Speak

Title Speak
Author Laurie Halse Anderson
Anderson was born in Potsdam, New York in 1961. She graduated from Georgetown University and is the author of many critically acclaimed young adult novels including Twisted, Prom, Catalyst and the most recent, Wintergirls. Anderson currently lives in Central New York with her husband, Scott Larrabee.
ISBN 0142407321
Publisher Penguin Group
Copyright Date 1999
Reading Level/Interest Age 12+
Genre Issues: Depression, Sexual Abuse
Plot Summary
Speak is the story of Melinda Sordino, the social outcast of her high school after she calls the cops at an end-of-year party and everyone gets busted. At first, Melinda thinks she can handle it and even manages to make a new friend, Heather, after all of her old friends refuse to talk to her. But throughout the school year, Melinda sinks further and further into an all-consuming depression – she can’t concentrate on classes and her grades suffer, she starts cutting classes in order to avoid school entirely and she slowly speaks less and less until she is basically not talking at all, to anyone. Melinda is so afraid that if she speaks, the truth will come spilling out about the night of the party and then she will have to face it head on. Will Melinda be able to remain mute for the whole year or will she find the courage to speak up for herself?
Critical Evaluation
Laurie Halse Anderson has created a classic in Speak, crafting a story that is at once sad, frightening and powerful. With her very adept writing skills, Anderson is able to create a whole world, seen from the eyes of a young girl, slowly sinking into a very dangerous depression. The change in Melinda’s narration due to the depression caused by bottling up her emotions is subtle, but the effect is devastating. The reader is drawn into the story through Melinda’s descriptions which are often haunting, but just as often hilarious and sarcastic. She is a character to whom the reader feels immediately connected and for whom we want nothing but a happy ending. This is a fantastic book for any young adult reader, particularly those that are interested in realistic fiction with great character and plot development. It is also a good read for anyone struggling with rape or sexual abuse as it speaks directly to the pain, confusion, anger and fear that can be involved, while simultaneously encouraging victims to stand up and to be heard.
Reader’s Annotation
So what do you do when all your friends drop you and you become a social outcast? Keep your head down, stare at the floor and, of course, refuse to speak.
Curriculum Ties Ties into English curriculum; could be compared to The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne; used to teach about writing from a first-person perspective.
Booktalking Ideas
1. Do a first person narration from Melinda’s point of view, using the device that Anderson uses for dialogue with “Me: “ to emphasize that Melinda is not speaking much. Encourage the audience to read more to find out why.
2. Do a plot summary starting with Melinda starting school and being outcasted.
Challenge Issues
Issue: Depiction of rape is inappropriate for the age group.
Defense: 44% of rape victims are under 18 years old and 46% of those are 12-15 years old. Young adults who have experienced the trauma of rape or sexual abuse need to see their own experiences reflected, particularly to know how to fight back and how to talk about sexual abuse.
Why did I include this book?
Michael L. Printz Honor Book; National Book Award Finalist; Edgar Allan Poe Award Finalist; Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist; New York Times Bestseller; ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults; more awards than I can count.