Speak

 

Bibliography
Anderson, Laurie Halse, 1999. SPEAK. New York, NY: Square Fish. ISBN 9780312674397.

Plot Summary
Melinda Sordino was deemed an outcast her freshman year, but not by choice. No one seems to realize or care about the pain she's going through. Everyone only seems to care about the cops being called at a summer party by Melinda, causing everyone to hate her, even her supposed friends. Ever since the party, Melinda has lost the ability to speak; to tell anyone about what really happened. What Andy Evans did to her, despite her vulnerable state. With time and art, Melinda builds up her confidence and finds the strength to speak about her rape, especially whens she learns that she was not Andy's only target. Breaking her silence will change everything. 

Critical Analysis
Written from the point of a view from a high school freshman, Anderson does well in capturing the high school setting and expressing feelings of young adults. High school's are notorious for holding cliques, no matter how much they are urged to make friends with everyone. Before freshman year began, Melinda had a group of friends. They attend a summer party, where Melinda is raped by a senior. Scared and hurt, Melinda calls 911, which ends the party and everyone is mad at her. Made an outcast from this horrible event, she refuses to talk about what happened to her. Eventually with time, expressive art, and slowly making friends again, she finds the strength to speak about what kind of guy Andy Evans is. Young adults will find this situation and strongly expressive characters to be shocking yet relatable. Melinda was isolated for ruining a good time and despite this lonely journey, she slowly begins to lift herself out of depression and finds her voice to speak the truth. A strong character whose honesty and courage will encourage readers to find strength in isolation and give themselves time to heal, regain strength, and speak up. 

Review Excerpt(s)
- National Book Award Finalist
- Michael L. Printz Honor Book
- Edgar Allen Poe Award Finalist 
- LOS ANGELES TIMES Book Prize Finalist
- Starred review in BOOKLIST: "In her YA fiction debut, Anderson perfectly captures the harsh conformity of high school cliques and one teen's struggle to find acceptance from her peers."
- Starred review in KIRKUS REVIEWS: "The plot is gripping and the characters are powerfully drawn, but it is its raw and unvarnished look of the dynamics of the high school experience that makes this a novel that will be hard for readers to forget." 

Connections
- For middle school/high school students who relate to feeling like an outcast. They may find the courage to speak up after reading this novel. 
- For young adults feeling like they cannot talk to anyone and isolate themselves, however, they continue to find the strength to persevere. 
Anderson, Laurie Halse. WINTERGIRLS. ISBN 9780142415573.
Asher, Jay. THIRTEEN REASONS WHY. ISBN 9781595141880.

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