Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is about a young teenage girl, Melinda Sordino, who is a new freshman to Merryweather High School. From the first day of school, she knows that she's an outcast. She had ruined an end-of-summer party by calling the police so her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't know glare at her. Due to the effects of the party, she had a difficult time speaking with people, seeming mute.
Throughout the book, she talks about her high school life and struggling to make friends. There are also flashbacks going back to the night of the party and the tortures she went through. Because of this trauma, her grades are lower than expected; she used to be a straight-B student. The only thing in school that keeps her somewhat happy is Mr. Freeman's art class and frankly,it's also the only class she can pull an A in.
However, when Melinda has an uncomfortable confrontation she decides that she can't be silent anymore and that she has to speak the truth (hence the title Speak). She has to tell her version of the story, starting with the end-of-summer party. Even if she believes that it will not benefit her, it may save many other naïve peers.
I thought that this book was a very powerful novel. Seeing how depressing her life was and the bullying she faced showed me what many high school students go through today. Yet, no one ever notices because, like Melinda, they don't speak up.
There were many significant parts to the plot line that I couldn't talk about because it would obviously ruin the novel. So if you want to know what happens, you're going to have to read it for yourself.
Discussion Questions
1) Based on the description, what do you think happened at the party? Why do you think Melinda can't openly discuss this with her peers?
2)How do you think Melinda's story relates to reality?
Throughout the book, she talks about her high school life and struggling to make friends. There are also flashbacks going back to the night of the party and the tortures she went through. Because of this trauma, her grades are lower than expected; she used to be a straight-B student. The only thing in school that keeps her somewhat happy is Mr. Freeman's art class and frankly,it's also the only class she can pull an A in.
However, when Melinda has an uncomfortable confrontation she decides that she can't be silent anymore and that she has to speak the truth (hence the title Speak). She has to tell her version of the story, starting with the end-of-summer party. Even if she believes that it will not benefit her, it may save many other naïve peers.
I thought that this book was a very powerful novel. Seeing how depressing her life was and the bullying she faced showed me what many high school students go through today. Yet, no one ever notices because, like Melinda, they don't speak up.
There were many significant parts to the plot line that I couldn't talk about because it would obviously ruin the novel. So if you want to know what happens, you're going to have to read it for yourself.
Discussion Questions
1) Based on the description, what do you think happened at the party? Why do you think Melinda can't openly discuss this with her peers?
2)How do you think Melinda's story relates to reality?
