Speak

Bibliography
Anderson, Laurie Halse. (1999). Speak. US: Penguin Group (Puffin) Inc. ISBN: 0-14-240732-1.

Summary

After a tragic event at a summer party, Melinda Sordino becomes an outcast among her friends and the whole school for calling the cops. She begins high school with no friends and practically mute while carrying the burden of the party's events on her heart. This compelling novel addresses a touchy subject faced by many in today's society.

Critical Analysis

Melinda Sordino was a typical teenager starting high school when the unthinkable happens while at a party with friends: she is raped by a fellow student. After the tragic event, Melinda tries to call for help but instead is blamed for breaking up the party and becomes an outcast. She enters high school with no friends and a bad label. Throughout the book, she hardly says a word, you just hear her thoughts. And its in these thoughts that a reader begins to feel her pain and connect with her on some level. Melinda slowly begins to open up again after closing herself off from others. When she begins to find her voice again, she is met with some resistance before being heard. There are other characters that affect her transition into "normalcy' within high school.

 You begin to feel her hurt and pain from not being able to open up about what happened along with trying to find her identity. " I have entered high school with the wrong hair, the wrong clothes, the wrong attitude. And I don't have anyone to sit with. I am Outcast." All you want is for Melinda to be able to speak to someone about what happened and for others to know the truth instead of judging her. This book has a way of teaching the readers that events such as rape should not be kept quiet, that holding it in will only lead to more pain.

The setting of the book mainly takes place in Melinda's high school, with some at her home and reflections of the night when her world was turned upside down. Readers can connect with Melinda when everyone entering high school is trying to find their place of belonging and their purpose in it all. The tone of the book takes on a serious mood where Melinda is struggling with the pain of the rape and all the while, trying to be normal and find her place in school.

Review Excerpts

Michael L. Prinze Honor Book
A National Book Award Finalist
Edgar Allan Poe Award Finalist
LA Times Book Prize Finalist
Winner of the SCBWI Golden Kite Award
New York Times Best Seller
ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Quick Pick
Publishers' Weekly Best Book of the Year
BCCB Blue Ribbon Book
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Horn Book  Fanfare Title

SCASL Book Award (South Carolina) Award Nominee 2002
Sequoyah Book Award Award Winner 2002
Volunteer State Book Award Award Winner 2002
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Award Nominee 2002
Evergreen Young Adult Book Award Award Winner2002
Garden State Teen Book Award Award Winner 2002
Iowa Teen Award Award Nominee 2002
California Young Reader Medal Award Nominee 2003
Nevada Young Reader's Award Award Nominee 2003
Virginia Reader's Choice Awards Award Nominee 2002
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Award Nominee 2003
ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Awards Award Winner 2000
Carolyn W. Field Award (Pennsylvania Library Association) Award Winner 2000
Grand Canyon Reader Award Award Nominee 2004
Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award Award Nominee 2004

School Library Journal- "This compelling novel presents a realistic portrayal of life in a contemporary high school. "

Kirkus Review- "The plot is gripping and the characters are powerfully drawn, but it is its raw and unvarnished look at the dynamics of the high school experience that makes this a novel that will be hard for readers to forget."

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. Melinda's sarcastic wit, honesty, and courage make her a memorable character whose ultimate triumph will inspire and empower readers."

Connection

• Create an open discussion about the book, its contents, and feelings that were stirred while reading this book. Let the students know that it can be a touchy subject but it is important to discuss.