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10th out of 171 books
—
204 voters
Speak
by
Laurie Halse Anderson (Goodreads Author)
Laurie Halse Anderson’s award-winning, highly acclaimed, and controversial novel about a teenager who chooses not to speak rather than to give voice to what really happened to her marks ten years in print with this special anniversary edition. Bonus material created for this edition includes a new introduction and afterword from the author, resources, and discussion guide...more
Paperback, 10th Anniversary Edition, 240 pages
Published
March 19th 2009
by Speak
(first published October 22nd 1999)
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Once I finished reading the last word I knew I was going to reread it. Yes that profound.
Honest. Authentic. Real. Use all those words and their synonyms and you have this book. I literally wanted to hop into the sea of words and tell Melinda Sordino " I'll be your friend! Don't despair !" Alas I couldn't do that though. I had to see her struggle. It's painful but since I watched the movie (which was done well by the way) first before reading the book I knew where she was coming from. Melinda's...more
Honest. Authentic. Real. Use all those words and their synonyms and you have this book. I literally wanted to hop into the sea of words and tell Melinda Sordino " I'll be your friend! Don't despair !" Alas I couldn't do that though. I had to see her struggle. It's painful but since I watched the movie (which was done well by the way) first before reading the book I knew where she was coming from. Melinda's...more
Apr 16, 2010
Madeline
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
assigned-reading,
kids-and-young-adult
"THE FIRST TEN LIES THEY TELL YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL
1. We are here to help you.
2. You will have enough time to get to your class before the bell rings.
3. The dress code will be enforced.
4. No smoking is allowed on school grounds.
5. Our football team will win the championship this year.
6. We expect more of you here.
7. Guidance counselors are always available to listen.
8. Your schedule was created with your needs in mind.
9. Your locker combination is private.
10. These will be the years you will look b...more
1. We are here to help you.
2. You will have enough time to get to your class before the bell rings.
3. The dress code will be enforced.
4. No smoking is allowed on school grounds.
5. Our football team will win the championship this year.
6. We expect more of you here.
7. Guidance counselors are always available to listen.
8. Your schedule was created with your needs in mind.
9. Your locker combination is private.
10. These will be the years you will look b...more
305 likes · like · see review
Mar 09, 2011
Louize
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
everyone, especially parents
Recommended to Louize by:
jzhunagev
"When people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time."
Silence dominates Melinda Sordino’s freshman year in Merryweather High School. A recent traumatic experience that led to a very complicated misunderstanding sent a sudden collapse on her being. Aside from being completely mute in public, Melinda’s private and social life is in ruins. Slowly, she began to lose interest in everything, including her family and school. If possible, she also wants to lose the memory of that traumat...more
Silence dominates Melinda Sordino’s freshman year in Merryweather High School. A recent traumatic experience that led to a very complicated misunderstanding sent a sudden collapse on her being. Aside from being completely mute in public, Melinda’s private and social life is in ruins. Slowly, she began to lose interest in everything, including her family and school. If possible, she also wants to lose the memory of that traumat...more
25 likes · like · see review
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
59 likes · like · see review
I honestly hate reading these kinds of books. They deal with teen issues and I think this is important, but I already know about these problems and I'd rather not read about them.
I know, that sounds stupid, and ignorant, and stubborn, but it's how I feel. When I open a book, I want to get lost in the pages of mirth, magic, and adventure. To get away from reality and enter a world of unknown.
Not high school. Not 'mean girls'. Not 'rape boys'.
These books are very important for teens to read, bec...more
16 likes · like · see review
Feb 17, 2011
Kwesi 章英狮
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Kwesi 章英狮 by:
Iyah
Before everything else, I don't have any idea that this award winning book really exist in the realm of books and another reason, is that I am a big fan of reading award winning literature for children and young adult that I never heard of Speak or Lauri Halse Anderson. But after I met a group of YA fanatic and a not-really-a-hater reader of this book, they discussed it while I'm listening to their reactions, good and bad comments and different interpretation of the book while I'm trying to focu...more
20 likes · like · see review
Sep 05, 2009
Thomas
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
five-stars,
own-physical
"Speak" is about Melinda Sordino, an angst-filled freshman who is hated by all of her "best friends" because she called the cops during the end of the summer senior party. Everyone got busted. Her parents aren't much help either, always fighting about what's best for Melinda and communicating through post-it notes on the refrigerator wall. These are only a few of the things that have Melinda depressed. When what really happened at the senior party is revealed, it will be easy, although painful,...more
28 likes · like · see review
Sep 08, 2007
Mary
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Get me a Delorean! I'm giving this book to myself and every girl I knew ten years ago!
