SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anderson, Laurie. 1999. SPEAK. Harrisonburg, Virginia: RR Donnelley & Sons Company. ISBN 9780374371524

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

The summer of her ninth grade year, Melinda and a friend attended a senior party which soon turned in the wrong direction.  After have thee end of summer party busted by calling the cops Melinda Sordino is not a favorite person with her peers.  Her friends will not speak to her and people she does not even know hate her.  She feels the safest place is alone however she is wrong.  Unable to speak of the event that leads to her calling the cops she is unable to speak to her friends or even her family.  She suffers from depression, isolation, failing grades, and much more.  She survives, or rather hides, from her ninth grade year in the custodians closet.  She is finally able to confront and speak about that night.  Come to find out she was raped by a senior the night of the party and that is why she called the cops.  After her former best friend begins dating the rapist she tells her of the event.  Soon after her attacker confronts her and tries to rape her again, but this time she was able to fight back and scream catching the attention of some other people which came to her rescue. 

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Anderson speaks of a topic most try to avoid however she writes in such a way the reader can understand and learn from this book.  Each page is filled with the drama, issues, and insecurities that can be found in any high school.  Readers can relate to some of the issues in this book regardless of young or old.  Either they are currently dealing with these issues or they are able to recall them from their high school days.  This book is hard to read at times because of the depth of her emotion and pain…but even harder to put down.

SPEAK is full of symbolism.  For example, as Melinda begins to emerge from her depression she goes out to the family garden and begins to weed and clear it of all its debris.  This is symbolic of what is going on in her life and her needing to “weed” out the events of that night. 

4.  REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

*Starred review in HORN BOOK: “An uncannily funny book even as it plumbs the darkness, Speak will hold readers from first word to last.”

* KIRKUS REVIEWS: “The plot is gripping and the characters are powerfully drawn…its raw and unvarnished look…will be hard for readers to forget.”

*Starred review in BOOKLIST: “Melinda’s sarcastic wit, honesty, and courage make her a memorable character whose ultimate triumph will inspire and empower readers.”

*SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Melinda’s pain is palpable, and readers will totally empathize with her.  This is a compelling book, with sharp, crisp writing that draws readers in, engulfing them in the story.”

5.  CONNECTIONS

*Character Development- Have the students take Melinda’s character and create a chart of how her character develops throughout the book.

*Book Rags http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-speak/?gwoRedirected=1:

This website offers an extensive study guide for SPEAK.  It also includes discussion questions, characters, setting, theme, style, and much more.

*Discuss about date rape and violence- If you feel comfortable have a discussion about date rape and dating violence with the class.  Discuss the signs of this topic and how to deal with these situations if you or someone you know encounters a situation like this.

*Laurie Halse Anderson web site- http://madwomanintheforest.com/:

Anderson’s web site is full of information for teachers, students, and for everyone.  It includes discussion guides for her books, lists of books, blog, and much more.

*Other books by Laurie Halse Anderson:

-WINTER GIRLS

-TWISTED

-PROM

-CATALYST

JOEY PIGZA LOSES CONTROL by Jack Gantos

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Gantos, Jack. 2002. JOEY PIGZA LOSES CONTROL. Harrisonburg, Virginia: RR Donnelley & Sons Company. ISBN 9780439895293

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

This story begins when Joey’s mom sends him to visit his dad, who is an alcoholic, for six weeks during the summer.  He is very apprehensive about spending time with his father for the first time since he has missed out on so much of his life.  On the car to visit his father Joey drives his mom crazy being your typical hyperactive child.   Joey learns to face his problems and comes out of top despite the circumstances. 

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Gantos’ story includes a plot full of trouble, and discusses the issues of alcoholism, hyper activity, family struggles, absence of a parent, divorce, and worries about losing control of ones actions.  Readers may be able to relate to this some what dysfunctional family in some way as well as being effected by ADD.  If they have not personally been effected by these issues they may know someone who has been in these situations.  The story is written in first person so readers are able to get the story from Joey’s own perspective.  Throughout the story Joey learns a lot of life lesson about himself regarding his medication for ADD and to what makes a family. 

4.  REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

*Starred review in PUBLISHER WEEKLY: “Like its predecessor, this high-voltage, honest novel mixes humor, pain, fear, and courage with deceptive ease.  Struggling to please everyone even as he sees himself hurtling toward disaster, Joey emerges as a sympathetic hero, and his heart of gold never loses its shine.”

* SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:  “Readers will be drawn in immediately to the boy’s gripping first-person narrative and be pulled pell-mell through episodes that are at once hilarious, harrowing, and ultimately heartening as Joey grows to understand himself and the people around him.”

* Booklist: “Ganto’s skillful pacing, sly humor, and in-depth characterization make it a truly memorable read.”

*Newberry Honor Award

5.  CONNECTIONS

*Characters- Have the students make a list of Joey’s actions while taking his medication and without his medication.  Then ask the students whether they feel Joey should take his medication.  Why or why not?

*Brown-Bag Book Report

*Have the students write a diary entry from Joey’s perspective about one of the days he spent with his father.

*Other Joey Pigza books:

-I AM NOT JOEY PIGZA

-WHAT WOULD JOEY DO?

-JOEY PIGZA SWALLOWED THE KEY

THE ARRIVAL by Shaun Tan

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Tan, Shaun. 2006. THE ARRIVAL. Scholastic. ISBN 9780439895293

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

In this wordless graphic novel, an unnamed man packs his bags and begins an unknown journey.  He is searching for a new home and a new life for his family.  Something is wreaking havoc and causing ciaos in his homeland so the family decides it is best to leave.  As a husband and father he decides it is best for his family for him to leave and find work and shelter in another country.   Leaving his home and family was a difficult decision…but one that pays off in the end.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Tan’s captures the struggles and triumphs through his mesmerizing images.  His imagines truly tell a story with his simple muted illustrations.  Even though wordless books may take longer to read this book is well worth the time for the story it tells.  Each page leads the reader through his journey from his travels to his day to day life.  It is astonishing that such a meaningful story can be told without the use of one single word.

4.  REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

*Starred review in THE HORN BOOK: “Details…are woven with great effect into a realistic story.”

*Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:  “Giff’s well-drawn, believable characters and vivid prose style make this an excellent choice.”

* Booklist: “With wry comedy and intense felling…Giff gets across a strong sense of what it was like on the home front during World War II….The friendship story is beautifully drawn.”

*Kirkus Review: “[A] deftly told story.”

*Starred review in PUBLISHER WEEKLY: “Haunting…a timeless stunner.”

*Newbery Honor Book – 1998

*ALA Notable Children’s Book

*Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book

5.  CONNECTIONS

*Discuss immigration as a class and then have the students research immigration using a variety of sources (such as internet, library, old newspapers, interviews, etc.).  Then have them compare and contrast immigration of the past to the present.

*Invite an immigrant into the classroom to share their story with the students.  Have the students write interview questions ahead of time to ask the guest.

Future reading:

-Maestro, Betsy. COMING TO AMERICA: THE STORY OF IMMIGRATION. ISBN 2590441515

-Reef, Catherine. ELLIS ISLAND. ISBN 0875184781

-Armstrong, Jennifer. LILI THE BRAVE. ISBN 0679872868

-Gross, Virginai. IT’S ONLY GOODBYE. ISBN 0670832898