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袚芯胁芯褉懈
袚芯褋褌褉芯褋芯褑褨邪谢褜薪懈泄 褉芯屑邪薪 袥芯褉褨 袚芯谢蟹 袗薪写械褉褋芯薪 芦袚芯胁芯褉懈禄 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪懈泄 褍 褎芯褉屑褨 褖芯写械薪薪懈泻邪 褌褉懈薪邪写褑褟褌懈褉褨褔薪芯褩 写褨胁褔懈薪泻懈. 袧邪 锌械褉褕懈泄 锌芯谐谢褟写, 褍 薪褜芯屑褍 锌芯泻邪蟹邪薪芯 蟹胁懈褔邪泄薪械 褕泻褨谢褜薪械 卸懈褌褌褟 邪屑械褉懈泻邪薪褋褜泻芯谐芯 锌褨写谢褨褌泻邪, 褟泻懈泄 薪械 薪邪写褌芯 写芯斜褉械 泻芯屑褍薪褨泻褍褦 蟹 褍褔懈褌械谢褟屑懈, 斜邪褌褜泻邪屑懈 泄 写褉褍蟹褟屑懈. 孝邪 薪邪 褑褜芯屑褍 褌谢褨 锌械褉械写 褔懈褌邪褔邪屑懈 锌芯褋褌邪褦 褋褌褉邪褕薪邪 褉械邪谢褜薪褨褋褌褜, 褍 褟泻褨泄 锌邪薪褍褦 谢懈褑械屑褨褉褋褌胁芯, 斜邪泄写褍卸褨褋褌褜, 械谐芯褩蟹屑, 械屑芯褑褨泄薪械 泄 褎褨蟹懈褔薪械 薪邪褋懈谢褜褋褌胁芯. 校 褕泻芯谢褨 褨薪泻芯谢懈 胁褨写斜褍胁邪褦褌褜褋褟 斜褍写褜-褖芯 鈥� 褨 芯褌芯褔械薪薪褞 斜邪泄写褍卸械. 袗 胁 褋泻谢邪写薪芯屑褍 锌褨写谢褨褌泻芯胁芯屑褍 胁褨褑褨 褌邪泻 胁邪卸泻芯 胁褨写薪邪泄褌懈 胁 褋芯斜褨 胁锌械胁薪械薪褨褋褌褜, 褖芯斜 写芯屑芯谐褌懈褋褟 褍胁邪谐懈, 薪邪胁褔懈褌懈褋褟 谐芯胁芯褉懈褌懈 泄 薪械 斜芯褟褌懈褋褟. 笑褟 泻薪懈卸泻邪 写芯锌芯屑芯卸械 褞薪邪泻邪屑 褌邪 写褨胁褔邪褌邪屑 褉芯蟹褨斜褉邪褌懈褋褟 胁 褋芯斜褨 褌邪 褍薪懈泻薪褍褌懈 锌芯屑懈谢芯泻, 邪 斜邪褌褜泻邪屑 鈥� 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨褌懈 胁谢邪褋薪褍 写懈褌懈薪褍.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published October 22, 1999
10.6k people are currently reading
429k people want to read
About the author
Laurie Halse Anderson
111听books17.3k听followersUPDATE! Rebellion 1776 - an adventure novel set in Boston in the middle of the Revolution and a smallpox epidemic - will be publishing on April 1st!
For bio stuff: Laurie Halse Anderson is a New York Times bestselling author whose writing spans young readers, teens, and adults. Combined, her books have sold more than 8 million copies.
Laurie has been nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award four times. Two of her books, Speak and Chains, were National Book Award finalists, and Chains was short-listed for the prestigious Carnegie medal. Two more books, Shout and The Impossible Knife of Memory, were long-listed for the National Book Award. Laurie was selected by the American Library Association for the 2009 Margaret A. Edwards Award and has been honored for her battles for intellectual freedom by the National Coalition Against Censorship and the National Council of Teachers of English.
Laurie lives in Philadelphia, where she enjoys cheesesteaks while she writes. Find out more about Laurie by following her on Bluesky at @halseanderson.bsky.social, Instagram at halseanderson, and Facebook at lauriehalseanderson, or by visiting her website, madwomanintheforest.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33,120 reviews
April 16, 2010
"THE FIRST TEN LIES THEY TELL YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL
1. We are here to help you.
2. You will have enough time to get to your class before the bell rings.
3. The dress code will be enforced.
4. No smoking is allowed on school grounds.
5. Our football team will win the championship this year.
6. We expect more of you here.
7. Guidance counselors are always available to listen.
8. Your schedule was created with your needs in mind.
9. Your locker combination is private.
10. These will be the years you will look back on fondly."
I'm trying to think of ways to go about describing this book, and I'm not really sure how to start. It's dark, depressing, terrifying, and amazing. Everyone should read it. You might hate it (and I'll get to you), but you must read it.
The story starts with Melinda, the narrator, starting 9th grade. Everyone, even her old friends, won't talk to her. It's revealed that during the summer Melinda called the cops on a party and it got busted - a few people got arrested, and now everyone hates her. Something happened to Melinda at that party, something she hasn't told anyone about. She retreats into herself, withdrawing from school, her family, and any possibility of friendship. It isn't until the middle of the story that we learn what really happened at the party, but Anderson gives us a big fat hint in this scene where Melinda and her lab partner dissect a frog in biology class:
"Our frog lies on her back. Waiting for a prince to come and princessify her with a smooch? I stand over her with my knife. Ms. Keen's voice fades to a mosquito whine. My throat closes off. It's hard to breathe. I put out my hand to steady myself against the table. David pins her froggy hands to the dissection tray. He spreads her froggy legs and pins her froggy feet. I have to slice open her belly. She doesn't say a word. She is already dead. A scream starts in my gut - I can feel the cut, smell the dirt, leaves in my hair."
Holy god. Remember what I said about the terrifying stuff?
The main reason I loved this book is because I was very, very similar to Melinda in high school. Her attitude about school, her cynicism towards the whole "high school is the best time of your life" crap, her opinions about classes and teachers and the uselessness of guidance counselors...that was me. I kind of wished I could transport myself into the story, so Melinda and I could sneer at pep rallies together.
And then I felt bad, because nothing bad happened to me in high school. Nothing like the stuff Melinda went through. She had a reason for being so withdrawn and unhappy and angry about everything. I didn't. It's sort of an unpleasant realization - wow, I was a total snot for absolutely no reason. I was okay with this eventually, but some people might not be. I can imagine someone criticizing this story for being too emo, or saying that Melinda was too much of a downer.
(Okay, I didn't want to give away spoilers, but I can't talk about my next point without revealing some stuff. So, just to be clear...
HERE BE SPOILERS, YOU'VE BEEN WARNED:)
Then again, they could be like a certain reviewer YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE who wrote, and I quote, "I'm so sick of this [sic:] stories about girls who got raped and spend the entire book pitying themselves."
*takes breath, counts to ten.*
Apparently Laurie Halse Anderson gets this a lot. My edition of the book has an interview with her, and she said, "I have gotten one question repeatedly from young men. These are guys who liked the book, but they are honestly confused. They ask me why Melinda was so upset about being raped."
I'm...they...why...what the fuck. I think I need to go sit in a corner and do some yoga breaths, be back later.
Read for: Social Justice in Young Adult Literature
1. We are here to help you.
2. You will have enough time to get to your class before the bell rings.
3. The dress code will be enforced.
4. No smoking is allowed on school grounds.
5. Our football team will win the championship this year.
6. We expect more of you here.
7. Guidance counselors are always available to listen.
8. Your schedule was created with your needs in mind.
9. Your locker combination is private.
10. These will be the years you will look back on fondly."
I'm trying to think of ways to go about describing this book, and I'm not really sure how to start. It's dark, depressing, terrifying, and amazing. Everyone should read it. You might hate it (and I'll get to you), but you must read it.
The story starts with Melinda, the narrator, starting 9th grade. Everyone, even her old friends, won't talk to her. It's revealed that during the summer Melinda called the cops on a party and it got busted - a few people got arrested, and now everyone hates her. Something happened to Melinda at that party, something she hasn't told anyone about. She retreats into herself, withdrawing from school, her family, and any possibility of friendship. It isn't until the middle of the story that we learn what really happened at the party, but Anderson gives us a big fat hint in this scene where Melinda and her lab partner dissect a frog in biology class:
"Our frog lies on her back. Waiting for a prince to come and princessify her with a smooch? I stand over her with my knife. Ms. Keen's voice fades to a mosquito whine. My throat closes off. It's hard to breathe. I put out my hand to steady myself against the table. David pins her froggy hands to the dissection tray. He spreads her froggy legs and pins her froggy feet. I have to slice open her belly. She doesn't say a word. She is already dead. A scream starts in my gut - I can feel the cut, smell the dirt, leaves in my hair."
Holy god. Remember what I said about the terrifying stuff?
The main reason I loved this book is because I was very, very similar to Melinda in high school. Her attitude about school, her cynicism towards the whole "high school is the best time of your life" crap, her opinions about classes and teachers and the uselessness of guidance counselors...that was me. I kind of wished I could transport myself into the story, so Melinda and I could sneer at pep rallies together.
And then I felt bad, because nothing bad happened to me in high school. Nothing like the stuff Melinda went through. She had a reason for being so withdrawn and unhappy and angry about everything. I didn't. It's sort of an unpleasant realization - wow, I was a total snot for absolutely no reason. I was okay with this eventually, but some people might not be. I can imagine someone criticizing this story for being too emo, or saying that Melinda was too much of a downer.
(Okay, I didn't want to give away spoilers, but I can't talk about my next point without revealing some stuff. So, just to be clear...
HERE BE SPOILERS, YOU'VE BEEN WARNED:)
Then again, they could be like a certain reviewer YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE who wrote, and I quote, "I'm so sick of this [sic:] stories about girls who got raped and spend the entire book pitying themselves."
*takes breath, counts to ten.*
Apparently Laurie Halse Anderson gets this a lot. My edition of the book has an interview with her, and she said, "I have gotten one question repeatedly from young men. These are guys who liked the book, but they are honestly confused. They ask me why Melinda was so upset about being raped."
I'm...they...why...what the fuck. I think I need to go sit in a corner and do some yoga breaths, be back later.
Read for: Social Justice in Young Adult Literature
July 12, 2017
4.5 stars! I think this is a really powerful novel that should be read by so many, especially teens.
Speak is a fascinating tale of learning to use your voice when you previously believed it did not matter. The message is one I think all can benefit from and I鈥檓 so glad I finally read it.
Trigger warning: rape
Laurie Halse Anderson is a fabulous writer. She has a very distinctive writing style; It鈥檚 an unfiltered stream of consciousness that feels so real. I previously read Wintergirls and found them to be written very similarly. Melinda鈥檚 narration is authentic and raw 鈥� she鈥檚 not here to make you love her or hate here, she鈥檚 here to tell her story as is. Her humor is dry and loveable which creates an interesting dynamic with the rest of her character.
I will say, there really isn鈥檛 a plot, which is usually a letdown for me. The entire book is essentially Melissa navigating her freshman year with a heavy weight on her shoulders and few people in her company. There is definitely a large amount of character development which was executed well and I understand that is the intention of the story, so I鈥檓 not going to complain that it didn鈥檛 feed into my reading preferences. The novel didn鈥檛 need a large plot because the story is of personal growth and strength, not high school drama or romance.
I will say, the ending felt a little abrupt. I would have loved even just an epilogue to have a more concrete ending (and justice), though many people in Melinda鈥檚 situation do not get closure, so maybe that was the author鈥檚 intent.
What鈥檚 interesting is that this book was always described to me as a revolutionary story about sexual assault, but I only found out in the middle of reading that this aspect of the story is not commonly known before reading? Apparently, the point of the story is to find out WHY Melinda cannot speak, though I went into this story already knowing the reason. I definitely don鈥檛 think my knowledge of the events of this story affected my reading experience at all. If anything, I think I got more out of the story because I was able to read into details as they were being revealed instead of having to decode them later. I really wish the content of this story was more widespread (though I do seem to be a little late in reading this one) because I think it鈥檚 so important people know the sensitive topics they are reading about. Sexual assault is not a plot twist (and I am not suggesting Speak feeds into this because I think the topic was handled with accuracy and respect in this case, I鈥檓 making a general statement) and I would love for us to not have to silence discussion on its inclusion in the book in fear of ~*s p o i l e r s*~. I think people should know the content of this book before reading, if only to help protect those who may be deeply affected by the events of this novel, where reading unprepared could cause a lot of harm.
I really loved this book and would definitely recommend it!
Speak is a fascinating tale of learning to use your voice when you previously believed it did not matter. The message is one I think all can benefit from and I鈥檓 so glad I finally read it.
Trigger warning: rape
Laurie Halse Anderson is a fabulous writer. She has a very distinctive writing style; It鈥檚 an unfiltered stream of consciousness that feels so real. I previously read Wintergirls and found them to be written very similarly. Melinda鈥檚 narration is authentic and raw 鈥� she鈥檚 not here to make you love her or hate here, she鈥檚 here to tell her story as is. Her humor is dry and loveable which creates an interesting dynamic with the rest of her character.
I will say, there really isn鈥檛 a plot, which is usually a letdown for me. The entire book is essentially Melissa navigating her freshman year with a heavy weight on her shoulders and few people in her company. There is definitely a large amount of character development which was executed well and I understand that is the intention of the story, so I鈥檓 not going to complain that it didn鈥檛 feed into my reading preferences. The novel didn鈥檛 need a large plot because the story is of personal growth and strength, not high school drama or romance.
I will say, the ending felt a little abrupt. I would have loved even just an epilogue to have a more concrete ending (and justice), though many people in Melinda鈥檚 situation do not get closure, so maybe that was the author鈥檚 intent.
What鈥檚 interesting is that this book was always described to me as a revolutionary story about sexual assault, but I only found out in the middle of reading that this aspect of the story is not commonly known before reading? Apparently, the point of the story is to find out WHY Melinda cannot speak, though I went into this story already knowing the reason. I definitely don鈥檛 think my knowledge of the events of this story affected my reading experience at all. If anything, I think I got more out of the story because I was able to read into details as they were being revealed instead of having to decode them later. I really wish the content of this story was more widespread (though I do seem to be a little late in reading this one) because I think it鈥檚 so important people know the sensitive topics they are reading about. Sexual assault is not a plot twist (and I am not suggesting Speak feeds into this because I think the topic was handled with accuracy and respect in this case, I鈥檓 making a general statement) and I would love for us to not have to silence discussion on its inclusion in the book in fear of ~*s p o i l e r s*~. I think people should know the content of this book before reading, if only to help protect those who may be deeply affected by the events of this novel, where reading unprepared could cause a lot of harm.
I really loved this book and would definitely recommend it!
October 16, 2017
2017 Reread: I read this for my young adult literature class along with scholastic articles about the book, which added a great new layer to my interpretation of the novel.
Original Review: I've owned this book for years and never got around to reading it until yesterday. I'm happy I did because this was one of the best books that I have read lately. Speak was very well paced and I never found the story to be dragging or boring. I loved the character development and Melinda's voice throughout the story. (Original rating: 5/5 stars)
Original Review: I've owned this book for years and never got around to reading it until yesterday. I'm happy I did because this was one of the best books that I have read lately. Speak was very well paced and I never found the story to be dragging or boring. I loved the character development and Melinda's voice throughout the story. (Original rating: 5/5 stars)
March 15, 2019
I didn't think I'd be so gripped by this book but the author captures the pains and troubles of everyday high school life with such honesty and raw emotion that I couldn't help recognising half the characters from my own high school days. There's Rachel, the ex best friend who's had a personality transplant over the summer... Heather, the temporary friend who's just waiting to be snapped up by a cooler clique... and, of course, the protagonist who doesn't quite fit in anywhere.
The beauty of this novel is that it works well alone without the much darker and more important story behind it. But, that being said, it also serves as a very sad and moving voice for rape victims, particularly for those who feel at fault, or scared and embarrassed by what happened. It was a quick, accessible read, but it's also the kind that plays on your mind long after finishing it.
The beauty of this novel is that it works well alone without the much darker and more important story behind it. But, that being said, it also serves as a very sad and moving voice for rape victims, particularly for those who feel at fault, or scared and embarrassed by what happened. It was a quick, accessible read, but it's also the kind that plays on your mind long after finishing it.
April 16, 2022
Update: Definitely stands up to the test of time (in my humble opinion).
Once I finished reading the last word I knew I was going to reread it. Yes that profound.