Shelves:
ya
Wow. I started reading this to entertain myself on a long subway ride home at 2 am, thinking I'd skim a bit and start reading it the next day. The next time I looked at the clock it was five in the morning and I was devouring the last lines of the novel. It is dangerously, fantastically gripping, not necessarily because the plot is so amazing, but because Anderson gets Melinda's voice so very, very right. Melinda is such a thoughtfully rendered portrait of a smart, funny, terribly depressed teen...more
37 likes · like · see review
I honestly don't know how to do this book justice. I can certainly see how Anderson earned her stellar reputation. Speak is truly extraordinary and expertly done.
At the start of her Freshman year, Melinda finds herself a social pariah, having been dumped by all of her friends after attending a summer bash gone wrong, resulting in Melinda calling the cops and earning herself a leper status. While the events that occurred at the party remain a mystery until nearly the end of the story, Melinda's...more
At the start of her Freshman year, Melinda finds herself a social pariah, having been dumped by all of her friends after attending a summer bash gone wrong, resulting in Melinda calling the cops and earning herself a leper status. While the events that occurred at the party remain a mystery until nearly the end of the story, Melinda's...more
Possibly the worst piece of literature that has ever disgraced the human race with it's presence.
The character is whiney, unsensible, and totally a trumped up stereotype of an angsty teenage girl. There is nothing remotely touching about the story. In fact, in the end, you might find that you wish that she had been punched in the face. The character is a depressed bimbo that has all of the answers but refuses them all. She is also completly self-absorbed and complains about everything but does n...more
The character is whiney, unsensible, and totally a trumped up stereotype of an angsty teenage girl. There is nothing remotely touching about the story. In fact, in the end, you might find that you wish that she had been punched in the face. The character is a depressed bimbo that has all of the answers but refuses them all. She is also completly self-absorbed and complains about everything but does n...more
65 likes · like · see review
Much has been said about how important this book is for teens, particularly those who have experienced what Melinda experiences, and I agree with that. But what I was surprised to discover as I read it was that I really enjoyed it, apart from its "message". It did not beat me over the head with its depressing-ness--it was understated, not unbearable. Likewise, even the message wasn't heavy-handed. Melinda's voice is rich, authentic, and often funny. Despite its tendency toward description and in...more
Dec 15, 2012
Victor
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
People who liked Some Girls Are and Cracked up to be by Courtney Summers
Shelves:
favorites,
i-recommend
Whoa! This book blew my mind and is really making me think about it more and more.
Laurie Halse Anderson is a fantastic writer! I read Twisted by her and loved and now my L. A. class is reading Chains which is really good. I will say that I liked Twisted better than Speak and Chains will most likely be my least favorite.
Speak is the kind of book that you just want to read in one sitting. All I wanted to do was get in my "normal" reading routine and stay up until three in the morning and finish...more
Laurie Halse Anderson is a fantastic writer! I read Twisted by her and loved and now my L. A. class is reading Chains which is really good. I will say that I liked Twisted better than Speak and Chains will most likely be my least favorite.
Speak is the kind of book that you just want to read in one sitting. All I wanted to do was get in my "normal" reading routine and stay up until three in the morning and finish...more
5 likes · like · see review
Oct 11, 2009
Tatiana
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to Tatiana by:
Heather
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
11 likes · like · see review
Nov 24, 2010
jzhunagev
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everyone!
Recommended to jzhunagev by:
the "Voice"
"Don't expect to make a difference unless you speak up for yourself."
"Where can you run to escape from yourself?"
That line taken from the song Dare You to Move by the band Switchfoot come to mind while I was reading Speak by Laurie Halse Andersen, more so when I completely got to know Melinda Sordino from its pages and the traumatic experience she’s been through.
There’s something that’s been bothering Melinda since the start of her...more
Dare to Speak Up!
(A Book Review by Laurie Halse Andersen’s Speak)
"Where can you run to escape from yourself?"
