Young Adult Books by Liana Gardner

Liana Gardner's Young Adult works tend to focus on the darker, more emotional sides of life. In these books she explores, death, grief, heartbreak, abuse, underage drinking, bullying, suicide, rape, censorship, and more. All the things encountered by teens as they navigate their way toward adulthood. The multi award-winning Speak No Evil delves into the life of Melody Fisher, a sixteen-year-old in court-mandated therapy for stabbing a classmate.


           Cover Art by Marcela Bolivar
           Title Treatment by Michael J. Canales

truth is the harbinger of hell

What if every time you told the truth, evil followed?

My name is Melody Fisher. My daddy was a snake handler in Appalachia until Mama died. Though years have passed, I can still hear the rattle before the strike that took her from me.

And it’s all my fault.

Since then, I’ve been passed around from foster home to foster home. I didn’t think anything could be as bad as losing Mama.

I was wrong.

But I will not speak of things people have done to me. Every time I do, worse evil follows. Now, the only thing I trust is what saved me years ago. Back when I would sing the snakes calm ...


A Note From the Author

Dear Reader,

I always felt my characters come to me with their stories to tell, and I am the mere journalist whose job is to breathe life into them on the page. That could not be any truer than in the case of Speak No Evil. This was Melody’s story from the outset, and my responsibility was to document it in the most compelling way and share it with the world.

I have always believed it important to write stories such as this. Women are more empowered to speak up today than ever before, but far too many remain silent—for good reason. Speaking up about abuse is not always met with support. Too often victims are met with ridicule and judgement, blame and shame.

I, along with many women, have personal experience with this. I chose to go to the police, though felt nothing would be done. I spoke up so the next victim might be believed. I spoke out because he took liberties with my body that he had no right to. I wasn’t about to let him take one ounce of my self-worth. I did not ask for it, it was not my fault, and no one would say otherwise.

Not everyone has a Miss Prescott and Dr. Kane … I was fortunate to have a strong support network. For those who don’t, for those who remain silent, it is not your fault. You are not to blame. My greatest wish is that one day you will find your voice and, with it, peace.