Thursday, March 5, 2020

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Title: Speak
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Publisher: FSG Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 15, 2019 (originally 1999)

Format: Hardcover
Price: $19.99
Page Count: 224 pages
ISBN-13: 9780374311254

Reading Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)
Lexile: 690L
Interest Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)

Annotation: Melinda has a secret, one that she is afraid to share out loud. Will she find the courage to face her demons in the end?

Plot and Content Summary: After busting up an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, Melinda enters high school as an outcast. All eyes are on her, but nobody talks or listens to her. Only her art class offers solace, and it is through her work on a project that she is finally able to face what really happened.

Evaluation: Speak has a conversational tone, as if Melinda is writing her story down in her diary. There are more observations and reflections than dialogue, which speaks loudly about the title chosen. Dialogue is very minimal, which reflects who Melinda is as a person. There was heavy use of symbolism in Speak, illustrating to readers through Melinda's tree project how she was struggling and how she might feel. All the side characters in Speak (i.e., Heather, Melinda's new friend who is not so much a friend; Mr. Freeman, Melinda's art teacher who challenges her; David Petrakis, Melinda's lab partner/classmate who is not afraid to speak his mind) were used to forward Melinda's character development. Speak follows one plot line—the unraveling of Melinda's secret. This is a mystery that keeps readers invested and puzzle pieces are given over time. This was a heart-breaking read, but a necessary one.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Speak explores the theme of personal courage in speaking up. Melinda is afraid to use her voice after the trauma she went through, but she slowly finds the strength from inside her—as well as the people around her. This is a common issue that teens may struggle with, and it can empower readers to be brave and share what they are going through. This story shows that no one is alone in this feeling, and words can be powerful if we choose to use them.

Issues Present: Speak has been challenged for containing explicit sexual content and being "filthy and immoral" (Anderson, 2010). Yes, there is no question that rape and sexual abuse IS filthy and immoral. This is all the more reason to talk about it. According to RAINN, "1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime" ("Scope of the Problem," n. d.). Clearly, this is an issue that needs to be addressed. Especially for those who are victims, they may feel silenced like Melinda. With Speak, hopefully survivors recognize the impact they can make if they speak up. And for those who they choose to speak up to, would we listen and believe them.

Book Talk Ideas:

  • Why do you think Laurie Halse Anderson chose "Speak" to be the title?
  • What keeps Melinda silent? What is she afraid of?
  • Why do you think Melinda refers to Andy as "IT?" When does this change?
  • What type of effect does Mr. Freeman and David Petrakis have in Melinda's life?
  • When (and how) does Melinda finally speak up? What gives her the courage to do so?

Genre/Subgenres: Realistic fiction

Readalikes: Cut by Patricia McCormick, Inexcusable by Chris Lynch, Stop Pretending by Sonya Sones, Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

References
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