Mod 2 Speak

Anderson, Laurie Halse Speak. New York: Penguin Group, 1999. ISBN 9781417750818

Summary:

In Speak, Melinda Sordino must begin her freshman year in high school as an outcast. An end of summer party was ruined when she called the cops. Now friends and strangers alike ignore her and even show hatred toward her. Divided into the four marking periods of the school year, Melinda’s grades and seemingly her attitude decline. Her only outlet is an art class where she is encouraged to express her feelings through her art. It isn’t until later in the book that readers discover the reason for the hostility shown her and her reluctance to participate in class, dialogue, or life.

Analysis:

Laurie Halse Anderson depicts school with accuracy and demeaning detail. Cliques, name calling, social outcasts, bullies, and loneliness are captured honestly. Melinda’s ability to deal with her attack is shown through her dialogue and her descriptions of herself and her attacker. The dialogue begins as nonexistent. Contrary to the title, Melinda does not speak. Throughout the book, she gradually finds her voice and the courage to tell of the attack. At the beginning of the story, she calls her attacker IT because she is afraid to name him. She compares herself to a scared rabbit in a field where he is a wolf, and to a deer stuck in the headlights, too afraid to move. The fact that Melinda’s parents are seemingly unaware of a problem even though she does not talk to them and her grades drop dramatically accents her feeling of being alone in her pain. She finally learns to find her voice through art and by writing on the bathroom wall. The dramatic conclusion begins with the last line of the book: “Let me tell you about it.”

Reviews:

School Library Journal October 1999:

Anderson expresses the emotions and the struggles of teenagers perfectly. Melinda's pain is palpable, and readers will totally empathize with her. This is a compelling book, with sharp, crisp writing that draws readers in, engulfing them in the story..

Kirkus September 1999:

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 September 1999:

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.

Awards

· ALA Best Book for Young Adults

· ALA Top-10 Best Book for Young Adults

· ALA Quick Pick for Young Adults

· Edgar Allan Poe Award finalist

· IRA Young Adult Choice

· Junior Library Guild Selection

· Michael L. Printz Honor Book (American Library Association)

· National Book Award Finalist

· New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

· New York Times Bestseller List

· SCBWI Golden Kite Award

· YALSA Popular Paperback for Young Adults

Connections:

For more information about the author visit http://madwomanintheforest.com/

Listen to an interview with Laurie Halse Anderson at http://madwomanintheforest.com/youngadult-speak/

For information about sexual assault visit http://www.rainn.org/

Read a poem by the author at http://madwomanintheforest.com/teachers/youngadult-speak/

If you liked this book, you might enjoy:

Losers by Matthue Roth

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson

Cover photo:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/imageviewer.asp?ean=9780142414736