Title, author, date of book, and genre?Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, 1999, young adult (YA) fiction
What made you want to read this book?
It's been chosen Chattanooga's A Tale for One City book for 2008, which the whole town is invited to read and discuss during the year. And I'm on the committee to arrange book discussions, reason enough to read it early. The book is also an award winner:
1999 National Book Award FinalistSummarize the book without giving away the ending.
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
Booklist Editors' Choice
Melinda is a friendless outcast at Merryweather High. She busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, and now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her. As time passes, she becomes increasingly isolated and practically stops talking altogether.
From whose point of view is the story told?
Melinda, the main character. She's the one I related to the most, and I felt depressed and discouraged right along with her.
Share a quote from the book.
Nobody, it seemed, would listen to her ... or really hear her cry for help. Here are some examples of how she saw her life:
About her parents: I bet they'd be divorced by now if I hadn't been born. I'm sure I was a huge disappointment. I'm not pretty or smart or athletic. I'm just like them -- an ordinary drone dressed in secrets and lies. I can't believe we have to keep playacting until I graduate. It's a shame we can't just admit that we have failed family living, sell the house, split up the money, and get on with our lives. (p. 70)Why was it banned?
About herself: Maybe I'll be an artist if I grow up. (p. 78)
Mr. Freeman, her art teacher: "When people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time. You'd be shocked at how many adults are really dead inside -- walking through their days with no idea who they are, just waiting for a heart attack or cancer or a Mack truck to come along and finish the job. It's the saddest thing I know." (p. 122)
About her family: I got my "I don't want to know about it" gene from my dad and my "I'll think about it tomorrow" gene from my mom. (p. 148)
About high school: Sometimes I think high school is just one long hazing activity: if you are tough enough to survive this, they'll let you become an adult. I hope it's worth it. (p. 191)
The book is about sexual assault, and some parents apparently hope to shield their daughters from it by keeping them ignorant of the kinds of things that happen to some girls their age. Read Laurie Halse Anderson's commentary on a current challenge to this book.
Rated: 8/10, a very good book.
7 comments:
i've had this one on my to-read list for a while, and it was just chosen as our next read in my IRL book club. i'm looking forward to reading it. great review!
This book is exceptional. I love it, watched the movie also. Very moving.
This book is exceptional. The girl in the book is very moving and teaches us that we all need to open up and talk about our feelings and emotions that seem to haunt us in our everyday lives.
I chose to read this book because a community near my hometown had tried to ban it. WOW!! I want my daughter to read this!!! I want all my girl scouts' parents to read this book!! What amazing insight and understanding!! Thank you, Thank you for "Speaking" for all those without voices!!!!
I actually just turned 14 myself, and our teacher had the higher level students read Speak for a report. I don't exactly understand why it would be banned, no detail was given.
This post caught my eye. I read Speak eight years ago when I was 15 - not assigned reading but on a teacher's recommendation - and have reread it at least once since.
*Spoilers alert*
I could understand criticism of this book if it dealt with the rape of the narrator in an exploitive way, but it doesn't. Instead, and this is why I find it interesting, the plot shows many of Melinda's classmates reinforcing her silence, insulting her for "ruining" the party where the crime took place (they don't know about the worst part) and defending the teenage attacker though he has a history of harassing girls. While Melinda herself often stereotypes people, this works with her sarcastic voice and also avoids making her some sort of "perfect" victim. Perhaps her description of school groups is a bit normative - in my three different schools I didn't see any clearly defined jock, nerd, or goth types (there WAS the whole Star Wars vs. LOTR thing; maybe we were all nerds!) - but otherwise the book was complex and powerful.
Definitely one for reading and talking about, not banning.
I love this book (and movie). It's close to my heart. My mom watched it with me and it made her cry. I had my husband watch it to after we got married too. There is no reason for it to be banned. If anything it could open up young girls eyes to the realities of rape (and any kind of abuse) and how to let go of the terrible feelings that can haunt you. Most importantly it can help them realize that you should tell someone when something bad happens, and the sooner the better.
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