Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is the emotional story of Melinda Sordino’s freshman year of high school. After calling 911 at an end of the summer party Melinda becomes an outcast her first year in high school. She retreats into herself, talking only when absolutely necessary. Her only solace during this period in her life is art. Working on her assigned “tree” provides distraction, comfort, and a voice while she works through her personal crisis.
Speak tackles an emotional and controversial topic with sensitivity and wit. Dividing the book into school marking periods with grades and adding details such as the mascot dilemma, lunchroom difficulties, and a “know-it-all” coach all enhance the realistic setting of this emotional situation without ever stating what the problem is. The social scene of high school is used to further Melinda’s feeling of isolation. The suspense of not knowing for sure what had happened to Melinda kept me entranced through the book. I thought this a very delicate yet baldly truthful handling of an emotional topic. This book has received the Golden Kite Award, State Awards in Kentucky, New Jersey, and Oklahoma, and was a Michael J Printz Honor Book.
I would recommend this book for students in grades 9 and above.
Keywords: rape, depression, emotional problems, coping, high school, cliques,
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