Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Anderson, Laurie Halse. 1999. SPEAK. New York: Farrar Strauss Giroux. ISBN 9780374371524

SUMMARY:
The book starts out at the beginning of Melinda's freshman year in high school. Something happened during the summer that makes it difficult for her to go back to school because the girls who were her friends will no longer talk to her. She feels like an outcast because of the way the others at school treat her. It is not until about half way into the book that the author reveals exactly what happened to make others treat Melinda as they do. This is where we find out that there was a drinking party and Melinda called the police. Others are angry with her for calling, but what they don't know is that Melinda was a victim of rape at the party. Melinda does not talk about it until she finds someone; Mr. Freeman, the art teacher, in whom she can begin to tell her secret. Eventually, the truth about that night surfaces as she is able to "speak" about it. The reason she is finally able to speak comes from the Andy, the senior boy who raped her at the party, attempting to rape her again.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
SPEAK has a powerful lesson that teenagers could learn. Readers will be sympathetic to Melinda because most readers have probably been through a situation of feeling like an outcast in their own school. Date rape or party rape might even be topics that teenagers have heard about. The characters are believable in the realistic fiction story. Melinda is likeable and the situations certainly will hit home with many. Students, parents and teachers should read this to get a sense of what some teenagers go through. A good picture of what adolescent life can be like with hurt, isolation and ultimately moving out of the hurt.

AWARDS/REVIEW EXCERPTS:
BOOKLIST EDIOR'S CHOICE: BOOKS FOR YOUTH, 1999 - ALA; United States
YALSA BEST BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS, 2000 - ALA; United States
BOOKLIST - "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."
VOYA - This extremely well-written book has current slang, an accurate portrayal of high school life, and engaging characters."

CONNECTIONS:
ART - Have students pick objects out of a bowl just as Melinda's art class did in the novel.
RESEARCH - Groups can do research on different topics. Examples: Date rape, Womens' rights, Sexual assualt.
GUEST SPEAKER - Invite speaker from Rape Crisis Center to give information and local agencies who are available.