Speak
By: Laurie Halse Anderson
A. Bibliographic Data
Anderson, Laurie Halse. 1999. Speak. New York. NY. The Penguin Group.
ISBN: 978-0-14-241473-6
B. Plot Summary
Speak is about a freshman girl with the name Melinda. Melinda is a victim of rape, that occurred at a high school party. Melinda, not sure what to do calls the cops and the party is busted. Teenagers not knowing why she did make the phone call makes Melinda an outcast. Therefore, Melinda is forced to start her high school career as a victim of rape and a social outcast. Throughout the book Melinda is given the chance to tell her horrible truth, but never can find it within herself to simply speak. Finally, after a whole year of torture and one last encounter with her rapist Melinda finds her voice and simply speaks.
C. Critical Analysis
Laurie Halse Anderson does an amazing job developing Melinda as a character throughout the book. Even though Melinda is not really conversing very much within the story the reader still knows her thoughts and feelings. The book is written in simple sections, but Anderson's choice of words is unbelievable because the reader senses and feels for the main character. The plot of the story applies very much to teenagers everywhere, who are just trying to make it though high school. The setting takes place in any high school in any town, which makes it so relevant to teenagers everywhere, especially girls. The transformation that Melinda goes through is an encouragement to young women who have faced horrific trials in their life, that you can rise above your awful situations. Speak is an unbelievable book that teaches such a valuable lesson to teenagers everywhere. That everyone does have a voice and when we choose to speak we can be powerful with our words, all we simply have to do is speak.
D. Awards Won
*Michael L. Printz Honor Book
*National Book Award Finalist
*Edgar Allen Poe Award Finalist
*Los Angeles Time Book Prize Finalist
*SCBWI Golden Kite Award
Publishers Weekly Review-"In a stunning first novel, Anderson uses keen observations and vivid imagery to pull readers into the head of an isolated teenager. Divided into the four marking periods of an academic year, the novel, narrated by Melinda Sordino, begins on her first day as a high school freshman. No one will sit with Melinda on the bus. At school, students call her names and harass her; her best friends from junior high scatter to different cliques and abandon her. Yet Anderson infuses the narrative with a wit that sustains the heroine through her pain and holds readers' empathy. A girl at a school pep rally offers an explanation of the heroine's pariah status when she confronts Melinda about calling the police at a summer party, resulting in several arrests. But readers do not learn why Melinda made the call until much later: a popular senior raped her that night and, because of her trauma, she barely speaks at all. Only through her work in art class, and with the support of a compassionate teacher there, does she begin to reach out to others and eventually find her voice. Through the first-person narration, the author makes Melinda's pain palpable: "I stand in the center aisle of the auditorium, a wounded zebra in a National Geographic special." Though the symbolism is sometimes heavy-handed, it is effective. The ending, in which her attacker comes after her once more, is the only part of the plot that feels forced. But the book's overall gritty realism and Melinda's hard-won metamorphosis will leave readers touched and inspired."-Publishers Weekly Review
E. Connections
* Conduct an author study and read other books by Laurie Halse Anderson.
* Hold a discussion on high school and acceptance and friendship.
* Allow students to write about a difficult situation or experience they have been through.
No comments:
Post a Comment