the victims home or nearby between 6 pm and midnight. Amy Bellows, Coping with Acquaintance Rape

21. Who is to Blame? “No one asks for rape! Rape is not the victims fault. She cannot spot a rapist from a crowd of men. No one has the right to violate your body.” • “I shouldn’t have been drunk” • “I should have gone home with a friend” • “I shouldn’t have worn that mini-skirt” What do you think? Amy Bellows, Coping with Acquaintance Rape

22. How to Reduce Your Risk • Communicate directly • STAY SOBER • Stay in a group • Develop a safety plan • Help your friends • Trust your institution • Believe in yourself Cassandra Worrell, Understanding and Surviving Rape

23. Shocking Statistics • More than 50% of all rapes were reported by victims to have occurred one mile of their home or at their home • 43% of rapes occur between 6:00pm and midnight • 1 out of 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime • 15% of sexual assault and rape victims are under age 12 • About 3,204 pregnancies occurred in 04-05 resulting from rape www.rainn.org

24. The Victims • Psychologically • Physically • Emotionally

25. What to do if You are Raped • Go to a place where you feel safe and secure • Tell someone you trust • Preserve all physical evidence • Seek medical help • Consider contacting the police • Seek counseling/call a rape crisis hotline Cassandra Worrell, Understanding and Surviving Rape

26. Where to go for Help • RAINN – National Sexual Assault Hotline (24 hours a day) 1-800-HOPE • School Guidance Office • www.rainn.org

27. Bibliography • www.rainn.org • Amy Bellows, Coping with Acquaintance Rape, psychcentral.com, 22 Jun 2007 • Cassandra Worrell, Understanding and Surviving Rape, New Youth Connections, 1993