Speak – Laurie Halse Anderson

The book Speak is about a fourteen year old girl named Melinda. Everything started at an end-of-the-summer party. Melinda called the cops which resulted in several people getting arrested. She went into 9th grade as a social outcast. No one would listen to her so she decided not to speak. Little did everyone know that the reason Melinda called the cops was because she was raped by a popular senior named Andy Evens. She refers to him as IT. She often hid in a closet to escape from the torments and becuase of her depression. Things start to change though when she creates a bond with her art teacher Mr. Freeman. She begins to express her pain through art. When Melinda’s former best friend Rachel starts going out with Andy, Melinda feel that she must tell Rachel about him. Thankfully, Rachel sees the truth and dumps Andy, making him very angry. When Melinda goes to the closet to pick up a few things she sees Andy. He tells her that she made up the whole assult, saying that he had not hurt her and she actually wanted it. He then tries to rape Melinda again but she, knowing better this time, held up a piece of glass to his neck and said “I SAID NO!” Now I can’t give away the ending but I can say that it ends on a happy note.

I though that this book was great. It really told of how life is for teenagers suffering from depression. It told how great the effect of peer pressure has on people. It also went into detail about bullying. I liked how real the book was and how it made me feel like I was inside of Melinda’s head.

One possible theme of this book could be “Speak up and don’t hold you emotions back.” I think this because if Melinda had spoken about what happened to her people would have understood. She could have gotten help with her depression about being raped. Maybe then her freshman year would have been filled with more happiness, and less pain.

by Molly