That line taken from the song Dare You to Move by the band Switchfoot come to mind while I was reading Speak by Laurie Halse Andersen, more so when I completely got to know Melinda Sordino from its pages and the traumatic experience she’s been through.
There’s something that’s been bothering Melinda since the start of her...more
15 likes · like · see review
Nov 04, 2012
Jennifer Wardrip
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
trt-posted-reviews
Reviewed by Tara - The Class for TeensReadToo.com
SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson is a riveting, compassionate book about a teenage outcast.
Melinda Sordino destroyed her reputation before even setting foot in the dangerous halls of Merryweather High School. By calling the police at an end-of-summer bash, she is now officially considered a loser. With her old friends gone, Melinda no longer speaks to anyone; even her new "best friend," Heather.
This novel on self-discovery, empathy, and social acc...more
SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson is a riveting, compassionate book about a teenage outcast.
Melinda Sordino destroyed her reputation before even setting foot in the dangerous halls of Merryweather High School. By calling the police at an end-of-summer bash, she is now officially considered a loser. With her old friends gone, Melinda no longer speaks to anyone; even her new "best friend," Heather.
This novel on self-discovery, empathy, and social acc...more
4 likes · like · see review
É difícil ficar indiferente a este livro, pois mesmo que a história não seja real, sabe-se que podia muito bem o ser.
Eu não gosto das escolas secundárias americanas. Como é que poderia gostar de um sítio onde a discriminação é a palavra de ordem? Por isso, é que não me admira que de tempos a tempos pareça um miúdo que já está farto de ser gozado e que decida aparecer na escola armado até aos dentes e que comece a disparar em tudo o que mexe.
Mas indo à história. A Melinda também não teve a vida p...more
Eu não gosto das escolas secundárias americanas. Como é que poderia gostar de um sítio onde a discriminação é a palavra de ordem? Por isso, é que não me admira que de tempos a tempos pareça um miúdo que já está farto de ser gozado e que decida aparecer na escola armado até aos dentes e que comece a disparar em tudo o que mexe.
Mas indo à história. A Melinda também não teve a vida p...more
3 likes · like · see review
Just before the start of her freshman year, Melinda attended a party and ended up having to call the police. The police showed up, broke up the party and everyone there is mad at Melinda. She becomes an outcast, retreating into herself and becoming a shadow of her former self. The only connection she feels to the outside world is in her art class, where she's given the year-long project of creating art work around the theme of trees.
Of course, it's easy to figure out early on that something more...more
Of course, it's easy to figure out early on that something more...more
11 likes · like · see review
7/02/2013
Is THIS the culprit book? Is this the one that started it all?
The 'OMG-I-was-raped-and-so-I-stopped-speaking-to-cope-with-the-trauma' trend?
Honestly what is wrong with today's YA writers?
If a girl has been sexually abused, please write about how she should go to the police station right away instead of finding a hot guy to help her deal with her problems and moping in weird ways imaginable.
EDIT - 8/02/2013
The trouble with Speak lies in the fact that I went in with too many expectatio...more
Is THIS the culprit book? Is this the one that started it all?
The 'OMG-I-was-raped-and-so-I-stopped-speaking-to-cope-with-the-trauma' trend?
Honestly what is wrong with today's YA writers?
If a girl has been sexually abused, please write about how she should go to the police station right away instead of finding a hot guy to help her deal with her problems and moping in weird ways imaginable.
EDIT - 8/02/2013
The trouble with Speak lies in the fact that I went in with too many expectatio...more
4 likes · like · see review
Originally posted on The Authoress: Book Review and More.
It’s reads true: “…darkly funny story of a teenage outcast.” If this were an upbeat story about something completely different, I would have greatly enjoyed Melinda’s sense of humor and wit and her skill for imagination. But combining it with her ordeal and suddenly, it sings a sinister tune. I think her wit made her real and made us more connected with her character. So, even if we can’t identify with her on a personal level, she has the...more
It’s reads true: “…darkly funny story of a teenage outcast.” If this were an upbeat story about something completely different, I would have greatly enjoyed Melinda’s sense of humor and wit and her skill for imagination. But combining it with her ordeal and suddenly, it sings a sinister tune. I think her wit made her real and made us more connected with her character. So, even if we can’t identify with her on a personal level, she has the...more
Since the beginning of her freshman year, Melinda has been speaking less and less, to her parents, teachers, and to the friends who have abandoned her because she called the police at a party during the preceding summer. The silence represents the emotional paralysis she is suffering because of an unspeakable trauma she endured at that infamous party.This is an honest and real depiction of teen-age suffering, not only the physical pain caused by the trauma of a sexual molestation, but the emotio...more
14 likes · like · see review
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
6 likes · like · see review
Just ok. I was disappointed with the ending, and felt that there was an element of glorification in this book that I didn't appreciate.
