              |
 SpeakLaurie Halse Anderson (1999) Any person who attended high school can attest to the struggle of fitting in and feeling of being left out. Yet in Laurie Halse Anderson's first novel, we read in even more raw and painful detail how a teenage girl copes with isolation in her freshman year of high school. The heroine, Melinda, is traumatized into silence after a summer party ends in a police raid. Ostracized by her friends but unable to explain her actions, Melinda struggles to express herself throughout the school year. Not until later in her story do we begin to understand that Melinda is dealing with the shocking aftermath of an acquaintance rape. For anyone who remembers or has experienced rejection in adolescence, Speak will shed new light on the emotions and behaviors that result when a person is treated as an outcast. As Melinda ultimately finds her voice, we learn the truth about her decision not to speak and what really happened at the party. No doubt readers will come away with greater consideration, sensitivity and compassion for those who long to be accepted, and an understanding of the reasons for actions that are often hidden below the surface. Both humorous and touching, this book is a must-read for young adults, their parents and friends (ages 13 and up). |