An amazing memoir for the untold quantity of children whose lives have been touched by bullying. Positive is normally a must-read for teenagers, their parents, teachers, and administrators-a fearless, visceral work that will save lives and resonate deeply.

Paige Rawl continues to be HIV positive since birth, but developing up, she never thought like her disease defined her.

On an unremarkable day in middle school, she disclosed to a pal her HIV-positive status-and within hours the bullying began. From that about Positive: A Memoir second forward, every day was like jogging through a minefield. Paige was hardly ever sure when or from where the next text, taunt, or hateful message would come. Then one night, desperate for get away, fifteen-year-old Paige found herself in her bathroom staring at a container of sleeping supplements.

That might have been the finish of her story. Instead, it was only the beginning. Paige’s memoir, co-written with bestselling writer Ali Benjamin (The Truth About Jellyfish), demands readers to choose actions over complacency, compassion over cruelty-and most importantly, to be Positive.

Paige is constantly on the speak publicly about HIV and bullying, take part in conferences, and donate to advocacy tasks in and beyond her home condition of Indiana. Paige provides served as an ambassador for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Helps Foundation. She expectations that her continuing function in this field can help change just how her generation thinks and talks about HIV/AIDS and bullying. To all HIV-positive youth, Paige consistently affirms, “You you live with HIV, but HIV is not who you are.”