Honest. Authentic. Real. Use all those words and their synonyms and you have this book. I literally wanted to hop into the sea of words and tell Melinda Sordino " I'll be your friend! Don't despair !" Alas I couldn't do that though. I had to see her struggle. It's painful but since I watched the movie (which was done well by the way) first before reading the book I knew where she was coming from. Melinda's voice was so...normal. She wasn't there to make you like her or hate her. She just who she really was. I liked her immensely though and in real life think would have been friends with her. Her whole take on high school was hilarious and kind of scarily accurate. I totally love the character of David Petrakis. He would have been my hero in ninth grade. No joke.
The cover fits the story like a glove. Not all book jackets can boast that, so let's give the jacket cover artist a round of applause!!! Ok I need stop raving about the cover so much but I couldn't help it. The visual person inside of me had to let it out.
Melinda is never really described in detail of how she look likes, so you get the sense the author wanted to make her as relatable as possible, and that she is. We all might not have had to go through the same demons she has, but I know we all have felt alone and without help and that is what makes her the perfect narrator. The ending was done so utterly well I'm not sure I can say anything about it. I'd probably give it away if I try. Let's just say getting back at people is very rewarding.
It is getting added to my all time favorites. If you like this book read . Not quite the same style but definitely the same feel.
Once I finished reading the last word I knew I was going to reread it. Yes that profound.
Honest. Authentic. Real. Use all those words and their synonyms and you have this book. I literally wanted to hop into the sea of words and tell Melinda Sordino " I'll be your friend! Don't despair !" Alas I couldn't do that though. I had to see her struggle. It's painful but since I watched the movie (which was done well by the way) first before reading the book I knew where she was coming from. Melinda's voice was so...normal. She wasn't there to make you like her or hate her. She just who she really was. I liked her immensely though and in real life think would have been friends with her. Her whole take on high school was hilarious and kind of scarily accurate. I totally love the character of David Petrakis. He would have been my hero in ninth grade. No joke.
The cover fits the story like a glove. Not all book jackets can boast that, so let's give the jacket cover artist a round of applause!!! Ok I need stop raving about the cover so much but I couldn't help it. The visual person inside of me had to let it out.
Melinda is never really described in detail of how she look likes, so you get the sense the author wanted to make her as relatable as possible, and that she is. We all might not have had to go through the same demons she has, but I know we all have felt alone and without help and that is what makes her the perfect narrator. The ending was done so utterly well I'm not sure I can say anything about it. I'd probably give it away if I try. Let's just say getting back at people is very rewarding.
It is getting added to my all time favorites. If you like this book read . Not quite the same style but definitely the same feel.
March 8, 2008
Just okay. I was particularly disappointed with the ending and felt that there was an element of glorification in this novel that I didn't appreciate. Let me explain:
Although I loved the fact that Melinda finally finds her voice and a way to express herself, I felt as if the story was wrapped up a little too quickly and too neatly. Let's be honest, that ending was more than a little unrealistic. You can't simply put a pretty bow on the end of this novel, otherwise the entire tale becomes trite. Having been through this myself and sadly listened to countless stories similar (and worse) than mine, I can say that 9 times out of 10 you don't get closure, let alone retribution. And having someone swoop in to save you is pretty much unheard of, otherwise we wouldn't have such a thing as "rape culture" which tragically pervades our country. I think this particular ending potentially puts across the wrong message to girls who might find themselves in a similar situation or who are in this situation.
Nevertheless, it's an important story to be told and there were scenes and emotions that were absolutely right on and very relatable.
Although I loved the fact that Melinda finally finds her voice and a way to express herself, I felt as if the story was wrapped up a little too quickly and too neatly. Let's be honest, that ending was more than a little unrealistic. You can't simply put a pretty bow on the end of this novel, otherwise the entire tale becomes trite. Having been through this myself and sadly listened to countless stories similar (and worse) than mine, I can say that 9 times out of 10 you don't get closure, let alone retribution. And having someone swoop in to save you is pretty much unheard of, otherwise we wouldn't have such a thing as "rape culture" which tragically pervades our country. I think this particular ending potentially puts across the wrong message to girls who might find themselves in a similar situation or who are in this situation.
Nevertheless, it's an important story to be told and there were scenes and emotions that were absolutely right on and very relatable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2021
It is easier not to say anything. Shut your trap, button your lip, can it. All that crap you hear on TV about communication and expressing feelings is a lie. Nobody really wants to hear what you have to say.
Speak, to me, is taken more as a lesson than just a book. A lesson worth reading and worth analyzing every little detail, no matter how the writing is and no matter how repetitive it can get. It's a short novel where the life of an individual is so much more, and worth so much more, but people don't show that side because they don't believe it to be worth so much. Speak spoke to me. It's a story where you reflect on your past actions of judgment, shamefulness, misguidedness, and even power, especially power. We've all been in those times, judging people, looking at them like we're better than them when in reality, we are nothing close to them. We end up misjudging them but don't realize it after, and I think that's what this book spoke to me the most about. I think it's about giving you a short lesson on finding out the true colors of your friends, the people around you, and seeing how one thing can make a difference for everyone, even when that "everyone" doesn't know the reasons behind the actions that changed every perspective.
On the paper you will find one word, the name of an object. I hope you like it. You will spend the rest of the year learning how to turn that object into a piece of art. You will sculpt it. You will sketch it, papier-m芒ch茅 it, carve it. If the computer teacher is talking to me this year, you can use the lab for computer-aided designs. But there's a catch鈥攂y the end of the year, you must figure out how to make your object say something, express an emotion, speak to every person who looks into it.
Melinda Sordino called the cops on a night at a party, resulting in teens getting busted, arrested, and running for their lives. With that action, everyone ended up hating her, her "best friends" no longer talked to her but instead, they gave her glares and smirks, while other people Melinda doesn't even know hate her from a long distance, resulting in insults and words spoken behind her back. Melinda knows why she called the cops, but there isn't anyone else who does know. Unable to speak after that night, Melinda describes herself as An Outcast, no longer having any friends and anyone willing to listen to her.
Speak is about reflecting on the past actions and understanding that the victim isn't always at fault. It's about speaking up for our belief after not being able to handle the pain of loneliness, sadness, and silence. It's about finding your voice after confronting your biggest fear.
Trigger/content warnings for rape and sexual assault.
Homework is not an option. My bed is sending out serious nap rays. I can't help myself. The fluffy pillows and warm comforter are more powerful than I am. I have no choice but to snuggle under the covers.
I'm not a survivor of rape or any cause of sexual assault, but I'm a survivor of depression, of loneliness, of being an introvert, or shyness, of quietness, and of many sad moments where I can do everything my body allows me to do (sit, lie down, move, walk, run, etc.) except talk. Unlike Melinda, I chose not to talk not because I was too scared to let people know the truth, but because there wasn't any truth I felt worth telling. I was trapped inside my head with my own thoughts as they made their way from my left-brain to my right-brain, shutting everything and everyone down, telling me that no one really cares and is bothering to listen. Melinda did too, but there were times where she wanted to let someone know. I, on the other hand, decide not to chat many times primarily because I hate the way I sound but also because I am afraid of being wrong, of being rejected, and of being laughed at for any comment I made.
In Speak, we follow Melinda through her first year in high school as a new freshman who is already disliked by everyone. After she called the cops on a summer-break party, people started whispering about her, bullying her, insulting her, and never daring to talk to someone like her because she was a nobody to them. Melinda was used to it, but she wishes she had a friend who would listen first, reflect after, decide later. I can't say I relate to Melinda in every way, but I understand some of her thoughts. From the self-harm to the suicide thoughts, it all felt real鈥攊t's as if I saw myself in her eyes sometimes, wanting to talk to someone but instantly taking back that thought and keeping my lips shut, canned, sealed.
Melinda is a realistic character. She doesn't hide her reality from us, and as readers, it's our job to figure it out, analyze the descriptions and figure out what she is trying to tell us. And Speak, to me, is the book Melinda wants us to have. She's the narrator, the character telling us her story, and it's up to us to listen or not, to care or do not care, to bother trying or to not waste our energy. I think Melinda would have had a much easier life if she had at least one friend, whether it was a long-distance friendship or a friendship where they couldn't see each other much, but the connection and the communication were still there. I wish she had someone who believed her and would try to do anything she could in her will to be there and listen to Melinda tell her about her awful and exhausting days at school. But it truly made sense for the author to not include it, because sometimes, in books, no sympathy, pity, compassion, grief, empathy, or any caring action should be there in order for the reader to really grasp the reality the character is living and having to go through every single day. And what makes it worse is that the world of this book is so real. We end up seeing the true colors of people after things explode. Our true best friends will end up showing their identities when something bad happens, our one and only friend will leave us for another group only to later regret that choice, and people will end up talking to you like nothing ever happened after your most traumatic experience has been revealed.
I mean, Heather from Ohio, for example, was the true definition of a self-centered bitch who didn't care about anything or anyone besides herself, as if she was the only person in the world. Truly, Melinda deserved better, and Heather got what she deserved. She was never a friend, she was only someone using a lonely girl who didn't talk to anyone because she knew she could brainwash her into believing that she had someone close to her. So she decides to manipulate her and having her "help out" when in reality, she was always doing everything. All in all, Melinda never deserved to suffer more with Heather, and I was really glad Laurie decided to open up her brain and show her the reality of Heather. I also appreciate the fact that she then didn't take any of Heather's bullshit when she went over and "apologized", after telling her she would help her for her stupid Martha鈥檚 Group project. I mean, you don't tell a friend what she's gonna do for you Heather, you ask them. Nicely. Politely.
Why is it so hard to make friends here? Is there something in the water? In my old school I could have gone out for the musical and worked on the newspaper and chaired the car wash. Here people don't even know I exist. I get squished in the hall and I don't belong anywhere and nobody cares. And you're no help. You are so negative and you never try anything, you just mope around like you don't care that people talk about you behind your back.
Well, Heather, I guess your only option is to go back, isn't it?
This closet is abandoned鈥攊t has no purpose, no name. It is the perfect place for me.
This is a short story, one worth reading in one sitting. 197 pages in and all you can do is either like the book or not, love it or hate it. There's so much to take from it if you find what the author wants you to take from it. It isn't a story for everyone, but it is a story worth knowing about. I personally think it's better to be read from a perspective of someone who understands what it is like to shut yourself down and think to yourself if anyone will notice if you just didn't speak at all. The thing is, people have already noticed. They don't see the "why" and they don't see what is killing you inside, but they notice the outside of you and recognize you as 鈥�the girl who called the cops at the party鈥�. It's just that one night can change you forever, either negatively or positively impact you, and there will always come the time where people will not care until they know about it, and that's what bothers me the most.
I think it's such a stupid instinct for us to care about people once we see them hurting, but I also think that's what the beauty of books are. Books can teach us that, the messages that are in front of us but are not close enough for us to see it. Personally, I get lost in the words of the book, not in its world. Many people read in order to escape to another reality or to a fantasy they never could dream of, but I get lost in the words. They also read to lose track of time or find themselves doing something different. I read books because of the enjoyment and comfort they bring me, which leads me to say that I rate books off enjoyment.
I read books because I want to learn something from it, whether it's a non-fiction book, fantasy, sci-fi, classic, I read for the moment I'm in. I read because I want to understand the message or the lesson the narrator is trying to tell me, whether it's one perspective or multiple. Speak is one of those rare books I find myself most comfortable in. The book isn't beautiful nor is any character. There is truly no moral support in this--no friendships, no family dynamics, no useful resources. Yet the author managed to make me love this book and partly regret the fact that I didn't read it before. Even with an obvious plot, childish dialogue, boring characters (except David and Mr. Freeman), I still enjoyed everything in this and managed to mark it as one of my favorite books that I will probably buy the 20th-anniversary edition which comes out January 15 of this year, 2019.
This book can be life-changing. It makes you think about the world we are living and realize that the world in Merryweather High School is similar to many high schools in the world, ranging from country to country. The reason I say life-changing is because, if you pay attention to Melinda and her story, you can see she isn't just "the most depressed person Heather has ever met" but instead, as someone who is struggling with her nightmares that keep haunting her because she got raped and didn't really know. She isn't just "Sordino, sitting in the front row, always wandering the halls" because she wants to, it's because she doesn't have other options. She's alone and has no one to rely on, yet she still manages to survive, and I think she's a strong realistic character who had character growth in the end. The story is short, and the truth is set free in the end as well, so it is reasonable and valid for the author to let it all out in the beginning, resulting in Melinda showing her strength towards Andy and no longer being an outcast but instead the girl who was hiding her truth because she was scared.
Described as both problematic but also empowered, it can be balanced on a scale of both. Personally, I find it empowering. Although I wasn't the biggest fan of the writing, Laurie Halse Anderson wrote this book from a nightmare she had of a girl who was sobbing. What she heard from the girl, she wrote it, and she wrote this. I'm guessing the girl crying was Melinda, since she said in the interview (a bonus from the platinum edition) that it happened to be that way, and I don鈥檛 think Anderson even thought her book would be a book so many teens find comfort in.
I didn't go into this book knowing everything. I had seen this book before, on many lists here on 欧宝娱乐 and overall, I had seen it pop up in my feed as friends and reviewers added it to their tbr. I had seen it in my library, both in the YA section and sometimes displayed as "featured books" for specific events and read-a-thons my local libraries host. I never got the urge to pick it up, and I'm glad I did at this time. I appreciated the way she wrote this as if it was multiple diary entries towards the reader. Told in the first-person perspective, Melissa takes us on her journey through the present and the past, with the present being the person she is at the moment and the past being flashbacks.
I won't lie. Initially, I checked this out from my library because it's been on "life-changing books" lists on 欧宝娱乐 and mentioned in other blogs as "life-changing" and I needed a life-changing book, specifically because there's a college application asking for it. It's asking for a book that changed my life and how it's changed the way I view everything (life, the world, people, myself, etc.) and I didn't know where to start beside with books that have been labeled as problematic, empowered, and realistic. Speak is one of them, and there's more to come soon.
"What are your goals, Mel?"
I used to be like Heather. Have I changed that much in two months? She is happy, driven, aerobically fit. She has a nice mom and an awesome television. But she's like a dog that keeps jumping into your lap. She always walks with me down the halls chattering a million miles a minute.
My goal is to go home and take a nap.
Every character in the story is bizarre, choosing to listen to rumors and not choose the facts. They鈥檙e truly misguided and haven鈥檛 been taught well. They also judge Melinda on the way she's seen, not letting her sit with them, throwing mashed potato at her, kneeing her, childishly taping insults written on a piece of paper to her back, glaring and smirking at her as if she was prey and they are predators. It truly is sad how judgemental the world is and continues to be. I don't think it's getting better, but instead, it's getting worse. There are racist comments in this, but it's fine. It's made by a character you can show nothing but hate towards because of his attitude and the power he believes he holds. Then I met David and the whole view changes because I then saw that there is still hope in the world and there always will be, as there will always be that one person sticking up for everyone because he or she isn't afraid of it.
You don't understand, my headvoice answers. Too bad she can't hear it. My throat squeezes shut, as if two hands of black fingernails are clamped on my windpipe. I have worked so hard to forget every second of that stupid party, and here I am in the middle of a hostile crowd that hates me for what I had to do. I can't tell them what really happened. I can't even look at that part of myself. An animal noise rustles in my stomach.
Melinda should be a sympathetic character, but I can't show it. It's rare for me to read contemporary and realistic fiction without feeling some sort of care or sympathy towards the character. There isn't anything wrong with Melinda, but I knew I was gonna get an answer from her. The hope I held on to while reading this was the only thing I had left, but it was only for her, as there was no hope from anyone else for anyone because everyone in this seems to be selfish and think they have conquered the world in so many ways.
When I went to that party, I was abducted by aliens. They have created a fake Earth and fake high school to study me and my reactions. This certainly explains cafeteria food. Not the other stuff, though. The aliens have a sick sense of humor.
I didn't know was adapted to a movie. While the window for this review was open on my laptop, I decided to watch it. Since the movies adapted from books always have at least some similarity, I knew most of it. I knew what conversation was about to happen, I knew who was who, I knew the ending, I knew the plot. But here's the thing: the ending of the book and the movie are different, many scenes are cut, and many dialogues are completely different. It all makes sense since books are always better and the movies are never the same as the book, but I guess I expected more. The book is short, but so is the movie. I think the best I got from the movie was the friendship between Melinda and David that grew. Not in a romantic way but in a platonic way, and it felt to me like he really cared for her, even in the book. He wasn't just using her, he didn't stay away from her, he tried helping her, he invited her to do Biology homework, and it looked like he wanted to be her friend. In the end, I think they end up as friends, but both endings, in the movie and the book, we are left with wanting more.
