The first ten lies they tell you in high school.
“Speak up for yourself–we want to know what you have to say.” From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless, outcast, because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her. … alone listen to her. As time passes, she becomes increasingly isolated and practically stops talking altogether. Only her art class offers any solace, and it is through her work on an art project that she is finally able to face what really happened at that terrible party: she was raped by an upperclassman, a guy who still attends Merryweather and is still a threat to her. Her healing process has just begun when she has another violent encounter with him. But this time Melinda fights back, refuses to be silent, and thereby achieves a measure of vindication. In Laurie Halse Anderson’s powerful novel, an utterly believable heroine with a bitterly ironic voice delivers a blow to the hypocritical world of high school. She speaks for many a disenfranchised teenager while demonstrating the importance of speaking up for oneself.
Speak was a 1999 National Book Award Finalist for Young People’s Literature.
more
I loved this book. I had to read it in High school but it’s been in my collection as a go to book ever since. It;s a great book about how words and actions really play into our daily lives. How some people can be so caught up in being popular and needed that they often forget that there are some people who are truly hurting and need them. The main …
This book is amazing! It has heart, depth, humor, and intensity. Ms. Anderson took a very touchy subject and made it palatable so that others can relate to Melinda and her difficult truth. So many have hidden the truth because of fear but maybe that one person that shows you that they care can help. LOVE this book.
This was a reread for me. I read this in high school and I remember it being a good read that I could not connect with. All these years later I get it. What a powerful read that focuses on the aftermath of rape. It is obvious that Melinda is depressed and ashamed about what happened but lacks the ability to speak up for herself. When she finally …
This book is not an easy read. Rape is a serious thing that a lot of people go through with no one knowing. Melinda’s journey as she finds her voice is moving and realistic. I recommend this book as a book for learning about what rape victims experience on a daily basis.
I didn’t know completely what to expect from this book, but I finished it in one sitting and I didn’t know how to feel. It wasn’t an over the top book, but the main character is a fourteen year old girl who has trouble speaking about what happened to her at that party….
Perhaps my favorite book of ALL TIME. I read this in high school and was taken by it. Then, in one of my literature courses in college a few years ago, we had to re-read a book that we read years prior that we enjoyed. I selected “Speak.” I’ll tell you, I didn’t think I could possibly love it more the second time than I did the first time (as I’m …
Slowpaced and unrealistic. By the time I found out the main character’s problem, I had lost all sympathy and interest.
I actually read this book as part of my MFA program. It is a tear-jerker and a bit haunting for anyone who has endured something similar in their lives, but also why I thought it was an important read.
I love everything that I’ve ever read by Laurie Halse Anderson.
i loved it
This book was so heartbreaking. Melinda’s pain was so accurately told. A must read.
This fictional account of a teen girl’s rape and the aftermath during her Grade 9 year left me shaken but ultimately optimistic. Despite an abusive catalyst, the outcome ends up being positive. And as much as the subject matter was arresting, it’s good to talk about sexual assault and stories that address the issue head on, especially with our …
An incredibly powerful story and a must read for anyone who works with adolescents to help understand the thing that are not said.
The story follows Melinda after she’s been raped. It follows her over the course of the year trying to come to terms with what happened to her. She isolated herself for most of the book so it was a bit slow moving. I understand that it takes time for people to get help or to talk about it. Overall it was an important story that needs to be told …
The author amazed me with her knowledge of teen girls and sexual assault. I am a survivor and really wish this book would’ve been around when I was much younger.
I read this a few years ago and was moved seeing this is how so many people silently fight. This book left me with tons of must read feels and after reading this I sat down and had a talk with my daughter about the subject matter in this book. Speak is such a great resource to see you are not alone.
Fantastic book, really explains sexual abuse ramifications on a teens life.
A sad story of sexual assault, and its effects.
At first, I didn’t think I would enjoy this book but I gave it time to read the first few pages and then just could not stop reading. This book was amazing. I am now on the look for books that are similar to this.
OMG 5 heartbreaking stars
I don’t know where to start I waited to read this book long ago,
I had never read books by Laurie Halse Anderson and I didn’t know her writing style
And also haven’t read reviews of this book, even though I knew it was emotional
This book was not a disappointment to me definitely want to watch a movie
The author’s …