Although I loved the fact that she finally started speaking up, I felt like it got wrapped up a little too quickly and that the ending was a little unrealistic. Having been through this myself I can say that 9 times out of 10 you don't get closure or retribution, and usually there is no one swooping in to save you either. I think it potentially puts across the w...more
Although I loved the fact that she finally started speaking up, I felt like it got wrapped up a little too quickly and that the ending was a little unrealistic. Having been through this myself I can say that 9 times out of 10 you don't get closure or retribution, and usually there is no one swooping in to save you either. I think it potentially puts across the w...more
25 likes · like · see review
There is always a danger in books that deal with "social issues" that the author will fall into commonly didactic phrasing and drain the blood of a book, rather than infuse it. This is probably even more common in books aimed at younger readers where such a practice is less likely to be picked up on or criticised, but Halse Anderson's Speak is a good example of how to let the material breathe a bit and "speak" for itself.
The themes are common ones and some readers may even think they're objectio...more
The themes are common ones and some readers may even think they're objectio...more
2 likes · like · see review
This book was uniquely written and an easy read. In a way it was kind of a mystery, because you never knew why the main character (Melinda), would not speak until Andy Evans was mentioned. The beginning was a bit boring but it got better towards the end. My favorite part was when Melinda finally decided to speak up and share her story. With a bit of suspense you will surely enjoy it.
7 likes · like · see review
Jun 20, 2008
June
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
middleschoolers and up plus adults who work with this age group
Recommended to June by:
Elissa
I read this book in a day. I agree with Elissa that it should be on every middleschoolers' list. I also think that it would be a good parent-child list, to get parents and children talking about issues that need to be discussed. We need to prepare our children for the not so nice broader world.
3 likes · like · see review
Aug 07, 2010
Mon
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ya,
i-am-woman-hear-me-roar
Maybe I'm being too cynical, and that the protagonist (I forgot her name already, so I'm just going to call her Jane) did go through something worth lamenting for 200 pages. But for God's sake just because your character is a silent withdrawn introvert doesn't mean your plot has to be the same, it's 150 pages of nothing then BAM! she speaks up! finds courage! The end!!!! LOOK MY HEART IS BLEEDING AND YOU CAN HEAR MY SCREAMS BECAUSE IM LITERALLY TALKING LIKE THIS!!!!! This has to be the worst psy...more
12 likes · like · see review
Dec 05, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
smells-like-teen-spirit,
pish
Bleak YA novel that tries to be a cautionary tale. Worse, it was assigned reading for our #1 in her Language Arts class. Students were asked to read this book for a bullying unit.
?
Um, this is not a story about bullying. It is about the injustice of RAPE (though it never addresses the particular damage of rape). Instead it is the story of a young girl who is so disconnected from everyone that she is unable to speak after being assaulted until her rapist targets her ex best friend. She tells no on...more
?
Um, this is not a story about bullying. It is about the injustice of RAPE (though it never addresses the particular damage of rape). Instead it is the story of a young girl who is so disconnected from everyone that she is unable to speak after being assaulted until her rapist targets her ex best friend. She tells no on...more
9 likes · like · see review
Feb 15, 2011
Joyzi
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
mature teenagers
Recommended to Joyzi by:
Iyah, Jzhun and Kwesi
Shelves:
ya-books,
banned,
own,
fiction,
reviewed,
realistic-fiction,
printz,
favorites,
thought-provoking
I'm warning you now, this review contains major spoilers
Our frog lies on her back. Waiting for a prince to come and princessify her with a smooch? I stand over her with my knife. Ms. Keen's voice fades to a mosquito whine. My throat closes off. It is hard to breathe. I put out my hand to steady myself against the table. David pins her froggy hands to the dissetion tray. He spreads her froggy legs and pins her froggy feet. I have to slice open her belly. She doesn't say a word. She is already dea...more
10 likes · like · see review
Postscript prior-
First YA author I read whose name was longer than her novels title who also wasted seven full hours of my life. Sort of. I liked reading about fictional b***ches too much to stop.