In the book, Melinda ends it with "Let me tell you about it" while in the movie, the ending is completely different, as it ends with Melinda and her mother. At that point, I didn't care much. I literally skipped it because I couldn't take any bullshit from her parents. There was no support and no relationship between Melinda and both of her parents. They didn't even try, they just noticed, as everyone else does. It was sad to see it that way, the reality, that even her parents don't try but only notice. It's as if they hear the rumors and notice the way it plays into Melinda's life but don't ever ask about it.
In the end, Melinda showed growth. With the help of Mr. Freeman (by the way, we all need a teacher like him, no matter what subject!), she was able to find her truth and let it out. She was able to see herself as someone much more than who she was, letting out the birds that were trapped in the cage as she paints not her past life but her current life.
After reading Melinda鈥檚 last sentence to Mr. Freeman, I realized I鈥檝e been that bird trapped in my cage, not allowing to set myself free because I鈥檓 still scared. We all have a voice, but we also have a choice. I think we all make the choice of using our voice when the right time comes, but for now, I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 that time. I can鈥檛 see myself speaking up for someone or for something. Although I鈥檓 really passionate about immigration law, I can鈥檛 become the activist I see myself as at times. I can鈥檛 see myself yelling at Republicans but instead, I see myself as the small girl who is being towered over by the Republicans themselves as they smirk at me knowing they have won.
But hopefully, I鈥檒l find my soft voice soon and use it for the best.
You have to know what you stand for, not just what you stand against.
August 14, 2019
oh goodness me. i dont even want to begin this review because, even though im sticking to my rating, i feel super guilty for rating this so low. but its been awhile since ive read this and i finally feel like i can articulate why this book just isnt for me.
firstly, i want to say that the topic of this story is extremely important and deserves the representation it gets in this. melindas high school experience is vastly different than my own, but i can empathise that sexual assault is something that happens, even when its something i was never aware of at that age. so i appreciate the visibility of this serious issue and i know this story will help those that are/have gone though something similar.
that being said, THIS BOOK IS SOOOO BORING. which makes me feel guilty because should i expect to find entertainment in a story so heavy? probably not. but i do need my attention to be held, and this just didnt capture it. its slow and melinda is a very difficult person to connect with. not a good combination. maybe if i had read this as a teen, my reaction might be a bit different. but other than the overall message of the story, i just couldnt find anything redeeming about the novel itself. such a shame.
鈫� 2.5 stars
firstly, i want to say that the topic of this story is extremely important and deserves the representation it gets in this. melindas high school experience is vastly different than my own, but i can empathise that sexual assault is something that happens, even when its something i was never aware of at that age. so i appreciate the visibility of this serious issue and i know this story will help those that are/have gone though something similar.
that being said, THIS BOOK IS SOOOO BORING. which makes me feel guilty because should i expect to find entertainment in a story so heavy? probably not. but i do need my attention to be held, and this just didnt capture it. its slow and melinda is a very difficult person to connect with. not a good combination. maybe if i had read this as a teen, my reaction might be a bit different. but other than the overall message of the story, i just couldnt find anything redeeming about the novel itself. such a shame.
鈫� 2.5 stars
December 30, 2017
The following review will touch upon serious topics and under the spoiler section I might hide TMI (too much information) tags. If you don't want to know about my own personal journey don't read because it might be umconfortable and triggering. I'll use strong language.
I also want to point out that I read this book long ago and that I won't re-read for this review. I just want to discuss the following question(s) which I found in the review of one of my favorite 欧宝娱乐 reviewers ever: my dear Meredith. BTW I recommend following her reviews.
Meredith wrote this:
Should Laurie Halse Anderson's book "Speak" be placed in the adult section because it deals with rape? No. It is a teen book that touches upon a serious topic that teens are very much aware of. How many people were assigned "The Handmaid's Tale" in high school which basically is all about women being used for their bodies to reproduce since a majority of the population can not. Should that be added to the adult section only? No.
I agree with Meredith 100%. I'll go even beyond that. I think this book along with any other book that deals with rape culture should be mandatory read in every high school of this messed-up planet. Even if parents might feel unconfortable with their kids reading this book, the sad reality is that rape is a crime that has no respect for the victims' age. Kids might be better prepared to deal with this crime if they get the right information.
If you have been following my reviews you'll notice that lately I've been adding trigger warnings and explicit content warnings for YA books. That's because lately you can find almost the same amount of nudity, violence, sexuality, erotic content, and edgyness in YA books as you would find in New adult reads,even erotica books. I've been mentioning A court of mist and fury a lot because it's erotica book misllabed as Young adult by the greedy publishing company and their kirkus reviews minions. Paper princess by erotica authors Elle Kennedy and Jen Frederick along with Sarah J Maas Empire of storms have been mentioned as well.
Yet I won't add those kind of warnings for this review.
I wouldn't try to get 13- 19 YO teens away of this book
I dissaprove of anyone who wants to keep teens away from this book
You'll wonder Why?
Because
1) Rape is a crime. Some people might consider that this book contains sexual content because rape, at times, involves a form of fornication/copulation. But to make it clear, sex is one thing: a natural act that isn't a sin, that isn't dirty, that it's a healthy expression of afection, a natural instinct. Rape is everything but.
2) Anyone who reads the book sypnosis can make an informed decision whether to buy/read/borrow this book or not. The blurb is a trigger warning in itself. Unlike Mist and Fury and Paper princess the author and her publishing company didn't try to pretend that this book is something different that what it is: Edgy, dark and uncomfortable.
Yes. This book isn't a fluffy happy reading, yet I remember enjoying Melinda Sordino's journey back when I was 16 YO. The author has a way with words, it was like Melinda was directly speaking to me, she was so relatable. This book didn't make me feel uncomfortable back when I read it, it was dark and gritty, but it was also a quick read and the quotes were to die for. I highlighted this book so much it became almost unreadable and I'm only sorry that I'm completely uncapable to read this book now after TMI I hate that word, but I hate it more when that thing is called "abuse" "violation" or any other term. Rape is an ugly world, sounds terrible it disgusts you as IT SHOULD. "Abuse", on the other hand, seems to elicit a less dramatic response.
But guess what word is closer to what living that terrible experience is? The word rape conveys it better, at the very least it'll make people squirm uncomfortably. TMI ALERT That's what this book is about, and for such a dark topic, I think the author did a wonderful job using a beautiful prose, almost poetic, to talk about how SCARY rape is. She never went graphic with that. The movie is in my humble opinion, way much more explicit and visual, but the book wasn't explicit. Laurie Halse Anderson really wrote about the subject with enough delicacy to not scare the reader away, but still she managed to do it on a realistic way. TMI
I know the topic of this book might scare some people away, but I highly recommend it, specially for high school readers. As long as this book is used to elicit discussions on rape culture and parents talk to their kids honestly this book should be mandatory reading. I repeat, there's much than just drama in this book, it's actually a quick read and enjoyable despite the dark topic. Unlike A court of mist and fury the purpose of this book isn't to portray erotic scenes or sexual content because again, sexuality and rape are opposite concepts. This book conveys a powerful message that can help teenagers who are living in violent places. I'll repeat, maybe parents and children can read this together so that the parents can convey their values and their own views on consent.
Consider letting Melinda Sordino story enter your life. I did, and it was like a light at the end of a dark tunnel, it might sound cheesy, but that's the truth.
November 27, 2018
4 Stars.
Speaking. Sometimes it鈥檚 absolutely impossible, isn鈥檛 it? Sometimes you are so filled with anxiety and fear, you can鈥檛 even think of the words, let alone spit them out. And sometimes, life itself is crippling. You will undergo something that overtakes you, that consumes every waking thought, that fills you with fear and changes every aspect of your life and still you cannot talk about it. To anyone, whether you have someone to confide in or not.
Melinda is that girl. She is a misfit. A pariah. A freshman, who everyone in her class hates. No one talks to her, except to make fun of her. She wasn鈥檛 always this way though. Not until she called the cops at the end of a summer party and got caught doing so by her former best friend who now hates her for it. And that was what did it. That party changed everything for Melinda. That one night. And now, she doesn鈥檛 talk to anyone. Not even her parents. Her grades are sinking and her parents are furious over it and she can鈥檛 explain why. And except for caring about her grades, her parents aren鈥檛 all that concerned about their daughter. No wonder she decided to keep quiet.
At some point, Melinda finds herself in a situation wherein she realizes that must find her voice. She then discovers a resilience that she never knew she had and then she SPEAKS.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is full of emotion. It is captivating yet devastating. I was overwhelmed by the honesty that was portrayed by Melinda through out. Laurie Halse Anderson did an incredible job of capturing Melinda鈥檚 feelings and describing the awkwardness of High School, being an outcast and feeling completely alone during the most desperate of times. This is a powerful YA novel about learning to accept the things you cannot change and finding the strength and power within to fight for yourself, no matter how difficult it may seem.
Published on 欧宝娱乐 and Amazon on 4/3/17.
Speaking. Sometimes it鈥檚 absolutely impossible, isn鈥檛 it? Sometimes you are so filled with anxiety and fear, you can鈥檛 even think of the words, let alone spit them out. And sometimes, life itself is crippling. You will undergo something that overtakes you, that consumes every waking thought, that fills you with fear and changes every aspect of your life and still you cannot talk about it. To anyone, whether you have someone to confide in or not.
Melinda is that girl. She is a misfit. A pariah. A freshman, who everyone in her class hates. No one talks to her, except to make fun of her. She wasn鈥檛 always this way though. Not until she called the cops at the end of a summer party and got caught doing so by her former best friend who now hates her for it. And that was what did it. That party changed everything for Melinda. That one night. And now, she doesn鈥檛 talk to anyone. Not even her parents. Her grades are sinking and her parents are furious over it and she can鈥檛 explain why. And except for caring about her grades, her parents aren鈥檛 all that concerned about their daughter. No wonder she decided to keep quiet.
At some point, Melinda finds herself in a situation wherein she realizes that must find her voice. She then discovers a resilience that she never knew she had and then she SPEAKS.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is full of emotion. It is captivating yet devastating. I was overwhelmed by the honesty that was portrayed by Melinda through out. Laurie Halse Anderson did an incredible job of capturing Melinda鈥檚 feelings and describing the awkwardness of High School, being an outcast and feeling completely alone during the most desperate of times. This is a powerful YA novel about learning to accept the things you cannot change and finding the strength and power within to fight for yourself, no matter how difficult it may seem.
Published on 欧宝娱乐 and Amazon on 4/3/17.
July 3, 2019
4.5 stars
*This is another book which I would not have picked up had it not been for a book challenge. So happy I did. This serves as a nice reminder that stepping outside of what we would normally choose can, and in this case, did pay off.
High School. Some remember it as the happiest time of their lives while others are so happy when it is over that they never want to look back. Where do you stand?
Melinda is an outcast, a pariah, she has no friends. She is lonely, depressed, anxious and carrying a secret around with her. Secret- six simple letters which can feel like a ton of bricks when one carries it around with them. This book shows how one night changed everything for her and destroyed her friendships and once happy life.
Melinda called the police during a party and the entire school has turned on her. As the school year progresses, she deteriorates more. She begins to get bad grades, she skips school, she doesn't speak she doesn't confide in others, she only finds solace in her art. Her art teacher is the only teacher in her school who shows an interest in her and encourages her to express herself through her art.
Told with heartbreaking honesty and with devastating insight, speak shows the cruelty of high school students. The fragility of friendships, how warning signs are missed and how the ones who need it the most, often fall through the cracks. Speak is well-written, poignant, and evokes emotion.
This is a book I am reading (well, I finished it first) with my fifteen-year-old and will be discussing when both of us have completed it. Great book in a great format for teens. There is a lot to discuss here.
*This is another book which I would not have picked up had it not been for a book challenge. So happy I did. This serves as a nice reminder that stepping outside of what we would normally choose can, and in this case, did pay off.
High School. Some remember it as the happiest time of their lives while others are so happy when it is over that they never want to look back. Where do you stand?
Melinda is an outcast, a pariah, she has no friends. She is lonely, depressed, anxious and carrying a secret around with her. Secret- six simple letters which can feel like a ton of bricks when one carries it around with them. This book shows how one night changed everything for her and destroyed her friendships and once happy life.
Melinda called the police during a party and the entire school has turned on her. As the school year progresses, she deteriorates more. She begins to get bad grades, she skips school, she doesn't speak she doesn't confide in others, she only finds solace in her art. Her art teacher is the only teacher in her school who shows an interest in her and encourages her to express herself through her art.
Told with heartbreaking honesty and with devastating insight, speak shows the cruelty of high school students. The fragility of friendships, how warning signs are missed and how the ones who need it the most, often fall through the cracks. Speak is well-written, poignant, and evokes emotion.
This is a book I am reading (well, I finished it first) with my fifteen-year-old and will be discussing when both of us have completed it. Great book in a great format for teens. There is a lot to discuss here.
November 16, 2022
This book was painful to read.
My tears were streaming down my face and the pain that Mel went through was written in such a descriptive way that I had to put this down multiple times.
Mel鈥檚 story is heartbreaking and something that happens to so many people in real life which made this book even sadder.
I loved the critique of schools in here because yes, schools pretend they care but they do not. They say they listen to you but they don鈥檛.
Mel went through so much after what happened to her and the inclusion of family, friends, fake people, the not understanding and judging of others was written beautifully and heartbreaking at the same time.
Mel went through phases of realization, denim and acceptance and well as the beginning of a trying to heal process in this book and watching her go through it was painful yet when she started standing up for herself I was cheering her on.
The only reason it doesn鈥檛 have 5 stars is the very fast paced change revolving the friends story. I felt like we needed a few more chapters.
Tw: sexual assault, self harm, depression
My tears were streaming down my face and the pain that Mel went through was written in such a descriptive way that I had to put this down multiple times.
Mel鈥檚 story is heartbreaking and something that happens to so many people in real life which made this book even sadder.
I loved the critique of schools in here because yes, schools pretend they care but they do not. They say they listen to you but they don鈥檛.
Mel went through so much after what happened to her and the inclusion of family, friends, fake people, the not understanding and judging of others was written beautifully and heartbreaking at the same time.
Mel went through phases of realization, denim and acceptance and well as the beginning of a trying to heal process in this book and watching her go through it was painful yet when she started standing up for herself I was cheering her on.
The only reason it doesn鈥檛 have 5 stars is the very fast paced change revolving the friends story. I felt like we needed a few more chapters.
Tw: sexual assault, self harm, depression
November 8, 2017
Library - Overdrive-ebook!
I鈥檓 very late to this reading this really wonderful young adult book.....but oh,I鈥檓 sooooo glad I read it!
Melinda Sordino, sarcastically witty, bright, and courageous, is very memorable character. A freshman in High School, .... most of the time Melinda鈥檚 goal in life is to go home and take a nap.
We emphasized with her.....as she is misunderstood- and shunned by friends. Melinda doesn鈥檛 understand her own situation clearly enough to speak out for herself.
She鈥檚 an average normal girl dealing with many of the same issues that many teenagers deal with - self esteem - changing schools from middle school to High School - changing friends - and family dynamics- except ....back in 8th grade .... just before beginning High School 鈥� Melinda was raped at a party one night.
This is her story!
There is so much honesty .....so well written....(who doesn鈥檛 read this book in just one sitting?)....characters that are powerfully drawn....and a gripping plot....
This story touches every part of us. Our mind and hearts are actively expanding.
It鈥檚 an empowering book for teens, parents, educators, and the rest of us.
I鈥檓 only sorry I waited so long to read it.
I鈥檓 very late to this reading this really wonderful young adult book.....but oh,I鈥檓 sooooo glad I read it!
Melinda Sordino, sarcastically witty, bright, and courageous, is very memorable character. A freshman in High School, .... most of the time Melinda鈥檚 goal in life is to go home and take a nap.
We emphasized with her.....as she is misunderstood- and shunned by friends. Melinda doesn鈥檛 understand her own situation clearly enough to speak out for herself.
She鈥檚 an average normal girl dealing with many of the same issues that many teenagers deal with - self esteem - changing schools from middle school to High School - changing friends - and family dynamics- except ....back in 8th grade .... just before beginning High School 鈥� Melinda was raped at a party one night.
This is her story!
There is so much honesty .....so well written....(who doesn鈥檛 read this book in just one sitting?)....characters that are powerfully drawn....and a gripping plot....
This story touches every part of us. Our mind and hearts are actively expanding.
It鈥檚 an empowering book for teens, parents, educators, and the rest of us.
I鈥檓 only sorry I waited so long to read it.
April 6, 2014
I know. A ton of people liked this book. I'm giving this crap a one star though.
I never did connect with this books main character. I finally was to the point where I didn't give a shit anymore when the big reveal came about why she was having so many problems. I felt somewhat sorry for her then but it still just didn't pull through enough for me.
