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