I am beginning to think that there was something in what my mother told me years ago, amongst other issues like boys, romance, sex, and unmentionables. I'm going to leave the postscript prior, but only in effort to remember what I used to be like when I was young. I thought Laurie was a little dismiss...more
First YA author I read whose name was longer than her novels title who also wasted seven full hours of my life. Sort of. I liked reading about fictional b***ches too much to stop.
I am beginning to think that there was something in what my mother told me years ago, amongst other issues like boys, romance, sex, and unmentionables. I'm going to leave the postscript prior, but only in effort to remember what I used to be like when I was young. I thought Laurie was a little dismiss...more
4 likes · like · see review
Nov 30, 2008
Rosemarie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
everyone
Speak was one of the greatest book that i actually understood that I have read recently. This book was very detailed and didn't make me fall asleep. At no moment did I think this book was boring because many young girls can relate to Melinda Sordino, the main character in the book.
Melinda Sordino got raped at a young age by someone way older than her and she tried to call the cops, but it just turned chaotic. Melinda came to a party during the summer and she decided to talk to a boy name Andy E...more
Melinda Sordino got raped at a young age by someone way older than her and she tried to call the cops, but it just turned chaotic. Melinda came to a party during the summer and she decided to talk to a boy name Andy E...more
6 likes · like · see review
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Should I read it or not? | 23 | 112 | May 19, 2013 04:53am | |
| Applied Technolog...: Is this book a realistic depiction of parent and teen relationships? | 2 | 2 | May 08, 2013 12:12pm | |
| Removed from public schools? | 143 | 725 | May 07, 2013 04:04pm | |
| ¡ POETRY !: A poem I wrote... | 36 | 81 | Mar 18, 2013 05:16pm |
Laurie Halse Anderson is the New York Times-bestselling author who writes for kids of all ages. Known for tackling tough subjects with humor and sensitivity, her work has earned numerous ALA and state awards. Two of her books, Speak and Chains, were National Book Award finalists.
Mother of four and wife of one, Laurie lives in Northern New York, where she likes to watch the snow fall as she writes....more
More about Laurie Halse Anderson...
Mother of four and wife of one, Laurie lives in Northern New York, where she likes to watch the snow fall as she writes....more
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“THE FIRST TEN LIES THEY TELL YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL
1. We are here to help you.
2. You will have time to get to your class before the bell rings.
3. The dress code will be enforced.
4. No smoking is allowed on school grounds.
5. Our football team will win the championship this year.
6. We expect more of you here.
7. Guidance counselors are always available to listen.
8. Your schedule was created with you in mind.
9. Your locker combination is private.
10. These will be the years you look back on fondly.
TEN MORE LIES THEY TELL YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL
1. You will use algebra in your adult lives.
2. Driving to school is a privilege that can be taken away.
3. Students must stay on campus during lunch.
4. The new text books will arrive any day now.
5. Colleges care more about you than your SAT scores.
6. We are enforcing the dress code.
7. We will figure out how to turn off the heat soon.
8. Our bus drivers are highly trained professionals.
9. There is nothing wrong with summer school.
10. We want to hear what you have to say.”
—
5,690 people liked it
1. We are here to help you.
2. You will have time to get to your class before the bell rings.
3. The dress code will be enforced.
4. No smoking is allowed on school grounds.
5. Our football team will win the championship this year.
6. We expect more of you here.
7. Guidance counselors are always available to listen.
8. Your schedule was created with you in mind.
9. Your locker combination is private.
10. These will be the years you look back on fondly.
TEN MORE LIES THEY TELL YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL
1. You will use algebra in your adult lives.
2. Driving to school is a privilege that can be taken away.
3. Students must stay on campus during lunch.
4. The new text books will arrive any day now.
5. Colleges care more about you than your SAT scores.
6. We are enforcing the dress code.
7. We will figure out how to turn off the heat soon.
8. Our bus drivers are highly trained professionals.
9. There is nothing wrong with summer school.
10. We want to hear what you have to say.”
“You have to know what you stand for, not just what you stand against.”
—
2,457 people liked it
More quotes…
Mar 15, 2013 06:28pm
Mar 16, 2013 03:23pm