I never did connect with this books main character. I finally was to the point where I didn't give a shit anymore when the big reveal came about why she was having so many problems. I felt somewhat sorry for her then but it still just didn't pull through enough for me.
February 13, 2017
Hmmmm I can definitely see how important this book is and would have been at the time of its publication, but the thing is, I was bored until the last 30 pages. I felt really disconnected to the story and I don't know why. I am so glad that books like this exist in the YA genre though, and that this one was around a long time ago because these things happen and really do need to be discussed. Such an important message.
September 4, 2015
3.5/5
This is such an important book for the content and message it presents. The writing was fantastic and Melinda was such an interesting character to read. I didn't totally LOVE everything about it, but overall it was a fantastic book.
This is such an important book for the content and message it presents. The writing was fantastic and Melinda was such an interesting character to read. I didn't totally LOVE everything about it, but overall it was a fantastic book.
April 10, 2008
Reference information:
Title: Speak
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Publisher: Penguin Group Year: 1999
# of pages: 198 Genre: intense read
Reading level: 9th grade Interest level: late high school
Potential hot lava: Thoughts of suicide and rape.
General response/reaction:
This book was so moving. Yes, it was difficult to read and very intense, but it was extremely good! I sort of knew how it was going to end because I cheated and looked it up, but it was still so good to read this book. I was glad that Anderson did not go into detail about the rape because that would have been too intense for me. I liked the way she kept the narration in Melinda鈥檚 head. The dialogue in her head remained realistic because no girl would want to replay the details over and over again. This novel was amazing because Melinda grew through her tragedy. I think that this book can be very therapeutic for many students.
Subjects, Themes, and Big Ideas:
鈥� Trust
鈥� Friendship
鈥� Pain
鈥� Suffering
鈥� Growth
鈥� Strength
Characters:
鈥� Melinda 鈥� main character, narrator, was raped when she was 13, goes through her first year of high school as an outcast because she cannot fully grow past the tragedy in her life, expresses herself through art
鈥� Heather 鈥� a girl who befriended Melinda at the beginning and then blew her off at the end
鈥� Ivy 鈥� an old friend from middle school, in art class with Melinda, at first was mad at Melinda but then warmed up to her by the end
鈥� Rachel 鈥� Melinda鈥檚 ex-best friend, hangs out with the exchange students at school, starts dating Andy Evans (the boy who raped Melinda)
鈥� Andy Evans 鈥� the boy who raped Melinda, has a history of doing the same thing to every girl he meets.
Plot summary:
Melinda is starting high school with all the problems imaginable. She is an outcast because she is 鈥渨eird,鈥� her friends from middle school don鈥檛 want to associate with her because she called the police that broke up a party, and the teachers are 鈥渙ut to get her.鈥� At first, she befriends a girl who is new to the school, Heather. For a while, things seem to work out between the two. Unfortunately, Melinda keeps to herself all the time and barely speaks. She has a secret inside of her that torments all the words. Most of the school thinks she is weird and her parents and teachers think something is wrong with her. They think she is just being a delinquent, but there is more to the story than what Melinda lets on.
Melinda goes through the motions of school and barely passes. She makes some friends, but she is so scarred from the summer that she is still uncomfortable getting too close to anyone. Melinda does not trust anyone, nor can she trust herself. The only thing in school Melinda enjoys is her art class. She works hard all year by creating and letting her emotions flow through her art (although she does not know it at the time).
As the year goes on, she encounters the boy who raped her. He knows that he still has the power over her and continues to use it to scare her into silence. However, when Andy starts dating Rachel, Melinda cannot stand back and let Andy do the same thing to her former best friend. It takes a while for Melinda to get the courage to tell Rachel, but she finally does. Of course Rachel does not believe Melinda and she thinks that Melinda is just jealous, but Melinda at least tried. When Rachel breaks up with Andy (because he was trying to do the same thing to her as he did to Melinda), Andy becomes furious and goes after Melinda. She fights him and makes enough commotion for her friends to come back to find out what was going on and Andy gets exposed for who he really is.
Strengths (including reviews and awards):
鈥� The book is funny.
鈥� It is written in the mind of a teenager so it鈥檚 easy for students to relate to.
鈥� It has won many awards (School Library Journal Book of the Year just to name one)
鈥� It has been turned into a Lifetime movie (so students could have a visual instead of just Melinda鈥檚 thoughts.
Drawbacks or other cautions:
鈥� There is a short section where Melinda thinks about and attempts suicide.
鈥� It talks about at 13 year old getting raped.
鈥� There are some parts that do not seem realistic (David suing Mr. Neck)
Teaching ideas:
Pre-reading
鈥� Journal: What was your first year of high school like?
o Hopefully I will be teaching this book to a higher grade than freshmen, so this question would be appropriate. I would hope that I get journals that reflect on how much they have changed since that first year.
鈥� Discussion: Cliques in high school
o What kinds of cliques exist in our school?
o Do they get special privileges?
o How can you differentiate between the cliques?
o Who decides who joins which clique?
o This could also be a journal topic
During reading
鈥� More journaling or discussions about cliques
o How do certain cliques treat others in school?
飩� How does that relate to the novel?
o Have you witnessed treatment like this?
鈥� Writing Activity (these could be quick daily journal activities)
o Inner-monologue
飩� Write a number of inner-monologues like Melinda does.
鈥� Artwork
o Try to describe each section of the book in drawings
o Explain the story to someone without using words
Post-reading
鈥� Possibly watch clips of the movie
o I haven鈥檛 seen it so I would definitely have to preview it before I showed it to the class.
鈥� More artwork
鈥� Compile the daily inner-monologues into a 鈥渂ook鈥� like hers
鈥� Discussion
o How has this book educated you?
飩� About cliques, rape, outcasts, reaching out to others
o What can we do to change the dynamic of the social scene in high school? Is there anything at all?
Title: Speak
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Publisher: Penguin Group Year: 1999
# of pages: 198 Genre: intense read
Reading level: 9th grade Interest level: late high school
Potential hot lava: Thoughts of suicide and rape.
General response/reaction:
This book was so moving. Yes, it was difficult to read and very intense, but it was extremely good! I sort of knew how it was going to end because I cheated and looked it up, but it was still so good to read this book. I was glad that Anderson did not go into detail about the rape because that would have been too intense for me. I liked the way she kept the narration in Melinda鈥檚 head. The dialogue in her head remained realistic because no girl would want to replay the details over and over again. This novel was amazing because Melinda grew through her tragedy. I think that this book can be very therapeutic for many students.
Subjects, Themes, and Big Ideas:
鈥� Trust
鈥� Friendship
鈥� Pain
鈥� Suffering
鈥� Growth
鈥� Strength
Characters:
鈥� Melinda 鈥� main character, narrator, was raped when she was 13, goes through her first year of high school as an outcast because she cannot fully grow past the tragedy in her life, expresses herself through art
鈥� Heather 鈥� a girl who befriended Melinda at the beginning and then blew her off at the end
鈥� Ivy 鈥� an old friend from middle school, in art class with Melinda, at first was mad at Melinda but then warmed up to her by the end
鈥� Rachel 鈥� Melinda鈥檚 ex-best friend, hangs out with the exchange students at school, starts dating Andy Evans (the boy who raped Melinda)
鈥� Andy Evans 鈥� the boy who raped Melinda, has a history of doing the same thing to every girl he meets.
Plot summary:
Melinda is starting high school with all the problems imaginable. She is an outcast because she is 鈥渨eird,鈥� her friends from middle school don鈥檛 want to associate with her because she called the police that broke up a party, and the teachers are 鈥渙ut to get her.鈥� At first, she befriends a girl who is new to the school, Heather. For a while, things seem to work out between the two. Unfortunately, Melinda keeps to herself all the time and barely speaks. She has a secret inside of her that torments all the words. Most of the school thinks she is weird and her parents and teachers think something is wrong with her. They think she is just being a delinquent, but there is more to the story than what Melinda lets on.
Melinda goes through the motions of school and barely passes. She makes some friends, but she is so scarred from the summer that she is still uncomfortable getting too close to anyone. Melinda does not trust anyone, nor can she trust herself. The only thing in school Melinda enjoys is her art class. She works hard all year by creating and letting her emotions flow through her art (although she does not know it at the time).
As the year goes on, she encounters the boy who raped her. He knows that he still has the power over her and continues to use it to scare her into silence. However, when Andy starts dating Rachel, Melinda cannot stand back and let Andy do the same thing to her former best friend. It takes a while for Melinda to get the courage to tell Rachel, but she finally does. Of course Rachel does not believe Melinda and she thinks that Melinda is just jealous, but Melinda at least tried. When Rachel breaks up with Andy (because he was trying to do the same thing to her as he did to Melinda), Andy becomes furious and goes after Melinda. She fights him and makes enough commotion for her friends to come back to find out what was going on and Andy gets exposed for who he really is.
Strengths (including reviews and awards):
鈥� The book is funny.
鈥� It is written in the mind of a teenager so it鈥檚 easy for students to relate to.
鈥� It has won many awards (School Library Journal Book of the Year just to name one)
鈥� It has been turned into a Lifetime movie (so students could have a visual instead of just Melinda鈥檚 thoughts.
Drawbacks or other cautions:
鈥� There is a short section where Melinda thinks about and attempts suicide.
鈥� It talks about at 13 year old getting raped.
鈥� There are some parts that do not seem realistic (David suing Mr. Neck)
Teaching ideas:
Pre-reading
鈥� Journal: What was your first year of high school like?
o Hopefully I will be teaching this book to a higher grade than freshmen, so this question would be appropriate. I would hope that I get journals that reflect on how much they have changed since that first year.
鈥� Discussion: Cliques in high school
o What kinds of cliques exist in our school?
o Do they get special privileges?
o How can you differentiate between the cliques?
o Who decides who joins which clique?
o This could also be a journal topic
During reading
鈥� More journaling or discussions about cliques
o How do certain cliques treat others in school?
飩� How does that relate to the novel?
o Have you witnessed treatment like this?
鈥� Writing Activity (these could be quick daily journal activities)
o Inner-monologue
飩� Write a number of inner-monologues like Melinda does.
鈥� Artwork
o Try to describe each section of the book in drawings
o Explain the story to someone without using words
Post-reading
鈥� Possibly watch clips of the movie
o I haven鈥檛 seen it so I would definitely have to preview it before I showed it to the class.
鈥� More artwork
鈥� Compile the daily inner-monologues into a 鈥渂ook鈥� like hers
鈥� Discussion
o How has this book educated you?
飩� About cliques, rape, outcasts, reaching out to others
o What can we do to change the dynamic of the social scene in high school? Is there anything at all?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2020
I did really enjoy this book, even though the writing style was pretty simple... the plot more than made up for it. It's such an important topic and I love that the reader only gradually grows to understand what has happened (mirroring Melinda's memory).
I would recommend to high school students. Even though some of the content is disturbing, it's an important book for teenagers to read -- and the writing style means it's really accessible.
I would recommend to high school students. Even though some of the content is disturbing, it's an important book for teenagers to read -- and the writing style means it's really accessible.
September 5, 2009
"Speak" is about Melinda Sordino, an angst-filled freshman who is hated by all of her "best friends" because she called the cops during the end of the summer senior party. Everyone got busted. Her parents aren't much help either, always fighting about what's best for Melinda and communicating through post-it notes on the refrigerator wall. These are only a few of the things that have Melinda depressed. When what really happened at the senior party is revealed, it will be easy, although painful, to understand Melinda's unbreakable silence.
I just finished my second read through of the book, and I still loved it. I actually had to read this for school, which surprised me because of the subject matter. Anyway, "Speak" is a novel I think all teenagers should read. Melinda's voice, although cynical and outspoken, was dead-on and as a teenager I felt like I totally connected with her through the entire book. I also loved the "tree" symbolism in Melinda's art class, subtle enough to not be cliche but powerful enough to make me feel growth. Some YA authors don't really understand how cliques and stuff work nowadays, but Anderson hit the nail on the head, which made me like the book even more. I stayed up to midnight last night finishing this novel, and I'm sure you will to once you get a hold of this book.
I just finished my second read through of the book, and I still loved it. I actually had to read this for school, which surprised me because of the subject matter. Anyway, "Speak" is a novel I think all teenagers should read. Melinda's voice, although cynical and outspoken, was dead-on and as a teenager I felt like I totally connected with her through the entire book. I also loved the "tree" symbolism in Melinda's art class, subtle enough to not be cliche but powerful enough to make me feel growth. Some YA authors don't really understand how cliques and stuff work nowadays, but Anderson hit the nail on the head, which made me like the book even more. I stayed up to midnight last night finishing this novel, and I'm sure you will to once you get a hold of this book.
September 5, 2017
Updating to add a trigger warning which I really should've before
*TRIGGER WARNING FOR RAPE*
I debated for a long time what to rate this and decided on 4 stars because this book honestly perfectly captures the thoughts and feelings that run through your head when you go through a situation like Melinda's. This book was extremely hard for me to read as it hit very, very close to home and for that reason, I just couldn't give it 5 stars.
*TRIGGER WARNING FOR RAPE*
I debated for a long time what to rate this and decided on 4 stars because this book honestly perfectly captures the thoughts and feelings that run through your head when you go through a situation like Melinda's. This book was extremely hard for me to read as it hit very, very close to home and for that reason, I just couldn't give it 5 stars.
June 2, 2020
A powerful story! I don't think a 5 star book has to be perfect. No story is perfect. This story tells an amazing story, but the end has problems for me and I still love this book. When a book makes me feel so much and I simply can't put it down, that's a 5 star review.
There isn't any way to review this without spoilers:
Spoiler Warning:
Melinda was at a senior party and called the cops and everyone knows and so she is now the 9th grade pariah and outcast. The reason she really called the cops was she needed help. She was raped and didn't know what to do. She couldn't speak after that. The rest of the year her grades tank and she has one somewhat friend. Art is the only class she feels safe in.
The whole year she barely speaks. She is alone, in pain and depressed and she can't deal with her wounds. She needs to speak and can't. It's only when her used to be best friend starts dating the same guy she had an encounter with that she does speak.
The problem with the ending is we don't get to see the character arc. It stops at the climax and there is nothing after. The moment of change is when Melinda speaks out. We don't get to see the change in Melinda. The last few pages show the change in other people toward her. We don't get to see how her parents react as they didn't handle it well. How does finally speaking changer Melinda??? We don't get to see it. The character arc is not completed. We are left hanging.
I wanted to see the change inside this inward character and I didn't get to see it. I didn't get to see how anyone around her helped her. I don't know that I've loved a book so much when the ending isn't that good, but I feel Laurie really blew the ending.
The point of the story was the pain Laurie was in and how frozen she was. How is was all too much to deal with. It was brilliant how Laurie did that. I read 170 pages of this in 2 days once I got into this and couldn't put it down. It was fascinating being in Melinda's head and wanting to help her and reach out to her and not being able too. I never dealt with rape or something like that in school, but I did struggle with depression and I know what she was feeling inside. I understood her.
The book is an amazing study on angst and depression in high school, but the ending is a real miss. It has to be one of the worst endings I've seen. Who helped her after she helped herself? What came out of her once the dam broke.
I do recommend this book to people, anyone who has struggled in life with feelings and overwhelm.
There isn't any way to review this without spoilers:
Spoiler Warning:
Melinda was at a senior party and called the cops and everyone knows and so she is now the 9th grade pariah and outcast. The reason she really called the cops was she needed help. She was raped and didn't know what to do. She couldn't speak after that. The rest of the year her grades tank and she has one somewhat friend. Art is the only class she feels safe in.
The whole year she barely speaks. She is alone, in pain and depressed and she can't deal with her wounds. She needs to speak and can't. It's only when her used to be best friend starts dating the same guy she had an encounter with that she does speak.
The problem with the ending is we don't get to see the character arc. It stops at the climax and there is nothing after. The moment of change is when Melinda speaks out. We don't get to see the change in Melinda. The last few pages show the change in other people toward her. We don't get to see how her parents react as they didn't handle it well. How does finally speaking changer Melinda??? We don't get to see it. The character arc is not completed. We are left hanging.
I wanted to see the change inside this inward character and I didn't get to see it. I didn't get to see how anyone around her helped her. I don't know that I've loved a book so much when the ending isn't that good, but I feel Laurie really blew the ending.
The point of the story was the pain Laurie was in and how frozen she was. How is was all too much to deal with. It was brilliant how Laurie did that. I read 170 pages of this in 2 days once I got into this and couldn't put it down. It was fascinating being in Melinda's head and wanting to help her and reach out to her and not being able too. I never dealt with rape or something like that in school, but I did struggle with depression and I know what she was feeling inside. I understood her.
The book is an amazing study on angst and depression in high school, but the ending is a real miss. It has to be one of the worst endings I've seen. Who helped her after she helped herself? What came out of her once the dam broke.
