Anderson, Laurie Halse. (1999). Speak. Penguin Group: New York, NY.
Awards: National Book Award, Golden Kite Award
Genre: Fiction
Grades: 9-12th
Grades: 9-12th
Pages: 224
Summary: During a summer party, while being intoxicated Melinda was taken advantage of. She called the police, but was unable to explain to the dispatchers or anyone at the party what had happened. She became ostracized by her peers at school, even her former friends. Unable to speak about her tragic event, Melinda becomes depressed, causes herself pain by biting her lips and nails, and isolates herself. She finds sanctuary in Mr. Freemans' art class and hiding in a closet at school. Self-center senior, Andy Evans, is responsible for Melinda's tragedy. He antagonizes her at school and Melinda becomes traumatize by his presence. Nobody understands her silence and change of personality, her mom thinks she wants attention, her father blames the school, and the counselor thinks is her parent's trouble marriage. Melissa finds the need to speak up about Evan to warn her former friend, Rachel, who starts dating him. Melissa tries to warn other girls by writing a message about Evan on the bathroom stalls and girls respond. She finally realizes that silence is not a solution to a problem and starts seeing herself as a survivor not a victim.
Response: This novel can be read as a autobiographical text for anyone that can relate to the protagonist or knows of someone that has experience the same events. It also helps the reader develop empathy for the victims and survivors of assault. The novel can be use in class to open up to small group or whole group discussions about social problems that affect our young adults that are hard to talk about. For reading skills students can learn about the use of metaphors in reading and writing, for example Melinda's tree paintings mirrored her inner transformation through out the novel. Cross curriculum activities can also be use with the novel, such as using art to demonstrate emotions and/or experiences, just like Amanda did in Mr. Freeman's art class.
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