Alottabotz: a new children's book series from Lynn.
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Shannon's Speech

During the final weeks of June, 2007, Lynn included a series of strips that featured the character Shannon Lake standing up on a table in the school cafeteria to tell her fellow students that she was tired of being picked on, and to ask that everyone stop teasing her and the other students in the Special Needs program.

Lynn got the inspiration for this series of strips from a very similar speech that her niece Stephanie made to her high school drama class.

Says Steph: "I wanted to tell people about me so they'd understand. It's not their fault if they teased me - they just needed an education."

Strip featuring Shannon

"I stood up in front of my drama class and told them about my cleft palate, just like Shannon does in these strips. After I made my speech, people really understood why I am how I am, and they stopped teasing me because they understood. Getting angry wouldn't have accomplished anything, but being open did."

Strip featuring Shannon

Strip featuring Shannon

"When I was finished, people clapped and the teasing stopped. It really made a difference for me."

Strip featuring Shannon

"I asked Lynn if she could put this story in the strip. Aunt Lynn asked me to write the script, to make sure I told the story in my own words. I got together with my friend Julie. We wrote it together. When we were done, it felt amazing. We gave what we wrote to Aunt Lynn. She showed me the drawings first before they were published and asked if I was satisfied. It was great to see my story put on paper."

Strip featuring Shannon

"I hope that people reading these strips will understand more, and will accept people like me!"