I do recommend this book to people, anyone who has struggled in life with feelings and overwhelm.
September 18, 2021
Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson
Speak, published in 1999, is a young adult novel by Laurie Halse Anderson that tells the story of high school freshman Melinda Sordino. The novel was based on Anderson's personal experience of having been raped as a teenager and the trauma she faced. Speak is a first-person, diary-like narrative.
Written in the voice of Melinda Sordino, it features lists, subheadings, spaces between paragraphs and script-like dialogue.
The fragmented style mimics Melinda's trauma. The choppy sentences and blank spaces on the pages relate to Melinda's fascination with Cubism.
The summer before her freshman year of high school, Melinda Sordino meets senior Andy Evans at a high school party.
During the party, Andy rapes Melinda. In shock, Melinda calls 9-1-1, but does not know what to say and runs home.
The police come and break up the party, and some people are arrested.
Melinda does not tell anyone what happened to her, and nobody asks.
Melinda is befriended by Heather, a girl who is new to the community.
However, once Heather realizes that Melinda is depressed and an outcast, she ditches Melinda to sit with the "Marthas," a group of girls who seem charitable and outgoing, but are actually selfish and cruel.
As Melinda's depression deepens, she begins to skip school, withdrawing from her already distant parents and other authority figures, who see her silence as means of getting "attention".
She slowly befriends her lab partner, David Petrakis, who encourages her to speak up for herself. ...
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毓賳賵丕賳: 蹖賴 趩蹖夭蹖 亘诏賵貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 賱丕賵乇蹖鈥� (賱賵乇蹖) 賴丕賱爻 (賴賱爻) 丕賳丿乇爻賳貨 亘乇诏乇丿丕賳 丨賲蹖丿乇囟丕 氐丿乇貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 趩卮賲賴貙 1395貨 214氐貨 卮丕亘讴9786002296818貨 趩丕倬 爻賵賲 1395貨 賲賵囟賵毓: 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 丕蹖丕賱丕鬲 賲鬲丨丿賴 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 - 爻丿賴 20賲
毓賳賵丕賳: 丨乇賮 亘夭賳貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 賱丕賵乇蹖鈥� (賱賵乇蹖) 賴丕賱爻 (賴賱爻) 丕賳丿乇爻賳貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 倬蹖丿丕蹖卮貙 1398貨 丿乇 256氐貨 卮丕亘讴9786002966131貨
丨乇賮鬲 乇丕 亘夭賳 - 賲蹖禺賵丕賴蹖賲 亘丿丕賳蹖賲 趩賴 亘乇丕蹖 诏賮鬲賳 丿丕乇蹖貨 芦賲賱蹖賳丿丕禄貙 丕夭 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 賱丨馗賴 蹖 賵乇賵丿卮 亘賴 丿亘蹖乇爻鬲丕賳 芦賲乇蹖 賵鬲乇禄貙 賲蹖丿丕賳丿 讴賴 賴賲诏蹖 丕蹖賳 丨乇賮賴丕 丿乇賵睾 賵 亘禺卮蹖 丕夭 賲夭禺乇賮丕鬲 丿賵乇丕賳 丿亘蹖乇爻鬲丕賳 丕爻鬲貨 丕賵 賴蹖趩 丿賵爻鬲蹖 賳丿丕乇丿 賵 乇丕賳丿賴 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲貙 趩乇丕 讴賴 丿乇 诏匕卮鬲賴 亘丕 夭賳诏 夭丿賳 亘賴 倬賱蹖爻貙 賲賴賲丕賳蹖 倬丕蹖丕賳 鬲丕亘爻鬲丕賳 亘趩賴 賴丕 乇丕 禺乇丕亘 讴乇丿賴 丕爻鬲貙 賵 丕讴賳賵賳 賴蹖趩讴爻 亘丕 丕賵 诏賮鬲诏賵 賳賲蹖讴賳丿 賵 亘賴 丨乇賮賴丕蹖卮 賳蹖夭 诏賵卮 賳賲蹖丿賴賳丿貨 亘丕 诏匕乇 夭賲丕賳貙 芦賲賱蹖賳丿丕禄 亘蹖卮鬲乇 賲賳夭賵蹖貙 賵 丿爻鬲 丕夭 爻禺賳 诏賮鬲賳 賲蹖讴卮丿貙 鬲賳賴丕 讴賱丕爻 賴賳乇貙 丕賳丿讴蹖 鬲爻賱蹖 亘禺卮 丕賵 賴爻鬲貙 賵 丕夭 乇丕賴 讴丕乇 禺賵蹖卮 讴賴 倬乇賵跇賴 丕蹖 賴賳乇蹖 丕爻鬲貙 爻乇丕賳噩丕賲 賲蹖鬲賵丕賳丿 亘丕 丌賳趩賴 讴賴 丿乇 丌賳 賲賴賲丕賳蹖 鬲乇爻賳丕讴 乇禺 丿丕丿賴 亘賵丿貙 乇賵亘乇賵 卮賵丿: 丕賵 乇丕 蹖讴 爻丕賱 亘丕賱丕蹖蹖 賲賵乇丿 丌夭丕乇 賯乇丕乇 丿丕丿賴 亘賵丿貨 讴爻蹖 讴賴 賴賲趩賳丕賳 丿乇 芦賲乇蹖 賵鬲乇禄 丕爻鬲貙 賵 鬲賴丿蹖丿蹖 亘乇丕蹖 芦賲賱蹖賳丿丕禄 亘賴 卮賲丕乇 賲蹖丌蹖丿貙 丿乇 乇賲丕賳 芦賱丕賵乇蹖 (賱賵乇蹖) 賴丕賱爻 (賴賱爻) 丕賳丿乇爻賳禄貙 賯賴乇賲丕賳蹖 賲賵賳孬 賵 亘賴 卮丿鬲 亘丕賵乇倬匕蹖乇貙 亘丕 夭亘丕賳 胤毓賳賴 丌賲蹖夭 賵 诏夭賳丿賴 蹖 禺賵丿貙 丿賳蹖丕蹖 乇蹖丕讴丕乇丕賳賴 蹖 丿亘蹖乇爻鬲丕賳 乇丕貙 亘賴 趩丕賱卮 賲蹖讴卮丿貨 芦賲賱蹖賳丿丕禄貙 賳賲丕蹖賳丿賴 蹖 亘爻蹖丕乇蹖 丕夭 賳賵噩賵丕賳丕賳蹖 丕爻鬲貙 讴賴 丕夭 丨賯 禺賵丿 賲丨乇賵賲 賲丕賳丿賴貙 賵 丕賴賲蹖鬲 丨乇賮 夭丿賳 賵 倬丕蹖 丨賯 賵 丨賯賵賯 禺賵丿 丕蹖爻鬲丕丿賳 乇丕貙 亘賴 賴賲诏丕賳 诏賵卮夭丿 賲蹖讴賳丿
賳賯賱 丕夭 丌睾丕夭 賲鬲賳 蹖賴 趩蹖夭蹖 亘诏賵: (鬲乇賲 丕賵賱: 亘賴 丿亘蹖乇爻鬲丕賳 芦賲乇蹖 賵賽丿賽乇賴丕蹖禄 禺賵卮 丌賲丿蹖丿貨 丕蹖賳 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 氐亘丨 丨囟賵乇 賲賳 丿乇 丿亘蹖乇爻鬲丕賳賴貨 賴賮鬲 鬲丕 讴鬲丕亘趩賴 蹖 賳賵 丿丕乇賲貙 丿丕賲賳蹖 讴賴 丕夭 丕賵賳 亘蹖夭丕乇賲貙 賵 蹖讴 卮讴賲 丿乇丿賲賳丿貨 丕鬲賵亘賵爻 賲丿乇爻賴 禺爻 禺爻 讴賳丕賳 讴賳丕乇賲 鬲賵賯賮 賲蹖讴賳賴貨 丿乇 亘丕夭 賲蹖卮賴 賵 賲蹖乇賲 亘丕賱丕貨 丕賵賱蹖賳 賳賮乇蹖 丕賲 讴賴 爻賵丕乇 卮丿賴貨 賴賳賵夭 賵爻胤 丕鬲賵亘賵爻 爻乇诏乇丿賵賳賲 讴賴 乇丕賳賳丿賴 乇丕賴 賲蹖丕賮鬲賴貨 讴噩丕 亘卮蹖賳賲責 賴乇诏夭 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 丕賵賳 賲爻鬲 賵 賲賱賳诏賴丕蹖 丌禺乇 丕鬲賵亘賵爻 賳亘賵丿賴 賲貨 丕诏賴 賵爻胤 亘卮蹖賳賲 賲賲讴賳賴 蹖賴 睾乇蹖亘賴 讴賳丕乇賲 亘卮蹖賳賴貨 丕诏賴 噩賱賵 賴賲 亘卮蹖賳賲 卮亘蹖賴 亘趩賴 亘賴 賳馗乇 賲蹖丌賲貙 賵賱蹖 賮讴乇 賲蹖讴賳賲 亘蹖卮鬲乇蹖賳 亘禺鬲蹖 讴賴 卮丕蹖丿 趩卮賲賲 亘蹖賮鬲賴 鬲賵蹖 趩卮賲 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 丿賵爻鬲丕賲 丿乇 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 賴賲蹖賳 噩賱賵 亘卮蹖賳賲貙 丕賱亘鬲賴 丕诏賴 丿賵爻鬲蹖 賲賵賳丿賴 亘丕卮賴 讴賴 亘禺賵丕丿 亘丕 賲賳 丨乇賮 亘夭賳賴貨 丕鬲賵亘賵爻賿 亘趩賴 賴丕 乇賵 丿乇 诏乇賵賴賴丕蹖 趩賴丕乇 倬賳噩 鬲丕蹖蹖 爻賵丕乇 賲蹖讴賳賴貨 丕賵賳丕 賵賯鬲蹖 丕夭 讴賳丕乇賲 乇丿 賲蹖卮賳 賳诏丕賴蹖 賴賲 亘賴賲 賲蹖賳丿丕夭賳貙 賴賲賵賳丕蹖蹖 讴賴 蹖丕 丿乇 丌夭賲丕蹖卮诏丕賴 讴賳丕乇賽 賴賲 亘賵丿蹖賲 蹖丕 鬲賵蹖 夭賲蹖賳 賵乇夭卮貨 趩卮賲丕賲 乇賵 賲蹖亘賳丿賲貨 丕蹖賳 賴賲賵賳 趩蹖夭蹖 亘賵丿賴 讴賴 丕夭卮 賵丨卮鬲 丿丕卮鬲賲貨 亘毓丿 丕夭 丌禺乇蹖賳 鬲賵賯賮 賲賳 鬲賳賴丕 讴爻蹖 丕賲 讴賴 鬲讴 賵鬲賳賴丕 賳卮爻鬲賴 賲貨 乇丕賳賳丿賴 賲蹖夭賳賴 丿賳丿賴 爻賳诏蹖賳 鬲丕 賲丕 乇賵 丕夭 卮蹖亘 鬲賳丿蹖 亘丕賱丕 亘亘乇賴貨 鬲賱賯 鬲賱賵賯 賲賵鬲賵乇 噩賵乇蹖賴 讴賴 賮讴乇 賲蹖讴賳蹖丿 倬爻乇丕蹖 賳卮爻鬲賴 乇賵蹖 氐賳丿賱蹖賴丕蹖 丌禺乇 丕夭 禺賵丿卮賵賳 氐丿丕賴丕蹖 賵賯蹖丨丕賳賴 丕蹖 丿乇賲蹖丌乇賳貨 蹖讴蹖 亘蹖卮 丕夭 丨丿 亘賴 禺賵丿卮 丕丿賵讴賱賳 夭丿賴貨 噩賵賳 賲蹖讴賻賳賲 倬賳噩乇賴 乇賵 亘丕夭 讴賳賲 賵賱蹖 賯賮賱 鬲讴賵賳 賳賲蹖禺賵乇賴貨 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 倬爻乇丕蹖 倬卮鬲 爻乇蹖 卮乇賵毓 賲蹖讴賳賴 亘賴 禺賵乇丿賳 氐亘丨丕賳賴 賵 讴丕睾匕 丿賵乇 蹖賴 卮蹖乇蹖賳蹖 乇賵 倬乇鬲 賲蹖讴賳賴 胤乇賮 賲賳貨 讴丕睾匕 賲蹖丕賮鬲賴 乇賵蹖 夭丕賳賵賲貙 賲丕乇讴 卮蹖乇蹖賳蹖卮 乇賵 賲蹖卮賳丕爻賲.)貨 倬丕蹖丕賳
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 26/06/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
Speak, published in 1999, is a young adult novel by Laurie Halse Anderson that tells the story of high school freshman Melinda Sordino. The novel was based on Anderson's personal experience of having been raped as a teenager and the trauma she faced. Speak is a first-person, diary-like narrative.
Written in the voice of Melinda Sordino, it features lists, subheadings, spaces between paragraphs and script-like dialogue.
The fragmented style mimics Melinda's trauma. The choppy sentences and blank spaces on the pages relate to Melinda's fascination with Cubism.
The summer before her freshman year of high school, Melinda Sordino meets senior Andy Evans at a high school party.
During the party, Andy rapes Melinda. In shock, Melinda calls 9-1-1, but does not know what to say and runs home.
The police come and break up the party, and some people are arrested.
Melinda does not tell anyone what happened to her, and nobody asks.
Melinda is befriended by Heather, a girl who is new to the community.
However, once Heather realizes that Melinda is depressed and an outcast, she ditches Melinda to sit with the "Marthas," a group of girls who seem charitable and outgoing, but are actually selfish and cruel.
As Melinda's depression deepens, she begins to skip school, withdrawing from her already distant parents and other authority figures, who see her silence as means of getting "attention".
She slowly befriends her lab partner, David Petrakis, who encourages her to speak up for herself. ...
