Speak

It's a fast read.

I was going to rate this book 3 stars. I already knew what happened to Melinda so it kinda spoiled the suspance for me. I couldn't wait to get to the point in which the story would get "juicy" so I rushed the first part. It was my fault and I'm sorry about that. The ending though was what convinced me to add the fourth star.

"I have survived. I am here. Confused, screwed up, but here. So, how can I find my way?"

Melinda is a character you end up caring for. She's in pain, she hides a secret she's scared to share with the world. She gets bullied and betrayed. Everybody sees she's unwell but nobody cares to understand her. It was just heartbreaking and unfair. Her journey is an awful one, she has to face her former friend growing up without her, hating her for a fault she doesn't have, and has to face the cause of her nightmares everyday at school. When she gets better it is because she decides to get better, she is tired of being passive, of being the scared rabbit who runs away when things get bad. She rationalize her pain, understand she's been through something bad and that she's not accountable for it. Someone else has to pay, someone else who's not afraid to hurt other people just like he hurt her.

"I said no."

I loved her journey and I loved the ending. This is a book everybody should read. It gives you a precise perspective on a situation that, if you've been lucky enough, you've never and will never experience. You need to read this book because we're in 2015 and there are still people who don't understand what rape is and why people would get upset when getting raped. Since the world is full of ignorant and stupid people we need books like this one and people who are willing to understand and internalize its message, we are the only ones who can fight ignorance and bullies in a constructive way.

What an amazing, thought-provoking book! It's hard to write a review - all you can think of is "Squeee!"

Reader reviewed by Kayla

I loved Melinda's voice-all that darkly funny sarcasm.  She was so relatable.  Anderson captured the teenage mind perfectly.  So many of Melinda's descriptions of high school and the students were dead on.  I remember thinking those exact same things when I was her age.

I had seen the movie before reading the book and I think it was adapted just right by using the voice overs (which is pretty much the only way they could have done it considering Melinda almost never speaks).  I'm glad I knew the whole story before reading the book because otherwise the suspense of waiting to find out what had happend to Melinda would have killed me.  I hate being kept in the dark.

I liked the movie a little bit better than the book. Firstly, the parents were more likeable-they came across as more quirky than neglectful. Secondly, art seemed to have a greater importance to Melinda in the movie than it did in the book. It was important in the book too, don't get me wrong. It was what helped Melinda sort through her emotions and find the courage to speak up. But in the movie, it seemed to hold a deeper meaning for her, something more lasting that she would continue doing throughout her life.

Reader reviewed by megannx3

This book is about a girl who becomes an outcast after being raped. Everyone thinks she is just a dirty girl. Her bestfriend betrays her, and hates her. This girl is going through a world wind of emotion she keeps to herself. At the end of the book, She finally stands up for herself. I think everyone can relate to this character in some kind of way. 

Reader reviewed by Hillary

Melinda has no friends all because of something that she did last year. She called the police on a high school party and now she has to live with the consequences. The entire school hates her and they don't even know why she called the police. If they knew, everything would be different but for now, Melinda has to get over this out on her own.

Speak was written by Laurie Halse Anderson. It is taught in schools all over the country. Just a few days ago I saw a big stack of these in the back of my English teacher's class room. I bought mine in eighth grade and have loved it ever since. I think that this book is amazing. There aren't really words to describe it. The characters are all so real and interesting and the writing is phenomenal. If you have never read this then I suggest that you do. You'll be so glad that you did.

Reader reviewed by Eve

This book manages to deal with a touchy subject and it does so beautifully. We see the change between Melinda in the beginning to the Melinda in the end.

So Melinda before starting high school went with her friend to a party. There she was raped by a high school boy. Confused and unsure what to do she decided to call the police. The other students find out although they never find out why she called them and what had happened to her. So Melinda begins school in social exile. Her old friends do not speak to her and she is basically a loner who still doesn't speak very much.

This is a beautiful book on the faults that we may have and how sometimes things aren't always as they appear.

Reader reviewed by Keshia

In Laurie Halse Anderson's "Speak" a teenaged girl named Melinda is starting her high school year after she lost all her friends when she called the cops in a party and got some guys arrested. No one wants to hear her side of the story and she can't even confront what happened until she finally finds her voice.

This book had another take on teenaged angst from an outsider without over doing it. At the end the final confrontation with what happened is great and the way she heals afterwards is too. I was happy with reading this book.

A great read.

Reader reviewed by safia

A realistic novel about a girl suffering through the harshness of high school. Melinda observes classes and cliques as an outcast. She stops speaking and becomes withdrawn to herself. However, she must learn to speak up about the truth.

A startling but honest and witty read.

Reader reviewed by Traci

I'm currently a first year Grad Student and in my Adolescent literature class one of the many books we read was Speak..It was my absolute favorite.I couldn't put it down.I think I read it in two days and I usually don't read books that fast. Many think that young adults should read of such things but we shouldn't shelter our children from reality..I actually had to do a 30 minute presentation on this book, I also watched the movie..The book was Better!!!Good Job Laurie