Monday, February 27, 2012

Speak


Title: Speak
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Author's Website: http://madwomanintheforest.com/
ISBN: 978-0-374-37152-4
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Copyright Date: 1999
Genre:  Realistic Fiction
Reading Level/Interest Age: 9th-12th grade
Awards: Horn Book starred 1999, Publishers Weekly starred 1999, School Library Journal starred 1999
Plot Summary: Melinda quickly becomes a high school outcast after calling the cops on a party. Unfortunately, none of her "friends" or classmates know what really took place the night of the party, and Melinda is left to deal with and process it alone. She retreats further and further into herself as the book goes on, eventually rarely speaking at all. Until she is faced with her fear once more at the end, and finally finds the courage to speak.
Critical Evaluation: Anderson tells Melinda's story in short fragmented paragraphs and sentences. While I found this slightly distracting at the beginning, I soon found myself wrapped up in this story. Anderson succeeds at giving Melinda a powerful "voice" when ironically she speaks less and less as the book goes on. It was highly effective that Melinda refers to her rapist as IT. Readers sense almost immediately that he did something so horrendous as to not be referred to as human.
Reader's Annotation: A young teenager becomes an outcast in high school and continues to keep her deep dark secret to herself.
Booktalking Ideas: Rape, Bullying, Friendship, Suicide
Challenge issues if any and how you would defend it: While this book touches on very serious, sensitive issues, Anderson does a phenomenal job of being vague with her descriptions (or lack thereof) of the rape. She alludes to what happens with powerful words, letting the reader infer what they will.
Why did you include this book: I included this book for several reasons, one being Anderson's writing style is one that young adults might appreciate. I also included this book because it could open up a dialogue about several important issues (aside from rape & suicide) such as bullying and friendship.
Quote: "Our frog lies on her back. Waiting for a prince to come and princessify her with a smooch? I stand over her with my knife. Ms. Keen's voice fades to a mosquito whine. My throat closes off. It's hard to breathe. I put out my hand to steady myself against the table. David pins her froggy hands to the dissection tray. He spreads her froggy legs and pins her froggy feet. I have to slice open her belly. She doesn't say a word. She is already dead. A scream starts in my gut - I can feel the cut, smell the dirt, leaves in my hair."

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