毓賳賵丕賳賴丕蹖 趩丕倬 卮丿賴 丿乇 丕蹖乇丕賳: 芦蹖賴 趩蹖夭蹖 亘诏賵禄貨 芦丨乇賮 亘夭賳禄貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 賱丕賵乇蹖鈥� (賱賵乇蹖) 賴丕賱爻 (賴賱爻) 丕賳丿乇爻賳貨 鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮 乇賵夭 賴賮丿賴賲 賲丕賴 爻倬鬲丕賲亘乇 爻丕賱 2017賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 蹖賴 趩蹖夭蹖 亘诏賵貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 賱丕賵乇蹖鈥� (賱賵乇蹖) 賴丕賱爻 (賴賱爻) 丕賳丿乇爻賳貨 亘乇诏乇丿丕賳 丨賲蹖丿乇囟丕 氐丿乇貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 趩卮賲賴貙 1395貨 214氐貨 卮丕亘讴9786002296818貨 趩丕倬 爻賵賲 1395貨 賲賵囟賵毓: 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 丕蹖丕賱丕鬲 賲鬲丨丿賴 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 - 爻丿賴 20賲
毓賳賵丕賳: 丨乇賮 亘夭賳貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 賱丕賵乇蹖鈥� (賱賵乇蹖) 賴丕賱爻 (賴賱爻) 丕賳丿乇爻賳貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 倬蹖丿丕蹖卮貙 1398貨 丿乇 256氐貨 卮丕亘讴9786002966131貨
丨乇賮鬲 乇丕 亘夭賳 - 賲蹖禺賵丕賴蹖賲 亘丿丕賳蹖賲 趩賴 亘乇丕蹖 诏賮鬲賳 丿丕乇蹖貨 芦賲賱蹖賳丿丕禄貙 丕夭 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 賱丨馗賴 蹖 賵乇賵丿卮 亘賴 丿亘蹖乇爻鬲丕賳 芦賲乇蹖 賵鬲乇禄貙 賲蹖丿丕賳丿 讴賴 賴賲诏蹖 丕蹖賳 丨乇賮賴丕 丿乇賵睾 賵 亘禺卮蹖 丕夭 賲夭禺乇賮丕鬲 丿賵乇丕賳 丿亘蹖乇爻鬲丕賳 丕爻鬲貨 丕賵 賴蹖趩 丿賵爻鬲蹖 賳丿丕乇丿 賵 乇丕賳丿賴 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲貙 趩乇丕 讴賴 丿乇 诏匕卮鬲賴 亘丕 夭賳诏 夭丿賳 亘賴 倬賱蹖爻貙 賲賴賲丕賳蹖 倬丕蹖丕賳 鬲丕亘爻鬲丕賳 亘趩賴 賴丕 乇丕 禺乇丕亘 讴乇丿賴 丕爻鬲貙 賵 丕讴賳賵賳 賴蹖趩讴爻 亘丕 丕賵 诏賮鬲诏賵 賳賲蹖讴賳丿 賵 亘賴 丨乇賮賴丕蹖卮 賳蹖夭 诏賵卮 賳賲蹖丿賴賳丿貨 亘丕 诏匕乇 夭賲丕賳貙 芦賲賱蹖賳丿丕禄 亘蹖卮鬲乇 賲賳夭賵蹖貙 賵 丿爻鬲 丕夭 爻禺賳 诏賮鬲賳 賲蹖讴卮丿貙 鬲賳賴丕 讴賱丕爻 賴賳乇貙 丕賳丿讴蹖 鬲爻賱蹖 亘禺卮 丕賵 賴爻鬲貙 賵 丕夭 乇丕賴 讴丕乇 禺賵蹖卮 讴賴 倬乇賵跇賴 丕蹖 賴賳乇蹖 丕爻鬲貙 爻乇丕賳噩丕賲 賲蹖鬲賵丕賳丿 亘丕 丌賳趩賴 讴賴 丿乇 丌賳 賲賴賲丕賳蹖 鬲乇爻賳丕讴 乇禺 丿丕丿賴 亘賵丿貙 乇賵亘乇賵 卮賵丿: 丕賵 乇丕 蹖讴 爻丕賱 亘丕賱丕蹖蹖 賲賵乇丿 丌夭丕乇 賯乇丕乇 丿丕丿賴 亘賵丿貨 讴爻蹖 讴賴 賴賲趩賳丕賳 丿乇 芦賲乇蹖 賵鬲乇禄 丕爻鬲貙 賵 鬲賴丿蹖丿蹖 亘乇丕蹖 芦賲賱蹖賳丿丕禄 亘賴 卮賲丕乇 賲蹖丌蹖丿貙 丿乇 乇賲丕賳 芦賱丕賵乇蹖 (賱賵乇蹖) 賴丕賱爻 (賴賱爻) 丕賳丿乇爻賳禄貙 賯賴乇賲丕賳蹖 賲賵賳孬 賵 亘賴 卮丿鬲 亘丕賵乇倬匕蹖乇貙 亘丕 夭亘丕賳 胤毓賳賴 丌賲蹖夭 賵 诏夭賳丿賴 蹖 禺賵丿貙 丿賳蹖丕蹖 乇蹖丕讴丕乇丕賳賴 蹖 丿亘蹖乇爻鬲丕賳 乇丕貙 亘賴 趩丕賱卮 賲蹖讴卮丿貨 芦賲賱蹖賳丿丕禄貙 賳賲丕蹖賳丿賴 蹖 亘爻蹖丕乇蹖 丕夭 賳賵噩賵丕賳丕賳蹖 丕爻鬲貙 讴賴 丕夭 丨賯 禺賵丿 賲丨乇賵賲 賲丕賳丿賴貙 賵 丕賴賲蹖鬲 丨乇賮 夭丿賳 賵 倬丕蹖 丨賯 賵 丨賯賵賯 禺賵丿 丕蹖爻鬲丕丿賳 乇丕貙 亘賴 賴賲诏丕賳 诏賵卮夭丿 賲蹖讴賳丿
賳賯賱 丕夭 丌睾丕夭 賲鬲賳 蹖賴 趩蹖夭蹖 亘诏賵: (鬲乇賲 丕賵賱: 亘賴 丿亘蹖乇爻鬲丕賳 芦賲乇蹖 賵賽丿賽乇賴丕蹖禄 禺賵卮 丌賲丿蹖丿貨 丕蹖賳 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 氐亘丨 丨囟賵乇 賲賳 丿乇 丿亘蹖乇爻鬲丕賳賴貨 賴賮鬲 鬲丕 讴鬲丕亘趩賴 蹖 賳賵 丿丕乇賲貙 丿丕賲賳蹖 讴賴 丕夭 丕賵賳 亘蹖夭丕乇賲貙 賵 蹖讴 卮讴賲 丿乇丿賲賳丿貨 丕鬲賵亘賵爻 賲丿乇爻賴 禺爻 禺爻 讴賳丕賳 讴賳丕乇賲 鬲賵賯賮 賲蹖讴賳賴貨 丿乇 亘丕夭 賲蹖卮賴 賵 賲蹖乇賲 亘丕賱丕貨 丕賵賱蹖賳 賳賮乇蹖 丕賲 讴賴 爻賵丕乇 卮丿賴貨 賴賳賵夭 賵爻胤 丕鬲賵亘賵爻 爻乇诏乇丿賵賳賲 讴賴 乇丕賳賳丿賴 乇丕賴 賲蹖丕賮鬲賴貨 讴噩丕 亘卮蹖賳賲責 賴乇诏夭 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 丕賵賳 賲爻鬲 賵 賲賱賳诏賴丕蹖 丌禺乇 丕鬲賵亘賵爻 賳亘賵丿賴 賲貨 丕诏賴 賵爻胤 亘卮蹖賳賲 賲賲讴賳賴 蹖賴 睾乇蹖亘賴 讴賳丕乇賲 亘卮蹖賳賴貨 丕诏賴 噩賱賵 賴賲 亘卮蹖賳賲 卮亘蹖賴 亘趩賴 亘賴 賳馗乇 賲蹖丌賲貙 賵賱蹖 賮讴乇 賲蹖讴賳賲 亘蹖卮鬲乇蹖賳 亘禺鬲蹖 讴賴 卮丕蹖丿 趩卮賲賲 亘蹖賮鬲賴 鬲賵蹖 趩卮賲 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 丿賵爻鬲丕賲 丿乇 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 賴賲蹖賳 噩賱賵 亘卮蹖賳賲貙 丕賱亘鬲賴 丕诏賴 丿賵爻鬲蹖 賲賵賳丿賴 亘丕卮賴 讴賴 亘禺賵丕丿 亘丕 賲賳 丨乇賮 亘夭賳賴貨 丕鬲賵亘賵爻賿 亘趩賴 賴丕 乇賵 丿乇 诏乇賵賴賴丕蹖 趩賴丕乇 倬賳噩 鬲丕蹖蹖 爻賵丕乇 賲蹖讴賳賴貨 丕賵賳丕 賵賯鬲蹖 丕夭 讴賳丕乇賲 乇丿 賲蹖卮賳 賳诏丕賴蹖 賴賲 亘賴賲 賲蹖賳丿丕夭賳貙 賴賲賵賳丕蹖蹖 讴賴 蹖丕 丿乇 丌夭賲丕蹖卮诏丕賴 讴賳丕乇賽 賴賲 亘賵丿蹖賲 蹖丕 鬲賵蹖 夭賲蹖賳 賵乇夭卮貨 趩卮賲丕賲 乇賵 賲蹖亘賳丿賲貨 丕蹖賳 賴賲賵賳 趩蹖夭蹖 亘賵丿賴 讴賴 丕夭卮 賵丨卮鬲 丿丕卮鬲賲貨 亘毓丿 丕夭 丌禺乇蹖賳 鬲賵賯賮 賲賳 鬲賳賴丕 讴爻蹖 丕賲 讴賴 鬲讴 賵鬲賳賴丕 賳卮爻鬲賴 賲貨 乇丕賳賳丿賴 賲蹖夭賳賴 丿賳丿賴 爻賳诏蹖賳 鬲丕 賲丕 乇賵 丕夭 卮蹖亘 鬲賳丿蹖 亘丕賱丕 亘亘乇賴貨 鬲賱賯 鬲賱賵賯 賲賵鬲賵乇 噩賵乇蹖賴 讴賴 賮讴乇 賲蹖讴賳蹖丿 倬爻乇丕蹖 賳卮爻鬲賴 乇賵蹖 氐賳丿賱蹖賴丕蹖 丌禺乇 丕夭 禺賵丿卮賵賳 氐丿丕賴丕蹖 賵賯蹖丨丕賳賴 丕蹖 丿乇賲蹖丌乇賳貨 蹖讴蹖 亘蹖卮 丕夭 丨丿 亘賴 禺賵丿卮 丕丿賵讴賱賳 夭丿賴貨 噩賵賳 賲蹖讴賻賳賲 倬賳噩乇賴 乇賵 亘丕夭 讴賳賲 賵賱蹖 賯賮賱 鬲讴賵賳 賳賲蹖禺賵乇賴貨 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 倬爻乇丕蹖 倬卮鬲 爻乇蹖 卮乇賵毓 賲蹖讴賳賴 亘賴 禺賵乇丿賳 氐亘丨丕賳賴 賵 讴丕睾匕 丿賵乇 蹖賴 卮蹖乇蹖賳蹖 乇賵 倬乇鬲 賲蹖讴賳賴 胤乇賮 賲賳貨 讴丕睾匕 賲蹖丕賮鬲賴 乇賵蹖 夭丕賳賵賲貙 賲丕乇讴 卮蹖乇蹖賳蹖卮 乇賵 賲蹖卮賳丕爻賲.)貨 倬丕蹖丕賳
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 26/06/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
December 11, 2017
There are no doubts that it is a very important book for the subject it deals with. We need so many more books on this subject but I want them to actually 鈥渟peak鈥�.
So something happened at a party to Melinda and she stops speaking. She is not popular in school; in fact her friends have started to cut her. They don鈥檛 want to see her anymore as they find this 鈥渘ot speaking鈥� behavior strange but they don鈥檛 try hard to extract the reason for this. They just accept without questioning her. Same is the case with her parents. And that鈥檚 where my issue with this book lies. No one just waste a single breath on thinking about this sudden change. Neither the parents nor the friends. Why did not they talked to her or made her to talk? Tell them what鈥檚 wrong.
Though the girl in the end starts expressing herself, and I am happy about it but it came a little too late for my liking. Girls who go through such incident need love and support; and not 鈥渋gnore her鈥� attitude that Mel got in this story. This book could have delivered a strong message but I didn鈥檛 do so, at least for me.
So something happened at a party to Melinda and she stops speaking. She is not popular in school; in fact her friends have started to cut her. They don鈥檛 want to see her anymore as they find this 鈥渘ot speaking鈥� behavior strange but they don鈥檛 try hard to extract the reason for this. They just accept without questioning her. Same is the case with her parents. And that鈥檚 where my issue with this book lies. No one just waste a single breath on thinking about this sudden change. Neither the parents nor the friends. Why did not they talked to her or made her to talk? Tell them what鈥檚 wrong.
Though the girl in the end starts expressing herself, and I am happy about it but it came a little too late for my liking. Girls who go through such incident need love and support; and not 鈥渋gnore her鈥� attitude that Mel got in this story. This book could have delivered a strong message but I didn鈥檛 do so, at least for me.
September 8, 2024
5鈽�
陹� 掳 饾殕饾殤饾殠饾殫 饾殭饾殠饾殬饾殭饾殨饾殠 饾殟饾殬饾殫'饾殱 饾殠饾殹饾殭饾殯饾殠饾殰饾殰 饾殱饾殤饾殠饾殩饾殰饾殠饾殨饾殶饾殠饾殰, 饾殱饾殤饾殠饾殺 饾殟饾殥饾殠 饾殬饾殫饾殠 饾殭饾殥饾殠饾殞饾殠 饾殜饾殱 饾殜 饾殱饾殥饾殩饾殠. 陹�
: 虠虁鉃� This short book follows Melinda Sordino, a freshman in high school hated by her peers for calling the police at a party over the summer. Her friends abandoned her, her parents were disappointed, her grades are slipping, and she鈥檚 got a secret. A secret that silenced her voice and stole her life. She was raped by Andy Evans.
藲喹ㄠ鈰嗭健藲 鈰� 鈥滒潤� 饾櫖饾櫎饾櫍饾櫃饾櫄饾櫑 饾櫇饾櫎饾櫖 饾櫋饾櫎饾櫍饾櫆 饾櫈饾櫓 饾櫖饾櫎饾櫔饾櫋饾櫃 饾櫓饾櫀饾櫊饾櫄 饾櫅饾櫎饾櫑 饾櫀饾櫍饾櫘饾櫎饾櫍饾櫄 饾櫓饾櫎 饾櫍饾櫎饾櫓饾櫈饾櫂饾櫄 饾櫈饾櫅 饾檮 饾櫉饾櫔饾櫒饾櫓 饾櫒饾櫓饾櫎饾櫏饾櫏饾櫄饾櫃 饾櫓饾櫀饾櫋饾櫊饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆.鈥�
: 虠虁鉃� This book is about Melinda, but despite the fact that she spends the majority of the novel being mute, it speaks to everyone. When you鈥檙e a child, you鈥檙e told to use your voice. You鈥檙e told that people care what you have to say, and that when you need help you should ask for it. That is, until you actually open your mouth. So, when something happens and you wish you could scream about it with your entire being, you end up silent. So while this book tells the story of this adolescent girl, it also tells the story of every person who has ever crushed something down to stop the pain but crushed yourself as well. It鈥檚 about the silent struggles people go through daily, the blindness people have to other people鈥檚 pain, the ignorance we all obtain when we judge people without knowing who they are. And then the silence we obtain when we get judged.
藲喹ㄠ鈰嗭健藲 鈰� 鈥滒潣攫潤氿潤ｐ潤潤ゐ潤ю潤潤濔潤烉潤� 饾櫈饾櫒 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫄 饾櫂饾櫇饾櫈饾櫋饾櫃 饾櫎饾櫅 饾櫅饾櫄饾櫀饾櫑 饾櫀饾櫍饾櫃 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫄 饾櫅饾櫀饾櫓饾櫇饾櫄饾櫑 饾櫎饾櫅 饾櫈饾櫆饾櫍饾櫎饾櫑饾櫀饾櫍饾櫂饾櫄.鈥�
Melinda
鈺扳攬鉃� The reason I gave this book five stars was because of Melinda, she was the type of character that makes you FEEL, and that is the key to a good book. It may be hard for people to feel for Melinda, but I had no trouble. She wasn鈥檛 鈥渂land鈥� or 鈥渂oring鈥� she was a shell of a person because she lost herself and the point of the book was her to find herself once more. The book starts with her choosing not to speak, and the book ends right when she decides to open up and finally talk. It wasn鈥檛 a big bang, no cinematic ending, it ended right when she decided to speak
藲喹ㄠ鈰嗭健藲 鈰� 饾檼饾櫎饾櫑饾櫃饾櫒 饾櫅饾櫋饾櫎饾櫀饾櫓 饾櫔饾櫏. 鈥滒潤囸潤氿潤� 饾櫌饾櫄 饾櫓饾櫄饾櫋饾櫋 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔 饾櫀饾櫁饾櫎饾櫔饾櫓 饾櫈饾櫓.鈥�
: 虠虁鉃� LET ME TELL YOU. This book made me so so mad. I spent the whole book waiting for someone to be on Melinda鈥檚 side because she has literally nobody. Her parents are mean to her because she鈥檚 changed, her friends hate her, and the entire school despises her. But DAVID PERTRAKIS IS MY NEW HERO. I loved the parallel between David and Melinda, she refused to speak up and he never considered sitting silently for even a second. He stood up for what he believed in and always used his voice to do so, and that鈥檚 why Melinda was immediately intrigued. And he was exactly what she needed in a friend, because even though he believes in using your voice, he fought for her silence. Melinda was asked to do an oral assignment, which wouldn鈥檛 be a big deal if the teacher who assigned it hadn鈥檛 been picking on her the entire year. Plus, he didn鈥檛 tell her prior to the assignment. He gave her the assignment, she wrote the essay, and when she went to turn it in, he insisted it must be read to the class.
