Laurie in the New York Times

Laurie is profiled alongside several other wonderful YA authors in this thoughtful New York Times piece by Julia Jacobs, “Using Young Adult Novels to Make Sense of #MeToo.”



Ms. Anderson, the novel’s author, said books can offer teenagers the language to understand an unfamiliar issue. In her conversations with thousands of teenage readers, she said, it was clear that many had previously lacked the language to understand what happened to Melinda, her main character — or even what happened in their own lives.


“So many kids have come to me and said, ‘I didn’t realize what he did to me,’” she said.



Read the full piece here!

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Published on September 21, 2018 09:30
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message 1: by Angelena (new)

Angelena I was one of those kids. I did not realize that what I went through as a child was sexual abuse until I read “Speak” in 9th grade. Thank you, Laurie Halse Anderson, for forever changing my life and helping me start my long, painful, essential journey of acceptance and healing.


message 2: by Laurie (new)

Laurie Anderson I am so happy that the book helped. I wish you comfort, strength, and joy. Keep speaking up!


message 3: by Angelena (new)

Angelena Thank you so much! I am overjoyed to receive a response from you! I’ve wanted to tell you what your book meant to me for years.


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