Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson

1.  Bibliography
Anderson, Laurie Halse.  1999.  SPEAK.  New York:  Penguin Group.  ISBN 9780142414736


2.  Plot Summary
It Melinda Sordino's first day of being a freshman.  But nothing is what it used to be.  Her friends from middle school no longer talk to her.  Has the story progresses Melinda has a tougher time speaking.  Is it because no one listens or talks to her?  Her parents are wrapped up in their own lives and everyone at school is mad at her for calling the cops during a summer party.  She is alone in this strange new world called high school with no way to communicate to the outside world.


3.  Critical Analysis
This story could take place in any present day high school.  The author tells the story from the perspective of the main character.   Melinda is in turmoil from what happened to her at the summer party.  She communicates wonderfully with the reader telling the story that fits her age with a voice of a fourteen year old.  The chapters in the book are short and introduced by the class Melinda is in or by something important that is going to happen in the story.   The author includes humorous names for the teachers to bring some humor to the book.  "Hairwoman is torturing us with essays." The events that take place in the story are about growing up and finding your voice to speak up.  The emotions and turmoil are felt by the reader has they turn the pages.  This is an emotional story that presents a real girl who has real life issues problems.  The main character could be any girl who goes to high school.  The characters are believable and relate to real life people.  The reader wants to listen to Melinda and help her solve the issues bringing her down. 

4.  Review Excerpts
A Michal L. Printz Honor Book
A National Book Award Finalist
An Edgar Allan Poe Award Finalist
A Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist
Winner of the SCBWI Golden Kite Award
An ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults
An ALA Quick Pick
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A Booklist Top Ten First Novel
A BCCB Blue Ribbon Book
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A Horn Book Fanfare Title
A New York Times Bestseller
A Publishers Weekly Bestseller
LIBRARY JOURNAL:  “A story told with acute insight, acid wit, and affecting prose.”
THE HORN BOOK A STARRED REVIEW:  “An uncannily funny book even as it plumbs the darkness, Speak will hold readers from first word to last.”

5.  Connections
This is a great book for a teen book club.  In the back of the book the author includes questions to discuss.
Other books by Laurie Halse Anderson.  After reading this book a person is going to want to read more by this wonderful author.
Anderson, Laurie Halse.  CATALYST.  ISBN 9780142400014
Anderson, Laurie Halse.  PROM.  ISBN 9780142405703
Anderson, Laurie Halse.  TWISTED.  ISBN 9780142411841
Anderson, Laurie Halse.  WINTERGIRLS.  ISBN 9780670011100