藲喹ㄠ鈰嗭健藲 鈰� 饾樋饾櫀饾櫕饾櫈饾櫃: 鈥滒潣金潤潤� 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔 饾櫆饾櫎饾櫓 饾櫈饾櫓 饾櫖饾櫑饾櫎饾櫍饾櫆. 饾檹饾櫇饾櫄 饾櫒饾櫔饾櫅饾櫅饾櫑饾櫀饾櫆饾櫄饾櫓饾櫓饾櫄饾櫒 饾櫖饾櫄饾櫑饾櫄 饾櫀饾櫋饾櫋 饾櫀饾櫁饾櫎饾櫔饾櫓 饾櫒饾櫏饾櫄饾櫀饾櫊饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆 饾櫔饾櫏, 饾櫒饾櫂饾櫑饾櫄饾櫀饾櫌饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆 饾櫅饾櫎饾櫑 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫄饾櫈饾櫑 饾櫑饾櫈饾櫆饾櫇饾櫓饾櫒. 饾檾饾櫎饾櫔 饾櫂饾櫀饾櫍'饾櫓 饾櫒饾櫏饾櫄饾櫀饾櫊 饾櫔饾櫏 饾櫅饾櫎饾櫑 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔饾櫑 饾櫑饾櫈饾櫆饾櫇饾櫓 饾櫓饾櫎 饾櫁饾櫄 饾櫒饾櫈饾櫋饾櫄饾櫍饾櫓. 饾檹饾櫇饾櫀饾櫓'饾櫒 饾櫋饾櫄饾櫓饾櫓饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫄 饾櫁饾櫀饾櫃 饾櫆饾櫔饾櫘饾櫒 饾櫖饾櫈饾櫍. 饾檮饾櫅 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫄 饾櫒饾櫔饾櫅饾櫅饾櫑饾櫀饾櫆饾櫄饾櫓饾櫓饾櫄饾櫒 饾櫃饾櫈饾櫃 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫀饾櫓, 饾櫖饾櫎饾櫌饾櫄饾櫍 饾櫖饾櫎饾櫔饾櫋饾櫃饾櫍'饾櫓 饾櫁饾櫄 饾櫀饾櫁饾櫋饾櫄 饾櫓饾櫎 饾櫕饾櫎饾櫓饾櫄 饾櫘饾櫄饾櫓.鈥�
饾檮 饾櫁饾櫋饾櫎饾櫖 饾櫀 饾櫁饾櫔饾櫁饾櫁饾櫋饾櫄 饾櫈饾櫍 饾櫇饾櫈饾櫒 饾櫅饾櫀饾櫂饾櫄. 饾檭饾櫄 饾櫅饾櫎饾櫋饾櫃饾櫒 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫄 饾櫆饾櫔饾櫌 饾櫖饾櫑饾櫀饾櫏饾櫏饾櫄饾櫑饾櫒 饾櫈饾櫍饾櫓饾櫎 饾櫓饾櫈饾櫍饾櫘 饾櫓饾櫑饾櫈饾櫀饾櫍饾櫆饾櫋饾櫄饾櫒.
饾樋饾櫀饾櫕饾櫈饾櫃: 鈥滒潣筐潤ゐ潤�'饾櫓 饾櫆饾櫄饾櫓 饾櫌饾櫄 饾櫖饾櫑饾櫎饾櫍饾櫆. 饾檮 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫈饾櫍饾櫊 饾櫖饾櫇饾櫀饾櫓 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔 饾櫃饾櫈饾櫃 饾櫖饾櫀饾櫒 饾櫊饾櫈饾櫍饾櫃 饾櫎饾櫅 饾櫂饾櫎饾櫎饾櫋 饾櫀饾櫍饾櫃 饾櫆饾櫄饾櫓饾櫓饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆 饾櫒饾櫓饾櫔饾櫂饾櫊 饾櫈饾櫍 饾檲饾檮饾檸饾檸 饾櫖饾櫀饾櫒饾櫍'饾櫓 饾櫅饾櫀饾櫈饾櫑. 饾樈饾櫔饾櫓 饾櫃饾櫎饾櫍'饾櫓 饾櫄饾櫗饾櫏饾櫄饾櫂饾櫓 饾櫓饾櫎 饾櫌饾櫀饾櫊饾櫄 饾櫀 饾櫃饾櫈饾櫅饾櫅饾櫄饾櫑饾櫄饾櫍饾櫂饾櫄 饾櫔饾櫍饾櫋饾櫄饾櫒饾櫒 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔 饾櫒饾櫏饾櫄饾櫀饾櫊 饾櫔饾櫏 饾櫅饾櫎饾櫑 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔饾櫑饾櫒饾櫄饾櫋饾櫅.鈥�
饾檲饾櫄: 鈥滒潣筐潤� 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔 饾櫋饾櫄饾櫂饾櫓饾櫔饾櫑饾櫄 饾櫀饾櫋饾櫋 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔饾櫑 饾櫅饾櫑饾櫈饾櫄饾櫍饾櫃饾櫒 饾櫋饾櫈饾櫊饾櫄 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫈饾櫒?鈥�
饾樋饾櫀饾櫕饾櫈饾櫃: 鈥滒潤婐潤ｐ潤○潤� 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫄 饾櫎饾櫍饾櫄饾櫒 饾檮 饾櫋饾櫈饾櫊饾櫄.鈥�
: 虠虁鉃� So what does Melinda do? She goes to the one person who would help her, David. Together they make copies of the assignment for every student to read. David stands up for Melinda鈥檚 right to not talk, even though he didn鈥檛 agree with it. It was such a breath of fresh air, someone finally supporting Melinda and being in her corner after an entire book of having nobody.
藲喹ㄠ鈰嗭健藲 鈰� 鈥滒潤勷潤� 饾櫇饾櫀饾櫏饾櫏饾櫄饾櫍饾櫄饾櫃. 饾檹饾櫇饾櫄饾櫑饾櫄 饾櫈饾櫒 饾櫍饾櫎 饾櫀饾櫕饾櫎饾櫈饾櫃饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆 饾櫈饾櫓, 饾櫍饾櫎 饾櫅饾櫎饾櫑饾櫆饾櫄饾櫓饾櫓饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆. 饾檳饾櫎 饾櫑饾櫔饾櫍饾櫍饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆 饾櫀饾櫖饾櫀饾櫘, 饾櫎饾櫑 饾櫅饾櫋饾櫘饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆, 饾櫎饾櫑 饾櫁饾櫔饾櫑饾櫘饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆, 饾櫎饾櫑 饾櫇饾櫈饾櫃饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆.鈥�
: 虠虁鉃� Maybe this book doesn鈥檛 have the best writing. Maybe it鈥檚 not the style everyone likes, or maybe you hate all the characters. But the point is, this story deserved to be told for all the people who have been sexually assaulted. There was a message, it needed to be heard. The world tells you to speak, but when you do, they yell at you.
藲喹ㄠ鈰嗭健藲 鈰� 鈥滒潤� 饾櫂饾櫀饾櫍'饾櫓 饾櫃饾櫎 饾櫄饾櫕饾櫄饾櫑饾櫘饾櫓饾櫇饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆 饾櫅饾櫎饾櫑 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔. 饾檾饾櫎饾櫔 饾櫌饾櫔饾櫒饾櫓 饾櫖饾櫀饾櫋饾櫊 饾櫀饾櫋饾櫎饾櫍饾櫄 饾櫓饾櫎 饾櫅饾櫈饾櫍饾櫃 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔饾櫑 饾櫒饾櫎饾櫔饾櫋.鈥�
陹� 掳 饾殕饾殤饾殠饾殫 饾殭饾殠饾殬饾殭饾殨饾殠 饾殟饾殬饾殫'饾殱 饾殠饾殹饾殭饾殯饾殠饾殰饾殰 饾殱饾殤饾殠饾殩饾殰饾殠饾殨饾殶饾殠饾殰, 饾殱饾殤饾殠饾殺 饾殟饾殥饾殠 饾殬饾殫饾殠 饾殭饾殥饾殠饾殞饾殠 饾殜饾殱 饾殜 饾殱饾殥饾殩饾殠. 陹�
: 虠虁鉃� This short book follows Melinda Sordino, a freshman in high school hated by her peers for calling the police at a party over the summer. Her friends abandoned her, her parents were disappointed, her grades are slipping, and she鈥檚 got a secret. A secret that silenced her voice and stole her life. She was raped by Andy Evans.
藲喹ㄠ鈰嗭健藲 鈰� 鈥滒潤� 饾櫖饾櫎饾櫍饾櫃饾櫄饾櫑 饾櫇饾櫎饾櫖 饾櫋饾櫎饾櫍饾櫆 饾櫈饾櫓 饾櫖饾櫎饾櫔饾櫋饾櫃 饾櫓饾櫀饾櫊饾櫄 饾櫅饾櫎饾櫑 饾櫀饾櫍饾櫘饾櫎饾櫍饾櫄 饾櫓饾櫎 饾櫍饾櫎饾櫓饾櫈饾櫂饾櫄 饾櫈饾櫅 饾檮 饾櫉饾櫔饾櫒饾櫓 饾櫒饾櫓饾櫎饾櫏饾櫏饾櫄饾櫃 饾櫓饾櫀饾櫋饾櫊饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆.鈥�
: 虠虁鉃� This book is about Melinda, but despite the fact that she spends the majority of the novel being mute, it speaks to everyone. When you鈥檙e a child, you鈥檙e told to use your voice. You鈥檙e told that people care what you have to say, and that when you need help you should ask for it. That is, until you actually open your mouth. So, when something happens and you wish you could scream about it with your entire being, you end up silent. So while this book tells the story of this adolescent girl, it also tells the story of every person who has ever crushed something down to stop the pain but crushed yourself as well. It鈥檚 about the silent struggles people go through daily, the blindness people have to other people鈥檚 pain, the ignorance we all obtain when we judge people without knowing who they are. And then the silence we obtain when we get judged.
藲喹ㄠ鈰嗭健藲 鈰� 鈥滒潣攫潤氿潤ｐ潤潤ゐ潤ю潤潤濔潤烉潤� 饾櫈饾櫒 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫄 饾櫂饾櫇饾櫈饾櫋饾櫃 饾櫎饾櫅 饾櫅饾櫄饾櫀饾櫑 饾櫀饾櫍饾櫃 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫄 饾櫅饾櫀饾櫓饾櫇饾櫄饾櫑 饾櫎饾櫅 饾櫈饾櫆饾櫍饾櫎饾櫑饾櫀饾櫍饾櫂饾櫄.鈥�
Melinda
鈺扳攬鉃� The reason I gave this book five stars was because of Melinda, she was the type of character that makes you FEEL, and that is the key to a good book. It may be hard for people to feel for Melinda, but I had no trouble. She wasn鈥檛 鈥渂land鈥� or 鈥渂oring鈥� she was a shell of a person because she lost herself and the point of the book was her to find herself once more. The book starts with her choosing not to speak, and the book ends right when she decides to open up and finally talk. It wasn鈥檛 a big bang, no cinematic ending, it ended right when she decided to speak
藲喹ㄠ鈰嗭健藲 鈰� 饾檼饾櫎饾櫑饾櫃饾櫒 饾櫅饾櫋饾櫎饾櫀饾櫓 饾櫔饾櫏. 鈥滒潤囸潤氿潤� 饾櫌饾櫄 饾櫓饾櫄饾櫋饾櫋 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔 饾櫀饾櫁饾櫎饾櫔饾櫓 饾櫈饾櫓.鈥�
: 虠虁鉃� LET ME TELL YOU. This book made me so so mad. I spent the whole book waiting for someone to be on Melinda鈥檚 side because she has literally nobody. Her parents are mean to her because she鈥檚 changed, her friends hate her, and the entire school despises her. But DAVID PERTRAKIS IS MY NEW HERO. I loved the parallel between David and Melinda, she refused to speak up and he never considered sitting silently for even a second. He stood up for what he believed in and always used his voice to do so, and that鈥檚 why Melinda was immediately intrigued. And he was exactly what she needed in a friend, because even though he believes in using your voice, he fought for her silence. Melinda was asked to do an oral assignment, which wouldn鈥檛 be a big deal if the teacher who assigned it hadn鈥檛 been picking on her the entire year. Plus, he didn鈥檛 tell her prior to the assignment. He gave her the assignment, she wrote the essay, and when she went to turn it in, he insisted it must be read to the class.
藲喹ㄠ鈰嗭健藲 鈰� 饾樋饾櫀饾櫕饾櫈饾櫃: 鈥滒潣金潤潤� 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔 饾櫆饾櫎饾櫓 饾櫈饾櫓 饾櫖饾櫑饾櫎饾櫍饾櫆. 饾檹饾櫇饾櫄 饾櫒饾櫔饾櫅饾櫅饾櫑饾櫀饾櫆饾櫄饾櫓饾櫓饾櫄饾櫒 饾櫖饾櫄饾櫑饾櫄 饾櫀饾櫋饾櫋 饾櫀饾櫁饾櫎饾櫔饾櫓 饾櫒饾櫏饾櫄饾櫀饾櫊饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆 饾櫔饾櫏, 饾櫒饾櫂饾櫑饾櫄饾櫀饾櫌饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆 饾櫅饾櫎饾櫑 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫄饾櫈饾櫑 饾櫑饾櫈饾櫆饾櫇饾櫓饾櫒. 饾檾饾櫎饾櫔 饾櫂饾櫀饾櫍'饾櫓 饾櫒饾櫏饾櫄饾櫀饾櫊 饾櫔饾櫏 饾櫅饾櫎饾櫑 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔饾櫑 饾櫑饾櫈饾櫆饾櫇饾櫓 饾櫓饾櫎 饾櫁饾櫄 饾櫒饾櫈饾櫋饾櫄饾櫍饾櫓. 饾檹饾櫇饾櫀饾櫓'饾櫒 饾櫋饾櫄饾櫓饾櫓饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫄 饾櫁饾櫀饾櫃 饾櫆饾櫔饾櫘饾櫒 饾櫖饾櫈饾櫍. 饾檮饾櫅 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫄 饾櫒饾櫔饾櫅饾櫅饾櫑饾櫀饾櫆饾櫄饾櫓饾櫓饾櫄饾櫒 饾櫃饾櫈饾櫃 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫀饾櫓, 饾櫖饾櫎饾櫌饾櫄饾櫍 饾櫖饾櫎饾櫔饾櫋饾櫃饾櫍'饾櫓 饾櫁饾櫄 饾櫀饾櫁饾櫋饾櫄 饾櫓饾櫎 饾櫕饾櫎饾櫓饾櫄 饾櫘饾櫄饾櫓.鈥�
饾檮 饾櫁饾櫋饾櫎饾櫖 饾櫀 饾櫁饾櫔饾櫁饾櫁饾櫋饾櫄 饾櫈饾櫍 饾櫇饾櫈饾櫒 饾櫅饾櫀饾櫂饾櫄. 饾檭饾櫄 饾櫅饾櫎饾櫋饾櫃饾櫒 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫄 饾櫆饾櫔饾櫌 饾櫖饾櫑饾櫀饾櫏饾櫏饾櫄饾櫑饾櫒 饾櫈饾櫍饾櫓饾櫎 饾櫓饾櫈饾櫍饾櫘 饾櫓饾櫑饾櫈饾櫀饾櫍饾櫆饾櫋饾櫄饾櫒.
饾樋饾櫀饾櫕饾櫈饾櫃: 鈥滒潣筐潤ゐ潤�'饾櫓 饾櫆饾櫄饾櫓 饾櫌饾櫄 饾櫖饾櫑饾櫎饾櫍饾櫆. 饾檮 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫈饾櫍饾櫊 饾櫖饾櫇饾櫀饾櫓 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔 饾櫃饾櫈饾櫃 饾櫖饾櫀饾櫒 饾櫊饾櫈饾櫍饾櫃 饾櫎饾櫅 饾櫂饾櫎饾櫎饾櫋 饾櫀饾櫍饾櫃 饾櫆饾櫄饾櫓饾櫓饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆 饾櫒饾櫓饾櫔饾櫂饾櫊 饾櫈饾櫍 饾檲饾檮饾檸饾檸 饾櫖饾櫀饾櫒饾櫍'饾櫓 饾櫅饾櫀饾櫈饾櫑. 饾樈饾櫔饾櫓 饾櫃饾櫎饾櫍'饾櫓 饾櫄饾櫗饾櫏饾櫄饾櫂饾櫓 饾櫓饾櫎 饾櫌饾櫀饾櫊饾櫄 饾櫀 饾櫃饾櫈饾櫅饾櫅饾櫄饾櫑饾櫄饾櫍饾櫂饾櫄 饾櫔饾櫍饾櫋饾櫄饾櫒饾櫒 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔 饾櫒饾櫏饾櫄饾櫀饾櫊 饾櫔饾櫏 饾櫅饾櫎饾櫑 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔饾櫑饾櫒饾櫄饾櫋饾櫅.鈥�
饾檲饾櫄: 鈥滒潣筐潤� 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔 饾櫋饾櫄饾櫂饾櫓饾櫔饾櫑饾櫄 饾櫀饾櫋饾櫋 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔饾櫑 饾櫅饾櫑饾櫈饾櫄饾櫍饾櫃饾櫒 饾櫋饾櫈饾櫊饾櫄 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫈饾櫒?鈥�
饾樋饾櫀饾櫕饾櫈饾櫃: 鈥滒潤婐潤ｐ潤○潤� 饾櫓饾櫇饾櫄 饾櫎饾櫍饾櫄饾櫒 饾檮 饾櫋饾櫈饾櫊饾櫄.鈥�
: 虠虁鉃� So what does Melinda do? She goes to the one person who would help her, David. Together they make copies of the assignment for every student to read. David stands up for Melinda鈥檚 right to not talk, even though he didn鈥檛 agree with it. It was such a breath of fresh air, someone finally supporting Melinda and being in her corner after an entire book of having nobody.
