By: Laurie Halse Anderson Publisher: Puffin Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Puffin Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 208 Publication Date: April 23, 2001 Reading Level: Young Adult Release Date: April 01, 2001
Product Description: Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that's not safe. Because there's something she's trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, would blow her carefully constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have to speak the truth. This extraordinary first novel has captured the imaginations of teenagers and adults across the country.
Awards for Speak
A 2000 Printz Honor Book A 1999 National Book Award Finalist An Edgar Allan Poe Award Finalist A 1999 Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist Winner of the SCBWI Golden Kite Award An ALA Best Book for Young Adults An ALA Quick Pick A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year A Booklist Top Ten First Novel of 1999 A BCCB Blue Ribbon Book A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year A Horn Book Fanfare Title
Amazon.com Review: Since the beginning of the school year, high school freshman Melinda has found that it's been getting harder and harder for her to speak out loud: "My throat is always sore, my lips raw.... Every time I try to talk to my parents or a teacher, I sputter or freeze.... It's like I have some kind of spastic laryngitis." What could have caused Melinda to suddenly fall mute? Could it be due to the fact that no one at school is speaking to her because she called the cops and got everyone busted at the seniors' big end-of-summer party? Or maybe it's because her parents' only form of communication is Post-It notes written on their way out the door to their nine-to-whenever jobs. While Melinda is bothered by these things, deep down she knows the real reason why she's been struck mute...
Laurie Halse Anderson's first novel is a stunning and sympathetic tribute to the teenage outcast. The triumphant ending, in which Melinda finds her voice, is cause for cheering (while many readers might also shed a tear or two). After reading Speak, it will be hard for any teen to look at the class scapegoat again without a measure of compassion and understanding for that person--who may be screaming beneath the silence. (Ages 13 and older) --Jennifer Hubert
one of the best books ever written this book is about a girl who doesn't know how to speak when she has to and at the end learns its better to speak up... this book was written in a different but entertaining way,melinda's irony made this book funny and entertaining....
Speak An instant classic for this generation. Speaks to anyone and everyone who has been a teenager, alienated, or alone. A powerful book, great writing. Would recommend this one to anyone with a teenager, any teens looking for someone who feels like they do, and anyone dealing with hard situations in life. A wonderful message of hope, and endurance, with touches of black humor.
It speaks to me. Melinda and her friends attend a high school party during the summer between Middle and High School where Melinda has a close encounter with a high school student who goes too far even after she says No. She is drunk, confused and scared so she calls the cops. In a fit of panic she flees the scene and spends the rest of her summer alone. From the first day of school she knows she has no friends now, her actions landed many people in jail. She befriends a new student named Heather and begins one long silent year of schooling. She stops speaking to anyone, they can't understand because she has no voice to explain it to people around her. In art (the only class she is passing) she is assigned to spend the year trying to work on one subject, trees. She recedes into herself as she tries to work out what happened and what she can do to fix it. She finds an abandoned Janitor closet and creates a safe space for herself.
Excellent read I first became interested in the book after seeing the film adaptation of it on TV one day as I was flipping through the channels. The character of Melinda Sordino was captivating. Soon afterwards, I bought Speak and read it in one sitting.
Although this is labeled as a YA novel, I'm an adult woman and thoroughly enjoyed the novel. Anderson has written a completely realistic, heart-breaking, inspiring and at times funny portrayal of high school. Melinda is a character I could become friends with, she is that real. The rape and Melinda's reaction to it are so vividly and sensitively portrayed by Anderson. You really begin to feel the pain, despair and loneliness of Melinda as you read the first person narration of her first year of high school. If you're thinking of reading this or giving it to your teen to read, definitely do it. You won't have any regrets. I can also vouch for the movie adaptation, it was excellent and Kristen Stewart IS Melinda Sordino, no question.
Speak Speak is a good book that deals with a young girl who has been raped, but she doesnt tell anyone what has happened to her. she is an outcast at her highschool, and is depressed.
Speak is written well but its depressing...although, the end is very good, i liked that.
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