Speak

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak. Scholastic Press, 1999. 198 pages, $.99 ISBN: 9780439903462 (trade)

Plot Summary:

Mel is starting her freshman year of high school with no friends, hated by everyone who knows who she is.  Mel does not talk much since the party over the summer, the party where she called the cops.  Mel does not talk to her teachers or her parents; the only person she does talk to is the new girl at girl Heather.  But eventually even Heather dumps Mel for better friendship prospects and once again Mel is left alone and in silence.  Mel must admit and accept what happened to her the night of the party over the summer in order to find her voice and save another girl from the same fate. 

Critical Review:

Anderson’s Speak is a powerful and tragic story of a young girl in desperate need of help and understanding.  It was disappointing that no one in Melinda’s life really tried to help her.  Mel was too young and too drunk to understand that she was raped and that she was the victim.  Sadly, Melinda suffered in silence far too long.  This is an important book that should be read by both teen girl and boys.  Teens need to be aware that “no means no” and speak up against rape and sexual violence.

Genre:

Realistic Fiction

Interest Level:

Grades 8 and up

Similar Books:

Cut Patricia McCormick

You Don’t Know Me David Klass

Subjects/Themes:

Rape

Bullying

High School

Awards/Honors:

Booklist Editor’s Choice Books for Youth 1999

Capitol Choices 1999

Edgar Allan Poe Award 2000 Nominee

Golden Kite Award 2000

Horn Book Fanfare 1999

Michael L. Printz Award 2000

School Library Journal Best Books 1999

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults 2000

Author’s Website:

http://madwomanintheforest.com/

Annotation:

Speak follows Mel during her freshman year of high school as she tries to find her voice again after a traumatic experience over the summer.

Book Talking Ideas:

The summer between eighth grade and her freshman year of high school Melinda has gone from being a carefree, happy teen to a silent introvert with no friends.  Even more peculiar Mel no longer speaks to her parents or teachers.  What happened to Mel that caused her to lose her voice and her ability to stand up for herself?

Why I chose to include this book:

I chose to include Speak because I knew more than one girl who was raped or sexually assaulted in high school and a girl who suffered from selective mutism and I hope Melinda’s story will help other girls recover from similar traumatic experiences find their voices.