藲喹ㄠ鈰嗭健藲 鈰� 鈥滒潤勷潤� 饾櫇饾櫀饾櫏饾櫏饾櫄饾櫍饾櫄饾櫃. 饾檹饾櫇饾櫄饾櫑饾櫄 饾櫈饾櫒 饾櫍饾櫎 饾櫀饾櫕饾櫎饾櫈饾櫃饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆 饾櫈饾櫓, 饾櫍饾櫎 饾櫅饾櫎饾櫑饾櫆饾櫄饾櫓饾櫓饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆. 饾檳饾櫎 饾櫑饾櫔饾櫍饾櫍饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆 饾櫀饾櫖饾櫀饾櫘, 饾櫎饾櫑 饾櫅饾櫋饾櫘饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆, 饾櫎饾櫑 饾櫁饾櫔饾櫑饾櫘饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆, 饾櫎饾櫑 饾櫇饾櫈饾櫃饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆.鈥�
: 虠虁鉃� Maybe this book doesn鈥檛 have the best writing. Maybe it鈥檚 not the style everyone likes, or maybe you hate all the characters. But the point is, this story deserved to be told for all the people who have been sexually assaulted. There was a message, it needed to be heard. The world tells you to speak, but when you do, they yell at you.
藲喹ㄠ鈰嗭健藲 鈰� 鈥滒潤� 饾櫂饾櫀饾櫍'饾櫓 饾櫃饾櫎 饾櫄饾櫕饾櫄饾櫑饾櫘饾櫓饾櫇饾櫈饾櫍饾櫆 饾櫅饾櫎饾櫑 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔. 饾檾饾櫎饾櫔 饾櫌饾櫔饾櫒饾櫓 饾櫖饾櫀饾櫋饾櫊 饾櫀饾櫋饾櫎饾櫍饾櫄 饾櫓饾櫎 饾櫅饾櫈饾櫍饾櫃 饾櫘饾櫎饾櫔饾櫑 饾櫒饾櫎饾櫔饾櫋.鈥�
January 17, 2025
Once I picked up this book, I couldn鈥檛 put it down. I wanted to know what happened to Melinda to make her an outcast among her peers.
So鈥 kept reading.
At first鈥 found myself frustrated that I was in the midst of teenage angst.
But鈥here was a greater message here.
And鈥 wondered鈥�
Is it too intense for teens?
Or鈥s this exactly what needs to be read to help address these difficult, yet delicate issues?
I felt that鈥his National Book Award finalist will grip readers 鈥� and provide a number of discussion opportunities.
As鈥eaders find themselves inside Melinda鈥檚 pain.
Also鈥eaders can see a frightening, yet sobering look at the cruelty and viciousness of peer pressure that pervades much of contemporary high school life.
But鈥he author offers solutions to her pain by showing Melinda鈥檚 connection to a mentor, her artistic creations, and even her plans for a flower garden. It all helps to feed her inner strength.
Because鈥hen Melinda is finally able to speak, readers rejoice in her triumph.
Thus鈥 can see why this book has become such a phenomenal teaching tool for delving into clique politics and surviving a traumatic event.
And鈥elinda鈥檚 pain and ultimate hope for healing feels real鈥�
As it is described鈥ith open honesty and compassion.
Although鈥his book has received praise for how it has dealt with these sensitive issues, it has also been a target of censors.
Yet鈥t is a powerful and painful story that needed to be told and read, and perhaps even discussed.
Trigger warnings: Sexual assault. Underage Drinking 鈥� drugs 鈥� smoking. Depression. Cutting.
Interest Level: Age 15+ - Eighth grade on up.
So鈥 kept reading.
At first鈥 found myself frustrated that I was in the midst of teenage angst.
But鈥here was a greater message here.
And鈥 wondered鈥�
Is it too intense for teens?
Or鈥s this exactly what needs to be read to help address these difficult, yet delicate issues?
I felt that鈥his National Book Award finalist will grip readers 鈥� and provide a number of discussion opportunities.
As鈥eaders find themselves inside Melinda鈥檚 pain.
Also鈥eaders can see a frightening, yet sobering look at the cruelty and viciousness of peer pressure that pervades much of contemporary high school life.
But鈥he author offers solutions to her pain by showing Melinda鈥檚 connection to a mentor, her artistic creations, and even her plans for a flower garden. It all helps to feed her inner strength.
Because鈥hen Melinda is finally able to speak, readers rejoice in her triumph.
Thus鈥 can see why this book has become such a phenomenal teaching tool for delving into clique politics and surviving a traumatic event.
And鈥elinda鈥檚 pain and ultimate hope for healing feels real鈥�
As it is described鈥ith open honesty and compassion.
Although鈥his book has received praise for how it has dealt with these sensitive issues, it has also been a target of censors.
Yet鈥t is a powerful and painful story that needed to be told and read, and perhaps even discussed.
Trigger warnings: Sexual assault. Underage Drinking 鈥� drugs 鈥� smoking. Depression. Cutting.
Interest Level: Age 15+ - Eighth grade on up.
June 8, 2009
bleg. greg loooooved this book and said it made him wish he had written his own angst-books in high school, but i was a teenage girl and he wasnt, and this just didnt do it for me. its not poorly written at all, i just have never liked books that were about clique-y high schools because i couldnt relate to them at all. maybe i just went to a smaller, or a nicer, high school. but i can definitely see the value of this for a teen reader, and i really liked the authors note on censorship at the end. so a high three.
February 17, 2022
Another book that has sat on my TBR list for entirely too long鈥� 馃洃Trigger Warning鈥檚: rape, depression, bullying, self harm. 馃洃 This book read kinda like a diary to me, first person POV, but not complete in scenes. It鈥檚 a hard read, for sure! 馃槵 But I can see how it can be helpful for YA readers.
September 8, 2007
Wow. I started reading this to entertain myself on a long subway ride home at 2 am, thinking I'd skim a bit and start reading it the next day. The next time I looked at the clock it was five in the morning and I was devouring the last lines of the novel. It is dangerously, fantastically gripping, not necessarily because the plot is so amazing, but because Anderson gets Melinda's voice so very, very right. Melinda is such a thoughtfully rendered portrait of a smart, funny, terribly depressed teenager that I was hooked from her very first lines. To me, the actual story was almost extraneous鈥攖he plot itself is a bit unwieldy鈥攂ut Melinda's anxiety, isolation, and desperate attempts to cope with the horrors of adolescence were so real it was spooky.
November 7, 2018
Sympathy
Paul Laurence Dunbar
I know what the caged bird feels, alas!
When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;
When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass,
And the river flows like a stream of glass;
When the first bird sings and the first bud opes,
And the faint perfume from its chalice steals鈥�
I know what the caged bird feels!
I know why the caged bird beats his wing
Till its blood is red on the cruel bars;
For he must fly back to his perch and cling
When he fain would be on the bough a-swing;
And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars
And they pulse again with a keener sting鈥�
I know why he beats his wing!
I know why the caged bird sings, ah me,
When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,鈥�
When he beats his bars and he would be free;
It is not a carol of joy or glee,
But a prayer that he sends from his heart鈥檚 deep core,
But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings鈥�
I know why the caged bird sings!
Reread most recently on the cusp of the twentieth anniversary of the book's publication, for my fall 2018 YA class, also with Anderson's graphic novel version of the book, illustrated impressively by Emily Carroll.
If you haven't read this book and don;t know why it is Melinda doesn't speak (much, except in the journal of her ninth grade year, which is the novel Speak, you may not want to continue reading this review.
Perennial fave in my YA course, and an important moment in the history of Young Adult Literature. Published in 1999, it features a girl, Melinda, who was raped at a party by an upperclassman in the month before her ninth grade year at Merryweather High School. She calls 911 but then, traumatized by what has happened to her, something she was too young to fully understand, she largely stops talking about what happened, which gets most people in school to hate her. Many books on (teen) rape now exist but few are also witty, filled with snarky teen humor, and so alive with a real vibrant central character, and so well written, with such great insights into teen experiences of adolescence. Should a book on this topic also be funny? Well, this one is, and you will laugh out loud at many observations the darkly acerbic Melinda makes about her school and the teachers and students in the school. And underneath that surface humor is the Act that can never be Un-Acted, the horror compounded by social isolation and misunderstanding.
Melinda rarely actually speaks in this first year, because she is resented for calling that cops at that party. They don't know why she called the cops, though, and no one seems to really care to ask. She loses friends and is bullied. Another issue? "It" (the rapist) is a student at her school, and still a threat to her and others. Her parents's marriage is in trouble, so they have no time to ask her what is going on.
One resource for her is Art class, and the cool art teacher, Mr. Freeman, who doesn't intrude but makes space for her to explore her obvious experiences. Her year project, the topic of which she pulls out of a hat,is a tree. It's a cliche, maybe, but Melinda is urged throughout the year to try and try again to express herself through that simple image. The power of art to redeem is important in this story, as is the power of telling one's story. This is not a perfect story (I have some small issues with the resolution of the story, which conveniently involves a field hockey team in the right place at the right time), but it is an important one for schools and those who work with young people, and teens---both boys and girls--who need to know what rape is and what speaking truth to power is all about.
Paul Laurence Dunbar
I know what the caged bird feels, alas!
When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;
When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass,
And the river flows like a stream of glass;
When the first bird sings and the first bud opes,
And the faint perfume from its chalice steals鈥�
I know what the caged bird feels!
I know why the caged bird beats his wing
Till its blood is red on the cruel bars;
For he must fly back to his perch and cling
When he fain would be on the bough a-swing;
And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars
And they pulse again with a keener sting鈥�
I know why he beats his wing!
I know why the caged bird sings, ah me,
When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,鈥�
When he beats his bars and he would be free;
It is not a carol of joy or glee,
But a prayer that he sends from his heart鈥檚 deep core,
But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings鈥�
I know why the caged bird sings!
Reread most recently on the cusp of the twentieth anniversary of the book's publication, for my fall 2018 YA class, also with Anderson's graphic novel version of the book, illustrated impressively by Emily Carroll.
If you haven't read this book and don;t know why it is Melinda doesn't speak (much, except in the journal of her ninth grade year, which is the novel Speak, you may not want to continue reading this review.
Perennial fave in my YA course, and an important moment in the history of Young Adult Literature. Published in 1999, it features a girl, Melinda, who was raped at a party by an upperclassman in the month before her ninth grade year at Merryweather High School. She calls 911 but then, traumatized by what has happened to her, something she was too young to fully understand, she largely stops talking about what happened, which gets most people in school to hate her. Many books on (teen) rape now exist but few are also witty, filled with snarky teen humor, and so alive with a real vibrant central character, and so well written, with such great insights into teen experiences of adolescence. Should a book on this topic also be funny? Well, this one is, and you will laugh out loud at many observations the darkly acerbic Melinda makes about her school and the teachers and students in the school. And underneath that surface humor is the Act that can never be Un-Acted, the horror compounded by social isolation and misunderstanding.
Melinda rarely actually speaks in this first year, because she is resented for calling that cops at that party. They don't know why she called the cops, though, and no one seems to really care to ask. She loses friends and is bullied. Another issue? "It" (the rapist) is a student at her school, and still a threat to her and others. Her parents's marriage is in trouble, so they have no time to ask her what is going on.
One resource for her is Art class, and the cool art teacher, Mr. Freeman, who doesn't intrude but makes space for her to explore her obvious experiences. Her year project, the topic of which she pulls out of a hat,is a tree. It's a cliche, maybe, but Melinda is urged throughout the year to try and try again to express herself through that simple image. The power of art to redeem is important in this story, as is the power of telling one's story. This is not a perfect story (I have some small issues with the resolution of the story, which conveniently involves a field hockey team in the right place at the right time), but it is an important one for schools and those who work with young people, and teens---both boys and girls--who need to know what rape is and what speaking truth to power is all about.
December 30, 2015
30 DECEMBER 2015: I really thought about writing a raging, seething, foaming-at-the-mouth, slam-the-author review.
And then I thought: Nah.
I could talk about the terrible prose, the lack of plot, the painfully stereotypical characters. I could storm about how Melinda sounded like an eleven year old child rather than a teenager. I could go in depth about the horrendously obvious symbolism, or even the fact that several side plots that are introduced are never mentioned again. But I'm not going to do that.
You know why? Because I've got better things to do. Better books to read, better books to write, things to cook and eat and watch and places to go. All of which would bring me greater joy than writing a rage review for this puppy. I'd hate to end my year in a blind fury, and besides, I'd be lying if I said some of that fury hasn't blown over since I read this in May.
But, I think it is still important to warn you guys. Not only is this book horribly written, but it completely bypasses all the realities of rape (and no, that isn't a spoiler). I was not only angry but disturbed and sickened by the way the subject was handled in this book. It breaks down to something like: Girl gets raped, girl cries over it, girl doesn't seek help, girl makes a tree sculpture and suddenly feels way better.
NO.
I won't stand for that.
It is a cavalier, disgusting, dangerous, and downright reckless way to treat such a complex, nuanced, messy topic. It disgraces survivors of sexual assault everywhere, telling them that rape is just an incident, and when you get it out of your system within less than a fucking year, you're all better.
NO.
Rape is traumatic. Everybody deals with it differently- I understand that- but I loathe the fact that Anderson has portrayed the single most self-destructive way to do so as the right thing to do. Melinda didn't really deal with any of the things that happened to her- she swept them under the rug and pretended that everything ended fine. It's so... superficial. Offhanded. It doesn't dive deep, doesn't even try to scratch the surface. It reduces such an important issue to a minor road bump.
And I'm sorry if I'm getting my knickers in a twist over a fictional young adult book, but that's just the thing- it's a young adult book. It's marketed to impressionable teenagers who may see themselves in an emotionally damaged, moody girl like Melinda, and I really worry about the message that this book is sending them.
So instead of slamming this book in traditional snark-fest fashion, that's my warning to you. It's a terribly written book, but more importantly, the subject is handled with care and respect equivalent to throwing it out of an aeroplane and running it over with a car, then beating it with a stick.
Damn. I feel a lot better. Now I'm off to go read a book I'll actually enjoy- happy reading everyone, and I hope that if you did read this and enjoy it, perhaps now you see a different perspective on how fundamentally poorly the main subject is handled. I don't claim to be right, I'm just putting my own viewpoint out there for you to disagree, agree, or feel conflicted about.
And then I thought: Nah.
I could talk about the terrible prose, the lack of plot, the painfully stereotypical characters. I could storm about how Melinda sounded like an eleven year old child rather than a teenager. I could go in depth about the horrendously obvious symbolism, or even the fact that several side plots that are introduced are never mentioned again. But I'm not going to do that.
You know why? Because I've got better things to do. Better books to read, better books to write, things to cook and eat and watch and places to go. All of which would bring me greater joy than writing a rage review for this puppy. I'd hate to end my year in a blind fury, and besides, I'd be lying if I said some of that fury hasn't blown over since I read this in May.
But, I think it is still important to warn you guys. Not only is this book horribly written, but it completely bypasses all the realities of rape (and no, that isn't a spoiler). I was not only angry but disturbed and sickened by the way the subject was handled in this book. It breaks down to something like: Girl gets raped, girl cries over it, girl doesn't seek help, girl makes a tree sculpture and suddenly feels way better.
NO.
I won't stand for that.
It is a cavalier, disgusting, dangerous, and downright reckless way to treat such a complex, nuanced, messy topic. It disgraces survivors of sexual assault everywhere, telling them that rape is just an incident, and when you get it out of your system within less than a fucking year, you're all better.
NO.
Rape is traumatic. Everybody deals with it differently- I understand that- but I loathe the fact that Anderson has portrayed the single most self-destructive way to do so as the right thing to do. Melinda didn't really deal with any of the things that happened to her- she swept them under the rug and pretended that everything ended fine. It's so... superficial. Offhanded. It doesn't dive deep, doesn't even try to scratch the surface. It reduces such an important issue to a minor road bump.
And I'm sorry if I'm getting my knickers in a twist over a fictional young adult book, but that's just the thing- it's a young adult book. It's marketed to impressionable teenagers who may see themselves in an emotionally damaged, moody girl like Melinda, and I really worry about the message that this book is sending them.
So instead of slamming this book in traditional snark-fest fashion, that's my warning to you. It's a terribly written book, but more importantly, the subject is handled with care and respect equivalent to throwing it out of an aeroplane and running it over with a car, then beating it with a stick.
Damn. I feel a lot better. Now I'm off to go read a book I'll actually enjoy- happy reading everyone, and I hope that if you did read this and enjoy it, perhaps now you see a different perspective on how fundamentally poorly the main subject is handled. I don't claim to be right, I'm just putting my own viewpoint out there for you to disagree, agree, or feel conflicted about.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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