Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Read for: YA lit class/leisure
Rating: 4.0

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson was definitely not what I expected. I don't know what I was expecting, but it was definitely not what Anderson delivered. Of course, that isn't meant in a bad way. What Anderson gave is much better than anything I could have dreamed up. I think waht surprised me most--and what I liked the best--was Melinda's voice. Kind of ironic for a character who speaks as little as possible, eh? However, since the story is told in the first person, the reader is privy to the narrative inside Melinda's head, which is a stunningly accurate portrayal of teenage emotions. I also enjoyed the humor--it was wry and sarcastic, but there was also so much truth in it that you couldn't help but chuckle. For example:

"We are studying history for the ninth time in nine years. [...] Christopher Columbus in time for Columbus Day, the Pilgrims in time for Thanksgiving. Every year they say we're going to get right up to the present, but we always get stuck in the Industrial Revolution. We got to World War I in the seventh grade--who knew there had been a war with the whole world? We need more holidays to keep the social studies teachers on track" (p. 7).

I underlined this section and wrote "touche" next to it.

Since the story focuses on the effects of rape on a young girl, I think that this book would be very important for students to read. Not only so, but the fact that it is a contemporary book with narrating character who is relateable would probably capture the hearts of readers. I would definitely use this book in a unit based on Voice--both how to write with it and how to use it. There might be some censorship issues based on the subject, but nothing is explicit and Anderson focuses on the effects of rape, not on the actual act itself. I would be willing to fight censorship for the right to teach this book.