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Norah C

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Speak

by Laurie Halse Anderson (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

read in June 2019

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Norah C said: " After coming across this book many times shelving copies at the library, I grew interest in reading it. I had heard about it from my sister and she loved it. I always enjoy books she recommends so I gave it a shot! It was definitely worth the read. After coming across this book many times shelving copies at the library, I grew interest in reading it. I had heard about it from my sister and she loved it. I always enjoy books she recommends so I gave it a shot! It was definitely worth the read.

The story depicts a girl named Melinda. She had a best friend named Heather who was a new student. The first day of their 9th grade year they are shuffled in to the gym for a speech about highschool experience. Melinda is freaked out by all the cliques and realizes she fits in none. Her friend Melinda finds them a seat next to other girls and they ask Melinda why she called the cops on a party that summer. Melinda said she had to and the girls laughed. Melinda finds herself dreading school and seeing Andy. She does not want to confront what had happened to her at the party. She spends much of her time in the janitors closet. Her only outlet that gets her through the day is art class with Mr. Freeman. She hates history with a teacher she refers to as ¨Mr. Neckman¨ and English with a teacher she calls ¨Ms. Hairwoman.¨ Melinda gets through looking forward to her year long art project painting of a tree. One day Andy corners her on her way to the janitors closet and antogizes her. She begins coming to school less and less and her grades drop. Her parents and guidance counselor try to help but she won´t speak. Melinda finds out one of her friends are dating Andy and she tries to tell her what he did to her. Her friend doesn´t believe her but the simple act of telling her makes Melinda feels better and she starts picking up new hobbies. Eventually Melinda admits to herself that Andy raped her and she comes forward and finds out that Andy had done the same to many other girls.

This story was inspiring. There was beautiful symbolism throughout the story and the journey Melinda went on to sharing her truth was painfully real. I loved how the story had hidden messages that were not easy to spot until you put them altogether.

Yet I wish the story would have included more of what was going on in Andys mind that made him do this. ...more "

progress:

(page 224 of 224)
— Jun 09, 2019 04:58PM

Jun 10, 2019 07:28PM · see review