1. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Anderson, Laurie Halse. 1999. SPEAK. New York, NY: Penguin. ISBN 0142407321.
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Melinda feels like a complete outcast at Merryweather High as a freshman. She was at a party where there was under-age drinking and ends up calling the cops. Melinda refuses to explain or talk to anyone about what went on and why she made that choice. Her best friend, Rachel, will now no longer talk to her. She goes through the motions of the days, but she stops really relating with others except Heather, who is joining the Marthas clique. She becomes near mute. The one person that keeps reaching out to her and that she feels understands her pain and emotion is Mr. Freeman, the art teacher, although she never confides in him. Readers slowly learn that she was raped at the party by Andy Evans, and that is why she called the cops to come and take her home. Her grades are dropping as a result of not being able to talk about what happened to her, and she begins ditching class by hiding in the janitor’s closet. She makes that her haven to do art work. Finally, she starts writing notes in the library to her old best friend Rachel. Melinda is worried about her, since Rachel has become the most popular girl in school by dating the senior boy that raped Melinda. Melinda shares her worry with Rachel, who then storms off and calls her a liar. Another friend finds words on the bathroom wall exposing the fact that Melinda is not the only one to go through this horror with this particular boy. Andy Evans retaliates by locking her in her janitor’s closet with him and tries to repeat his previous incident. Melinda fights and struggles until finally she has help show up. She is shown support. Rachel leaves a message for her, and Melinda is finally able to tell an adult, Mr. Freeman, what happened to her and the trauma she went through.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The book is very dark, deep, powerful, and haunting. It is told from the point of view of Melinda. We mostly only get her thoughts, since she is not communicating much with others. Her thoughts are very choppy and jumpy, like you would expect a teenage girl’s thoughts to be. The author’s style really captured the thoughts and emotions of a teenage girl. The directness in the language helped capture that authentic teenager feel. The headings helped the organization of knowing what was going on in the world around her and aids understanding the plot. The plot keeps unfolding the tragedy that she went through and how she deals with it internally. The setting of showing her struggle at school and home is critical to show how it affects her whole life. The story does not include any stereotypes. It is a contemporary realistic fiction novel that can help another person get through a similar experience. There are so many themes that teens can relate to including depression, loss of friendship, gaining friendship, gaining trust, and dealing with issues outside of your control.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The book is very dark, deep, powerful, and haunting. It is told from the point of view of Melinda. We mostly only get her thoughts, since she is not communicating much with others. Her thoughts are very choppy and jumpy, like you would expect a teenage girl’s thoughts to be. The author’s style really captured the thoughts and emotions of a teenage girl. The directness in the language helped capture that authentic teenager feel. The headings helped the organization of knowing what was going on in the world around her and aids understanding the plot. The plot keeps unfolding the tragedy that she went through and how she deals with it internally. The setting of showing her struggle at school and home is critical to show how it affects her whole life. The story does not include any stereotypes. It is a contemporary realistic fiction novel that can help another person get through a similar experience. There are so many themes that teens can relate to including depression, loss of friendship, gaining friendship, gaining trust, and dealing with issues outside of your control.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
A Michael L. Printz Honor Book
A National Book Award Finalist
An Edgar Allan Poe Award Finalist
A Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist
Winner of the SCBWI Golden Kite Award
A New York Times Best Seller
A Publishers Weekly Best Seller
An ALA Top Ten 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
Winner of 8 state book awards – and a finalist for 11
Starred Review in HORN BOOK: “An uncannily funny book even as it plumbs the darkness, SPEAK will hold readers from first word to last.”
Starred Review in HORN BOOK: “An uncannily funny book even as it plumbs the darkness, SPEAK will hold readers from first word to last.”
Starred Review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “A stunning first novel….Anderson infuses the narrative with a wit that sustains the heroine through her pain and holds readers’ empathy….Melinda’s hard-won metamorphosis will leave readers touched and inspired.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*It would be great to use in conjunction with an author study.
Other books that are by Laurie Halse Anderson:
Anderson, Laurie Halse. FORGE. ISBN 1416961445.
Anderson, Laurie Halse. FEVER1793. ISBN 0689848919.
Anderson, Laurie Halse. WINTERGIRLS. ISBN 067001110.
Anderson, Laurie Halse. CATALYST. ISBN 0142400017.
No comments:
Post a Comment