Recent Reads - Speak

Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson

  4 of 5 Stars

Genre:   Young Adult, Contemporary

Pages:   208

Published:   10/22/1999, Puffin

Why I Chose It:   I was looking to read some edgy contemporary YA and this novel appeared on every list discussing that type of book. Plus, look at the cover. It's beautiful and compelling. How could I say no?

Synopsis (from Good Reads):    When Melinda Sordino's friends discover she called the police to quiet a party, they ostracize her, turning her into an outcast -- even among kids she barely knows. But even worse than the harsh conformity of high-school cliques is a secret that you have to hide.

My Review:  There are so many things about this book that should annoy me. It breaks a lot of the so-called rules of writing, doing things that in other books had driven me insane. The story is almost entirely narrative. People are named based upon certain physical attributes they possess, like Mr. Neck and Hair Woman, and the dialogue (when there is any) is often listed like this:

Mr. Neck: We meet again.

Me: ...

Mr. Neck: Where do you think you're going?

Me: ...

And yet, it's incredible. If you want a perfect example of the power of "voice", read Speak. I kept turning the pages because Melinda demanded that I listen to her story. Which is curious because the thing Melinda struggles to do throughout the book is speak.

A traumatic experience at an end-of-summer party has left her practically mute. She speaks only when it is completely unavoidable, and even then her words never express her true feelings. Never even come close to describing the turmoil inside.

She begins her freshman year of high school with no friends and no one to turn to. She withdraws, starts cutting class, and her grades begin to fail. Her parents are well-meaning but are too busy and self-absorbed to break down Melinda's barriers and extract the truth from her.

While Speak's subject matter includes violence, hatred, sex, and infidelity, it is an emotional, touching portrayal of a depressed teenage girl struggling with alienation, honesty, and self-worth while she tries to come to terms with the horror she suffered and find her voice.

Definitely for an older, more mature YA audience but highly recommended.


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