Speak
By: Laurie Halse Anderson
Genre: YA fiction
Pages: 208
Published: 2001
Read: April
4 out
of 5 stars
I loved this “challenged” YA book. Written over 12 years
ago, it is still a relevant classic book for any time. Originally an outgoing
teen, this freshman get shunned by her peers for calling the cops at a party, but
no one knows the truth for her reason. She decided to stop speaking and
withdrew instead into her own head. I enjoyed every aspect of this book,
especially the “voice” and character building of Melinda. This is a book that I feel will grab any
teen, or adult, that ever went through a difficult time with peers because of
an event that appeared to be a “mistake”.
As with the other challenged books I have read, I would encourage ALL
teens to read this novel rather then tell them they shouldn’t read it. Anderson
provides a great perspective from the troubled teen view and the effects of
being the ones labeling the teen as an outcast.
Anderson has written several controversial novels for teens,
you can see them all at www.lauriehalseanserson.org.
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