Speak: (National Book Award Finalist)

by Laurie Halse Anderson

Book Overview

The groundbreaking National Book Award Finalist and Michael L. Printz Honor Book with more than 3.5 million copies sold, Speak is a bestselling modern classic about consent, healing, and finding your voice.

"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 lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless, an...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312674392
• ISBN13: 9780312674397
• Release Date: May 2011
• Publisher: Square Fish
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.49 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 12 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 7 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

A often banned book you should read.

Vulnerable ... Relatable. Thought-provoking. Teenage perspective.

Packs a Punch

Melinda enters high school a pariah - it's not immediately clear why she's lost all her friends and her voice, but she mutely wanders through the hallways of high school looking for a way to fit in, a way to feel less lost, all the while knowing it's hopeless. Soon, though, new student Heather befriends her. Heather seems clueless but friendly, simply looking for a way to fit in just as Melinda is, but without all the baggage. Melinda's drawn along into Heather's various endeavors, as a bystander and sometimes assistant to whatever needs assisting. She watches all her old friends pass her by, ignoring her at best and despising her at worst. She is stuck - she can't find her way to good grades, or any sort of joy in anything, or any sort of relationship with parents or peers. Slowly, every so painfully slowly, we begin to get a feel for just what might have happened to close Melinda off from the world. This story packs a punch. I thought at first that the short paragraphs and abrupt way of speaking would be annoying, but it quickly became the only way I could imagine Melinda (view spoiler). Anderson does a great job of showing us this story through Melinda's eyes, and we feel it with her heart; we hurt for her and with her. Every time she doesn't speak for herself we want to shout out for her, shout to her to take that step. Speak is an emotional journey, and it says a lot even when its main character is saying very little.

Great Book.

I think the book was really great. it’s the kind of book you’d get lost in and never want it to end, especially if you relate in any way. I’d say it would be a targeted read for freshman’s in high school to young adulthood, even older if this is relatable to you. I 100% think this book is way better than the movie but the movie is good as well. I picked this book because it was within my comfort zone since I have watched the movie and one of my comfort characters: Kristen Stewart plays in it. I wish I could read this book for the first time again. It truly eased some of the hurt I have felt within the characters/writers words. It allows you to feel deeply for the character and to connect to the story that is being told through the character. My heart also goes out to the Author. She has done wonderful with this book and the development of this character. I wasn’t expecting for my review to be this long but I just thoroughly enjoyed this book. Although, I had to keep putting it down to gather what i’ve read and think about it, i think it allows you to feel what you need to. I’m glad to have read this. Thank you for taking the time to read my review and I hope it helps someone, especially to feel less alone and ease some hurt you may be feeling. Enjoy.

An Old Favorite

I reread this book a lot when I was in middle school. It holds a lot to what its like to struggle alone and learning to deal with trauma

Amazing Book

This book tackles SA in a very respectful way. It's a sad book to read to say the least but it's really good. It'll pull on your heartstrings and make you feel so many emotions... 100% recommend.

Please check out the trigger warnings for this book!!!

I read this book when I was in middle school & I can’t say if I should have or not. But I can say PLEASE check out the trigger warnings & make sure you’re okay before you read it. I really loved this book and it holds a special place in my heart. It’s sad, but it’s really good & worth a read.

wonderful read

i really enjoyed this book, it was hard to put down

A book that’ll make you cry and smile at them same time

I read this book at the beginning of summer and it completely gripped me into the story. I cried many times but you get to see a journey that make you smile.

Amazing

This book was impossible to put down! It cover many challenges a young girl faces and the choices and things she uses to cope with her growing depression

So dark, so good

It’s been a few years since I read this book, but it has stuck with me. It’s such a dark story about a teenage girl who has to deal with being raped and the aftermath.

Good example of high school

What she goes through is a good example of living through high school. Excellent book.

Loved it. Is my new all time favorite

I discovered this book when I was young and haha a bit confused about everything. When I read it I noticed I did many things similar to our main character in speak. Truthfully I’ll just tell you that I learned a lot and the book is great I would definitely recommend. :D

Best book to read, makes you learn to speak up.

Loved it!

💞 this book i would read it again.

A really good book.

