Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is a Young Adult Literature classic that deals with an extremely difficult and heavy subject. I missed this novel when it was first released because it came out in 1999 when I was a Junior in High School. Unfortunately, my high school Media Center and Media Specialist were not very inviting, and therefore, I did not often go there to check out books. I am very glad to have read this book at this point in time.

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In Speak, we meet Melinda Sordino a high school Freshman from Syracuse, New York. The summer prior to 9th grade Melinda experienced one of the most traumatic experiences a woman can ever experience. She was raped at a party the summer before 9th grade. As a result of this incident, Melinda spirals into a very deep depression, resulting in a loss of her voice. She has an extremely difficult time both adjusting to life in High School and also has difficulties fitting in and finding her voice. Melinda has checked out of the great majority of her classes. She is very tuned in and connected during Art class, however.

Mr. Freeman, the art teacher, assigns students to pick an item blindly out of a beaten in globe. Melinda picks TREE as her piece of artwork to create. Melinda spends the remaining semester attempting to create a tree. Eventually, Melinda becomes very depressed and starts skipping school. Melinda has to deal with the trauma and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) that makes her plummet into a downward spiral. Melinda eventually finds her voice, finds redemption, and is able to create a beautiful piece of artwork.

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Fun fact: Speak was made into a movie starring Kristen Stewart pre-Twilight. I plan to check this movie out soon.

Memorable Quotes:

"Art follows lunch, like a dream follows nightmare" (Halse Anderson, 1999 p. 9).

Melinda, on her parent's relationship:

"I bet they'd be divorced by now if I hadn't been born. I'm sure I was a huge disappointment. I'm not pretty or smart or athletic. I'm just like them--an ordinary drone dressed in secrets and lies. I can't believe we have to keep playacting until I graduate. It's a shame we can't just admit that we have failed family living, sell the house, split the money and get on with our lives" (Halse Anderson, 1999 p. 70).

Melinda speaking with Mr. Freeman about her art project:

"Me: "All right, but you said we had to put emotion into our art. I don't know what that means. I don't know what I am supposed to feel." My fingers fly up and cover my mouth. What am I doing?

Mr. Freeman: "Art without emotion is like chocolate cake without sugar. It makes you gag." He sticks his fingers down his throat. "The next time you work on your trees, don't think about trees. Think about love, or hate, or joy, or rage--whatever makes you feel something, makes your palms sweat or your toes curl. Focus on that feeling. When people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time. You'd be shocked at how many adults are really dead inside--walking through their days with no idea who they are, just waiting for a heart attack or cancer or a Mack truck to come along and finish the job. It's the saddest thing I know" (Halse Anderson, 1999 p. 122).

What I Liked:

I like that Halse Anderson was not afraid to tackle a taboo topic. Yes, it is controversial, but there are teenagers who experience rape, sexual abuse, and other forms of violence on a daily basis in their real-life. This book would not be classified as an easy read, at least not emotionally or spiritually easy, but was short. This book would be very engaging to reluctant readers and could possibly be utilized to engage students that you might suspect of having either mental health or delinquency/ungovernable situations going on within their family dynamic. It might also be beneficial to read this as part of a book club. It would also serve to raise empathy and understanding if this were read and a panel discussion with rape survivors, police detectives, crisis counselors, and other interested participants were invited to participate.