Title: Speak
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux, 1999
Genre: Realistic Fiction-Romance and Sexuality
Awards: The Margaret Edwards Award-2009 (Laurie Halse Anderson)
Horn Book Starred-1999
Publisher's Weekly Starred-1999
School Library Journal Starred-1999
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Starred-1999
The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in YA Literature-2000
Plot
Melinda Sordino, a freshman at Merryweather High School in Syracuse, NY struggles with many of the issues that face high school students today: friends, peer-pressure, grades, parent relations, activities, acceptance and her secret. A popular senior (Andy) takes advantage of Melinda's less than sober state at a summer party, before the commencement of her freshman year. Melinda's instincts tell her to dial 9-1-1 and she does. Scared and confused, Melinda takes off for home before the authorities arrive to break up the party.
Melinda's introduction to high school life is a rocky one. The entire school knows that she was the one that "ruined the party" and this makes her a social outcast, even among her former close friends. Her parents are not aware either, as the career-occupied couple have no idea that their daughter was at a wild party rather than an innocent sleep over with a friend. Melinda spends the remainder of the school year struggling with the pain of being a social outcast and the secret of her rape.
Despite the seriousness of the issues which Melinda faces and eloquently narrates, she remains strong and witty, even downright funny. She refers to traditional high school cliques, as "clans" and describes her teachers and high school life using lighthearted and comical descriptors. Melinda even features two top ten lists of lies that students are told by their school's administration. (Honest administrators would have to agree that certain elements of Melinda's lists hold merit). These aspects of the novel make the story very enjoyable as Melinda endures her struggles with a heroine-like resolve.
My Reaction
I very much enjoyed the book. As a witness to high school life and culture daily, I appreciated the author's authentic portrayal of modern high school life and the enormous pressures that students face today for acceptance, popularity and individuality. I also liked the book's narrative format and the presentation of an event and the developing revelation of the details, depositing little insights of information leading up to the event. Finally, the author incorporates underlying messages such as the dangers of teen drinking, the importance of family communications, and the vitality of students to have a release, such as a close network of friends or an activity like Melinda's art. I found there to be important reminders that high school students are not adults. They are in fact struggling through the transitional period to adulthood. Teens and adults alike should recognize that teens need to develop their own individual identity, but while doing so, they require adult guidance along the way.
Reader Recommendation
This book would and does appeal to all high school students, particularly girls. The simulation of realistic high school life and culture make it appealing to all, but the character development largely features and relates well to the female high school life. "Speak" is circulated largely to female readers at Pleasant's High School Library.
Book Talk "Hook"
Have you ever been shunned, seeking acceptance, wanting to be part of the "in" crowd? In "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson, find out how a single event took Melinda Sordino from being a popular friendly girl entering her freshman year in high school, to the "outcast" of the entire student body at Merryweather High. In this book you will learn of her struggles to regain acceptance, and the secret that she dared not share in this process. Despite hardships and alienation, Melinda remains humorous with content that will make you laugh-out-loud with delight. Read, "Speak" to find out if she is able to rekindle an y of her friendships and to learn her tumultous secret.
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I listened to this book on CD recently. It is a very realistic tale of what it feels like to be a freshman outcast. It is so heartbreaking to think that teens struggle with problems like this and don't know how to speak up. There have been a number of students who have told they enjoyed this title. One of them was a male high school student. I was and am also reading a Sarah Dessen book titled, Just Listen. I was reading and listening to these books at the same time and was getting a little confused with the details because Just Listen's plot is very similar in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteSpeak is one of those rare books where readers will "read down", enjoy a book about a younger protagonist. The year Speak came out, I had students from seventh grade though twelfth grade reading the book. Now most of the readers are seventh grade through tenth grade. Some have read the book so many times they know passages by heart. I was disappointed with the "made for tv" movie version of the novel. The girls agreed with me on that. The year Speak came out, our freshman English teacher considered making it an all class read; she was concerned about the topics, possible parental reaction, and male interest in the book. She chose for her all class read Ender's Game which has broad appeal to both girls and boys. I wonder how Speak would do in a class setting.
ReplyDeleteI have a niece in high school and often talk to her about the pressures of her peers, community and parents. I often encourage her to talk to her parents but if she doesn't feel comfortable, she can always talk to me. I'll have to read this book to prepare myself for what may come!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the narrative format and style which Anderson used to tell this story. It will appeal to those readers who digest a story in "bites". As noted by Denette, there are many students with problems that they are reluctant to talk about. There is not a quick fix to this problem but it does allow the reader to see the healing process begin. The images that come with names such as Mr. Neck and Hairwoman and Melinda's scarcastic wit will appeal to a wide range of readers as will the 2 lists of lies.
ReplyDeleteAs a mother of 4 teenagers these books are very tough. I'm grateful that my children have not had to deal with a problem of this magnitude. However, high school is very tough and students need to have someone to talk to that they trust.
ReplyDeleteThis is a definite read for me.
I agree, Jan. Anyone who has children or works with children should be aware of book like this--whether they plan to teach the book or not. Like our students, we can learn from the experiences of the characters in these books and better understand our students.
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing two blogs about this book and with me expecting a girl in August this is a definite must read for me. I am curious about the ending and the emotions portrayed through this book because of the outcasting and the event that caused her to call the cops.
ReplyDeleteThree out 14 students read this title. But it is worth it. It is a classic title.
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned in class, the author said that she learned from her readers that this book is also about depression. I hadn't thought of that but I believe that is part of what makes this book so compelling.