In Speak, a girl named Melinda starts high school with a secret and no friends. Some people might think the topic of this book is too hard for teenagers, but it helps us understand so we don't have to go through the same thing that happened to Melinda.

An interesting and coming of age book

I would recommend this to kids 13 and older, and I would absolutely recommend "speak" to only teens. Set in a high school setting this story tells us of an outcast girl and kids hating her, at her school. But there is reason her old friends and fellow other kids despise her. with so many twists and turns, the reader is at times confused. but the backstory to what is happening now, in the story slowly goes to their head. And despite the fact it has female struggles and problems, it is worth reading.

Speak was very interesting and suspicious.

I recommend the book SPEAK to older teens and young adults. When Melinda was depressed, and trying to hide what had happen that night, she was just delirious about what to do. Even though there is a lot of negative points in the book, it would be a great book for teens. SPEAK will help kids know what kind of stuff happens in everyday life's for high school kids around the world, and that you should speak to people when things are bothering you.

This is an amazing book to read

I would recommend Speak to readers that aren't sensitive to really intense action or maybe can't handle reading things that has happened to them too. In the book it says "I didn't call the cops to break up the party, I write. I called - I put the pencil down. I pick it up again - them because some guy raped me. Under the trees." I think thats a really intense part of the book because she is finally telling someone about it. It tells you how intense this book really is, and it makes you want to keep reading the book. Even though some might say it's good for those who have been in that situation, so they know their not alone with that experience, some of them might not want to think about their past with it.

Why you must read this book!

I freely recommend ,Speak, to others because it is an amusing and literature book. It is associated with imitate situations and blended feelings. In the book, Speak, the journalist saids " Good books reflect the human experience, and we all learn from that". I know this because human involvement is apart of life frequently. Even though there is a lot of tough situations it is unquestionably about reading.

This book is interesting.

I recommend this book "Speak", because the story it's interesting. The book "Speak" is interesting because in the story it happens that Melinda draw a tree with which she identifies because she keeps a secret that she spent one night in a party. This book is one that everyone can relate to. Even though some people might think it's too heavy, this book actually teaches trust and you can overcome anything.

Speaks volumes!

Speak Spoke Volumes

This book is an eye opener to a victim's point of view. Author Anderson is a great writer and keeps your interest peaked constantly right up to the end of the book.

amazing

I first read this book back in HS and it really touched me. Yes I've been through it, I understand how you felt, but its so different to. This book touched many people in my class and has been carried along with us. I recommend it to people of all ages constantly. I believe it is a must read for everyone, male or female. It forces you to understand and read about a topic that is never spoken. It brings things up to light that no one will comment on.

A book all teens should read

Melinda Sordino, a student with good grades and great friends, has made some mistakes. At the end of a summer party she calls the cops, yet when they arrive she doesn't tell them anything. Back at school the next year, her friends won't speak to her, and people she doesn't even know hate her as the fink who wrecked everybody's party, and her grades start dropping. Her relationship with her parents deteriorates quickly. She becomes sullen, and withdrawn. However this picture is not the whole story. Her parents know something is wrong but cannot get her to open up. Her only hope is her art teacher; he realizes something is very wrong and through the assignments he gives her tries to draw her out. This is a story of a girl who is abused, and who doesn't know how to talk about it, but in keeping it inside she is self -destructing. Can Melinda find her voice and speak of her sorrow, or will her silence destroy her?

Silent no longer

This book is definitely one of my favorites. It's so different from anything I have ever read, the style, the tone, and the way it was written. It was a compelling read from the beginning to the end. The story is not written as your average outcast "popular people are stupid" cliche. It's an original. The tone is like Melinda is just relaying her thoughts and what she sees to the reader, rather than her feelings and rage and anger against the people that hurt her. Her character gets stronger as you read on, as she begins to stand up for herself. I liked how the author didn't just tell you what had happened to Melinda in order for her to stay so silent - instead, bits of the incident unfolds as you read along. I was caught up in Melinda's world, and even though I'm glad to say that I haven't been there and done that, it was easy to just recognize the pain, fear and confusion she went through just because the author doesn't say it right out. Overall, an excellent read and I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to feel the triumph of "Speak".