SPEAK

Anderson, Laurie Halse. (1999). SPEAK.  New York: Penguin Group.  ISBN:  0142414735.

PLOT SUMMARY

A tragic secret is haunting Melinda Sordino. As she enters high school, all of her old friends have abandoned her, and the one new friend she thinks she has made ditches her for a clique.  Even her parents don’t seem to notice her as they throw themselves into their own professional lives. They only notice her floundering grades and bad attitude after they are alerted by the guidance counselor. Mr. Freeman, the art teacher, is the only person who seems to get Melinda, and he tries to crack her shell by allowing her to express herself in art class. Melinda must find a way to release her secret before it destroys her from the inside.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Melinda Sordino is a character that teens can relate to immediately as she opens the book with, “It is my first morning of high school. I have seven new notebooks, a skirt I hate, and a stomachache.” High school is a tumultuous time for many young adults, but for Melinda it is made all the more difficult to bare because she is also carrying a dark secret. She finds it easier to remain mute than have to share the pain and shame that is haunting her. Anderson effectively portrays Melinda’s spiral into depression through her dark thoughts, scabby lips, and refusal to speak. She also creates a convincing villain in Melinda’s attacker, Andy Evans, a character that will make readers skin crawl. The book evokes many emotions as Melinda’s desperate (yet silent) cries for help go unanswered. Mr. Freeman, the art teacher, seems to be the only adult that notices Melinda pain, and he tries to help her ease it the best way he knows how—through art. As Melinda focuses on her tree art project she slowly starts to shed the pain and find her soul once again and in doing so she becomes a heroine that teens, especially girls, will admire.

In the 10^th Anniversary Edition of this epic young adult novel, Laurie Halse Anderson shares her thoughts on the impact of Speak as well as a poem she has constructed using the e-mails and letters from readers who have been touched in some way by the novel. At the end Anderson answers questions about the novel as well as providing resources for girls who have faced the same nightmare as Melinda. These bonus features add depth to the novel by providing a glimpse into the author’s thoughts.

REVIEW EXERPTS

School Library Journal (October 01, 1999)- “This is a compelling book, with sharp, crisp writing that draws readers in, engulfing them in the story.”

Kirkus Reviews (September 15, 1999)- “The plot is gripping and the characters are powerfully drawn, but it is its raw and unvarnished look at the dynamics of the high school experience that makes this a novel that will be hard for readers to forget.”

Booklist (September 15, 1999)- “Melinda's sarcastic wit, honesty, and courage make her a memorable character whose ultimate triumph will inspire and empower readers.”

CONNECTIONS

• Have students randomly draw a topic and create an art project like Melinda had to do with a tree.
• Have students write an encouraging letter to Melinda.
• Visit Laurie Halse Anderson’s website with information about the book including a playlist of songs for the book and a video of Anderson reading the poem at the beginning of the book. Anderson also addresses the topic of censorship and explains why she believes it is important for her books to remain on library shelves. http://madwomanintheforest.com/
• Watch Anderson read a poem she composed about the response to the book here.