Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Anderson, L. (1999). Speak. USA: Farrar Straus Giroux. ISBN: 0142414735

Plot Summary

  A few weeks before high school begins for freshman Melinda Sordino she attends a party where she is raped. Out of fear, Melinda anonymously calls the police who come and break up the party and also arrest some people. She tells no one as she sinks deeper and deeper into depression. Everyone at her new school hates her because they know that she was the one who called the police, but they don't know why. Melinda begins to skip school, lash out at her parents, and only finds solace in her art class. She creates a mini studio in an abandoned closet and stays there for most of the school day. Eventually the truth is revealed and Melinda can finally move on. 

Critical Evaluation

  I loved this book. I loved the courage Melinda had to stand up against abuse and injustice. I loved the realistic depiction of high school and relationships. Although I am not a fan of the style of writing Anderson does, such as the broken sentences and crossed out words, this book spoke to me and was one of the first YA novels I have ever read. 

Readers Annotation

  Speak now or forever hold your peace. 

Author's Information

  Laurie Halse Anderson was born on October 23, 1961 in Potsdam, New York. Laurie has loved writing since the second grade and has written in all formats. She began writing as a freelance reporter for various magazines and newspapers. During this time, she endured many rejections from publishers after submitting her book submissions By joining the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, she gained the support she needed to succeed.

  Laurie's first book Ndito Runs, was published in 1996 and her career took off as she began writing for young adults. Speak, which was published in 1999, is possibly her most notable novel and was turned into a movie that starred Kristen Stewart. Laurie loves to write Historical Fiction and in the future she wants to continue alternating between Young Adult and Children's literature.

  Laurie Halse Anderson has received numerous awards such as, the ALAN award in 2008 and was chosen to be AASL's School Library Month's spokesperson in 2010.

Genre

  Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties

  Schools have used Speak as an example while speaking out against abuse and sex education classes. Some schools have used this book as a reading requirement in their English classes and after school writing workshops. 

Booktalking Ideas

  - Why do you think it took so long for Melinda to speak out? Wouldn't it be better if she just told when she called the police?

  - What would you do if your friend deliberately broke up a party and you were targeted as "uncool"?

  - Have you ever met a teacher that truly cared about you besides grades and assignments?

  - Where do you go to be alone, and why?

Reading Level/Interest Age

  9-12th grade/ Young Adult

Challenge Issues

  Due to its controversial nature, this book has been challenged many times, most recently by a pastor of a church who believed that the rape scenes were detrimental to children and would lead to other things. This debate has lead to Laurie and Speak being featured on the website Speakloudly.org and Laurie continues to speak out against censorship.  I would offer my library's Collection Development Policy which highlights how challenges and reconsideration's are handled. I would ask the challenger and the professional reviewing it to familiarize themselves with the book.

Reason for Selection

  This was one of the first YA novel that I have read and it made a such a deep impact on my life.