Review of SPEAK

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Anderson, Laurie Halse. 1999. SPEAK. New York, NY: Penguin Group. ISBN 9780142414736

PLOT SUMMARY
After calling 911 at an end-of-summer party, Melinda suffers the heartbreaking result of being hated and becoming an outcast. She refuses to speak about the devastating event that preceded the phone call and her grades, family relationships and friendships suffer throughout the school year. Forced to finally confront the person who was at the root of all her suffering she finds her voice again.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The story is a touching look at a teenage girl's experience with sexual assualt and her unwillingness to speak to anyone about it. She called 911 at the drinking party where the assult occured and consequently suffered the wrath and outright hatred of classmates for her action, without knowing why the call was placed. Her parents are not speaking to each other and she is not speaking to them. All told, the poor girl suffers greatly and yet in the end, somehow, things begin to look up after she confronts her attacker. Throughout the book she has these interesting, witty conversations in her head with those individuals with whom she will not converse. Her first person narrative is captivating and pulls the reader into Melinda's world. Recommended for ages 12 and older.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Horn Book- "An uncannily funny book even as it plumbs the darkness, Speak will hold readers from first word to last."
KIRKUS- " 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."