BIBLIOGRAPHY
Anderson, Laurie Halse. 1999. SPEAK. New York: Penguin. ISBN 9781428737761
PLOT SUMMARY
Melinda Sordino begins high school as an outcast but she has not always been that way. Her former friends, people she has grown up with, they all stare at her and talk. But what did she do? This story takes you through a misunderstood teenage girl’s difficult journey as a rape victim and how she speaks out and finally comes to terms with what happened.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Melinda Sordino is a modern, young high school student. She understands being popular and having a social life but quickly whirls into a lonely and depressed outcast. The reader follows Melinda’s journey as she grows and works through her issues to become an average teenager again. For much of the story, we wonder what happened to Melinda. Details are revealed throughout the story, informing us as Melinda deals with them. We finally learn that she drank alcohol at a party and was raped by a senior guy from school. Desperate for help she called 911, ending the party and everyone else’s fun. No one knows the truth. The plot, completely believable, draws you in and keeps you wondering.
The story is aimed for young adult readers who are going through the same transitions into adulthood. The story incorporates feelings, emotions, and issues that this age group will understand. Parties, alcohol, sex, friendship, depression, and isolation are themes found in the story that all readers can expect to face as they grow older if they have not already.
Anderson uses symbolism throughout the book to convey the themes to the reader. Young adult literature is often geared toward higher-thinking students and the symbolism offered is an extra bonus for these readers. Melinda faints during the frog dissection in class. The dissection is how she feels about being raped; vulnerable, helpless, and revealed. Other examples include her art class project and her last name, Sordino, which means “mute” in Italian. Anderson also writes in short sentences. This adds to the dramatic tone of the story. SPEAK is a true to life story with believable characters, plot, and themes.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Kirkus Reviews - “The plot is gripping and the characters are powerfully drawn, but it is its raw and unvarnished look at the dynamics of the high school experience that makes this a novel that will be hard for readers to forget.”
Publishers Weekly Starred review – “…the book's overall gritty realism and Melinda's hard-won metamorphosis will leave readers touched and inspired.”
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year Award
CONNECTIONS
*There are many discussion questions and journal prompts that you can find online for Speak. Questions such as:
How would you describe Mr. Freeman? What qualities does he possess that make him a good teacher? Have you ever known any teacher similar to Mr. Freeman?
or
In what ways do you conform to what is expected of you? In what ways do you rebel against what is expected of you?
*Problem-solving questions are also online:
Melinda reads the graffiti in a school’s bathroom. Then she adds her own graffiti to what she sees there. Your school has a problem with inappropriate graffiti in the bathrooms. How could you figure out a way to end the problem?
*Students could also choose an inanimate object and draw or create this object out of “stuff” in order to represent themselves. Example: Student could choose to make a clay replica of a beautiful nature scene that represents their feelings of being happy, alive, joyful, calm, or whatever emotions the student wants to express. Also important - presenting it to the class and explaining the connection.
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