Book Review: SPEAK

Book Review, Genre 6, SPEAK

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

Title: Speak

Illustrator: Filomena Tuosto

Publisher: Square Fish

Publication Date: 1999

ISBN: 9780312674397

Plot summary: While at a teen drinking party near the end of summer, freshman Melinda Sordino is raped. The traumatic event has a devastating effect on Melinda's school year. Will she be able to recover and find her voice again?

Critical analysis: The definition of the verb “speak” is to say something in order to convey information, an opinion, or a feeling. In the realistic fiction young adult novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, main character Melinda Sordino is unable to give information about being raped, is unable to voice her opinion about the boy that raped her, and is unable to feel the excitement of being a high schooler. The knee jerk reaction is the theme of the book is about rape recovery. In fact, the theme of depression is not stated too obviously – it is only when the reader questions Melinda’s eating habits, sleeping habits, mood swings, and sliding grades that the idea of depression is brought up.

Young adult readers will be able to relate to the school year setting as they traverse Melinda’s freshman year of high school. The plot has a few twists and turns as the trauma of being raped is revealed in flashbacks as the school year progresses. The style of writing seems natural and believable – you can imagine yourself as a 14-year-old thinking the same snarky mental comments as Melinda: “My Spanish teachers breaks the ‘no English’ rule to tell us that we had better stop pretending we don’t understand the homework assignments … I don’t know why she hasn’t figured it out yet. If she just taught us all the swear words the first day, we would have done whatever she wanted the rest of the year” (p. 51).

What spoke to me most about the gender and culture of Speak was that a girl’s view of rape and depression was heard. At the end of the book author Anderson answers questions about her novel. The question that showed a boy’s view of Speak was: “Have any readers ever asked questions that shocked you?” Anderson answered: “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 realized that many young men are not being taught the impact that sexual assault has on a woman.” Anderson closes with a battle cry of discussing rape with teenagers and providing assistance resources for victims.

Review excerpt:

• 2003 Volunteer State Book Award, winner
• 2000 Carolyn W. Field Award, winner
• 2000 Golden Kite Award, award book
• 1999 National Book Award, finalist

• Booklist, Sept. 15, 1999 (Vol. 96, No. 2) by Debbie Carton: “In her YA fiction debut, Anderson perfectly captures the harsh conformity of high-school cliques and one teen's struggle to find acceptance from her peers. Melinda's sarcastic wit, honesty, and courage make her a memorable character whose ultimate triumph will inspire and empower readers.”

• Children’s Literature by Maggie Meacham: “The author's sharp eye for the absurdities of high school life, and of our media crazed society, like the constant renaming of the high school football team to insure political correctness, add sardonic humor that will appeal to teens. But the novel's real power lies in the story of Melinda's gradual reclaiming of herself through the help of a compassionate art teacher, her concerned parents, and some caring students, and of her ultimate redemption as she finally finds the courage to speak.”

• Kirkus Reviews: “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.”

Connections:

• Readers can learn more about author Anderson at http://madwomanintheforest.com/laurie/
• Readers can watch the movie based on the book: Speak ASIN: B000A7Q2I2
• Other Young Adult books by author Anderson:

1. The Impossible Knife of Memory, ISBN: 9780670012091
2. Wintergirls, ISBN: 9780142415573
3. Twisted, ISBN: 9780786298853
4. Prom, ISBN: 0670059749
5. Catalyst, IBSN: 0670035661

Bibliography

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak. New York: Square Fish, 1999. 9780312674397

Cover, Mount Juliet, Tennessee. Personal photograph by Amy Wilson. November 27, 2016.