Speak

Anderson, L.H. (1999). Speak. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.

Genre: Dark Modern Realistic Fiction (rape, sexual abuse, bullying)

Subjects: Young Adult Fiction - high school, emotional problems, internal struggle, rape, sexual abuse, social issues, violence

Audience: ages 14 & up

Melinda is a high school student who is struggling to deal with a horrible thing that has happened to her.  She has lost her friends and is trying to be invisible. The students make fun of her, throw food at her, and say mean things to her.  Her grades are suffering and the only class she does well in is art where she works on a tree all year.  She is befriended by a girl named Heather but eventually Heather doesn't want to be around her because she is too depressed.  She finds a janitor's closet at school where she can be alone and not have to deal with the other students.  She refers to a senior boy as IT and she desperately tries to stay away from him.  IT is Andy Evans, a popular and handsome senior.  Eventually Melinda shares with the reader that at an end of the summer party, Andy rapes her after she'd been drinking.  She called the police but left before they arrived.  The other students at the party knew that she was the one that called the police to break up the party but they didn't know why she made the call.  Melinda finds out that her former best friend, Rachel is dating Andy and Melinda struggles with the choice of staying silent or telling Rachel what Andy did to her. Melinda writes on the bathroom wall about what kind of person Andy is and her writing is soon joined by stories from other girls.  Melinda makes the choice to tell Rachel about Andy, but Rachel doesn't listen.  Melinda discovers that only when she faces what has happened can she move forward with her life.  One day in the janitor's closet, Andy forces his way in and attacks Melinda.  She breaks the mirror and screams and she is heard by others and rescued.  Andy is caught and Melinda can finally tell her story.  Anderson has created a powerful novel that inspires teens to find their voice and create their future.

Awards:
Golden Kite Award for Fiction (1999)
Edgar Award Nominee for Best Young Adult (2000)
Michael L. Printz Award Nominee (2000)
South Carolina Book Award for Young Adult Book Award (2002)
Evergreen Teen Book Award (2002)
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award (2000)

Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee (2005)

National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature (1999)

Oklahoma Sequoyah Award for YA (2002)

Teaching Resources:
Author's Webpage
Interview with Author
Educator's Guide to Laurie Halse Anderson
Vocabulary List for Speak
Book Trailer