Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Alexa

Have you ever felt lonely, without a friend in the world? Well, this feeling penetrates Melinda Sordino's life in the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. In this touching story of a teenage outcast, Melinda has a secret which nobody else must ever find out. However, readers are able to get Melinda's perspective on the situation through diary entries, hence allowing them to discover her secret and see how it affects her in the long run. This secret thus adds mystery to the plot, enhancing the stories moving message. Speak is a great book for girls 12 and older. Its moral is one that will be helpful to know throughout life. The outcast's opinion is seldom heard, yet Mrs. Anderson captures this distinct outlook on life. So, if you want to observe life through the eyes of someone else while experiencing the heart-wrenching reality of assumption, back-stabbing, and desertion, read Speak.