Another YA Challenged Novel

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.