Speak: A Novel

Bibliographic Information: Anderson, L.H. (1999). Speak. New York, N.Y.: Puffin Books. ISBN: 014131088x

Plot Summary: This story is told by Melinda Sordino who is an outcast her freshman year in high school. A few weeks before school starts Melinda and her friends go to a party. Melinda gets drunk and is raped by Andy Evans, an older boy at her school. Melinda calls 911 after the rape and the police break up the party. Melinda does not tell anyone about the rape and keeps it to herself, causing anxiety and depression. Everyone at the party, including her friends, is mad at her for calling the police. Melinda had been a B student, but her grades start slipping. She begins ditching school and hides in an abandoned janitor's closet at school. The only positive thing she has at school is her art class and her relationship with the art teacher, Mr. Freeman.

Toward the end of school, Melinda's former friend, Rachel, starts dating Andy, the boy who raped Melinda. Melinda tries to warn her old friend about Andy, but Rachel reacts very negatively to Melinda and accuses her of making up lies about Andy because she is jealous. Andy tries to rape Melinda again by forcing her into her hide-out at school, but Melinda finds the courage to yell for help. Nicole, another of Melinda's former friends, and the lacrosse team hear Melinda scream and they come to rescue her. At the end of the story Melinda finds a lot of graffiti in a restroom stall saying horrible things about Andy. Melinda becomes somewhat of a hero at school.

Critical Evaluation: Laurie Halse Anderson does an excellent job of conveying Melinda's feelings toward school, family and the horrible aspects of being raped. Melinda's behavior indicates someone who is in trauma, but she comes across as humorous. She has names for all of her teachers such as Mr. Neck, Hairwoman, etc. except for the only teacher she actually likes, Mr. Freeman. I am surprised this novel has been challenged because the details of the rape are not graphic and these horrible things are a reality in life. Speak is a must read for young women.

Annotation: Melinda Sordino, weeks before starting high school, gets drunk at a party and is raped. She calls the police and they bust up the party, but Melinda does not speak of her rape. Everyone at the party, including her friends, end up hating her because she called the police.

About the Author: Laurie Halse Anderson started her career as a journalist with the Philadelphia Inquirer. In 1999 she wrote Speak which won numerous awards: 2000 Printz Honor Book, 1999 National Book Award Finalist, Edgar Allan Poe Award Finalist, Winner of the Golden Kite Award, ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults, ALA Quick Pick, Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, Booklist's Top Ten First Novel of 1999, BCCB Blue Ribbon Book , SLJ Best Book of the Year and Horn Book Fanfare Title.

After Speak, Anderson published Prom in 2005 which was on The New York Times Best Seller List. In 2007 she wrote Twisted which has also won numerous awards. Anderson has written numerous books including 6 novels, 2 series, and 8 books for children.

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Genre: Fiction, Emotional Problems, School, Rape

Curriculum Ties: Literature, Social Skills

Talking Points: What happens when, just a few weeks before going to high school, a girl is raped at a party? When Melinda starts high school, after getting drunk at a party and raped, how does she feel toward school when all her friends hate her for calling the police?

Reading Level and Interest Age: 13 and older

Challenge Issues: Rape, alcohol use by minors

Reason for Inclusion: Speak deals with real issues facing teens and it is a literary accomplishment.