Speak

Product Information

Laurie Beth Halse was born October 23, 1961, [3] to Rev. Frank A. Halse Jr. and Joyce Holcomb Halse in Potsdam, New York. She grew up there with her younger sister, Lisa. As a student, she showed an early interest in writing, specifically during the second grade. Anderson enjoyed reading—especially science fiction and fantasy—as a teenager, but never envisioned herself becoming a writer. [4]

SPEAK is one of the most important books ever written for young adults. It was a first dealing with date rape, years before #MeToo . Laurie Halse Anderson captured Melinda’s quiet vulnerability and burgeoning voice with enough sarcasm to feel authentic, making Melinda’s pain even more poignant. It is easier not to say anything. Shut your trap, button your lip, can it. All that crap you hear on TV about communication and expressing feelings is a lie. Nobody really wants to hear what you have to say. We get a day off for Columbus Day. I go to Heather's house. I wanted to sleep in, but Heather "really, really, really" wanted me to come over. There's nothing on television, anyway. Heather's mom acts very excited to see me. She makes us mugs of hot chocolate to take upstairs and tries to convince Heather to invite a whole group for a sleepover. "Maybe Mellie could bring some of her friends." I don't mention the possibility that Rachel would slit my throat on her new carpet. I show my teeth like a good girl. Her mother pats my cheek. I am getting better at smiling when people expect it. Heather asks why I don't think they would let us in the musical. I sip my hot chocolate. It burns the roof of my mouth. Banned & Challenged Books (2020-09-09). "Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books: 2010-2019". Office for Intellectual Freedom. American Library Association . Retrieved 2021-05-04.The doorbell rings. My parents squabble about who will answer it. Then Mom swears and opens the door with a highpitched "Ooooh, who do we have here?" She must have handed out only one mini-chocolate bar to each creature—their thank-yous do not sound enthusiastic. The kids cut through the yard to the next house and their parents follow in the street. Melinda’ describes her workaholic mother and disinterested father. She discusses her hatred for her babyish bedroom, decorated when she was in fifth grade. In the bedroom, Melinda hides her mirror; she loathes her appearance, especially her raw, bitten lips. This story is important and strong. It's heartbreaking, but it brings to light a struggle that I personally, have never had to endure, and it's a struggle that should never leave the victim feeling powerless or ashamed or isolated. Homework is not an option. My bed is sending out serious nap rays. I can't help myself. The fluffy pillows and warm comforter are more powerful than I am. I have no choice but to snuggle under the covers. Free Book Offer soon to History Book Club members - stay tuned for details - North America offering - "for HBC members only"

Not only is the Homecoming pep rally going to spring me from algebra, it will be a great time to clean up my closet. I brought some sponges from home. No need to goof off in filth. I want to smuggle in a blanket and some potpourri, too. I sneak a peek behind me. The eyebrow telegraph is flashing fast. This guy is weird. He must see it, he must know what we are thinking. He keeps on talking. He says we will graduate knowing how to read and write because we'll spend a million hours learning how to read and write. (I could argue that point.) I make it through the first two weeks of school without a nuclear meltdown. Heather from Ohio sits with me at lunch and calls to talk about English homework. She can talk for hours. All I have to do is prop the phone against my ear and "uhhuh" occasionally while I surf the cable. Rachel and every other person I've known for nine years continue to ignore me. I'm getting bumped a lot in the halls. A few times my books were accidentally ripped from my arms and pitched to the floor. I try not to dwell on it. It has to go away eventually.

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The gym teachers have a special place in their hearts for Nicole. She shows Potential. They look at her and see future State Championships. Pay raises. One day she scored 35 goals before my team threatened to walk off the field. The gym teacher made her the referee. Not only did my team lose, but four girls went to the nurse with injuries. Nicole doesn't believe in the concept of fouling. She comes from the "play till death or maiming" school of athletics. Heather: You are so great! I owe you big time! What if I help you redecorate your room? I know, a nice seafoam green! Mom is having staff problems again. My mother manages Effert's, a clothing store downtown. Her boss offered her the branch at the mall, but she didn't want it. I think she likes watching the reaction when she says she works in the city. "Aren't you afraid?" people ask. "I would never work there in a million years." Mom loves doing the things that other people are afraid of. She could have been a snake handler. She introduces me to a bunch of pale, zitty faces. I vaguely recognize a couple; the rest must have gone to the other middle school. I curve up the corners of my mouth without biting my lips. A small step. Heather beams and hands me a pom-pom.

I hear Dad turn on the television. Clink, clink, clink—he drops ice cubes in a heavy-bottomed glass and pours in some booze. He opens the microwave—for the pizza, I guess—slams it closed, then beep-beeps the timer. I turn on my radio so he'll know I'm home. I won't take a real nap. I have this halfway place, a rest stop on the road to sleep, where I can stay for hours. I don't even need to close my eyes, just stay safe under the covers and breathe. Ooh, I just finished this and can't wait to tell you about it! As I said in my review of Speak, (the version without illustrations, the YA book that was published in 1999 by Anderson), it was a landmark moment in the history of YA, a book about (teen) rape, and it changed YA and the teaching of literature in school forever. (Yes, sexual violence had been part of literature before, but bringing to the English classroom YA on sexual violence--and to suggest it might be a daily occurrence for teens--was new). Speak is now in the canon of YA and is (still) taught everywhere. The book is surprisingly bright and funny and witty and caustic when it needs to be, and scary all the way through. It tells us some important things about the culture of schooling and sexual harassment/abuse in the hallways (especially) for girls. Trigger warnings on rape and self abuse are relevant, I'll admit that, but I hope if you can read it, you will be able to get some comfort and inspiration from it. I have kids in this house in middle school, and I hope they will all read it. Melinda often skips class using stolen late passes and doesn’t complete her homework. She finds refuge at school in a vacant janitor’s closet, which she turns into her “burrow.” At the Homecoming Rally, students bully her for being the one who called the cops that night at the party.

Mom: [creepy smile] "Thought you could put one over on us, did you, Melinda? Big high school student now, don't need to show your homework to your parents, don't need to show any failing test grades?" Melinda’s parents receive another call from the guidance counselor about her grades. After their verbal assault, Melinda goes to her room and uses an open paper clip to scrape at her wrist. Anderson won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, [27] the richest award in children's literature, with the motivation: a b Franzak, Judith; Elizabeth Noll (May 2006). "Monstrous Acts: Problematizing Violence in Young Adult Literature". Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy. 49 (8): 667–668. doi: 10.1598/jaal.49.8.3. JSTOR 40014090.

Over the course of the school year, the story of Melinda's past unfolds. She begins to admit to herself what happened and gradually stops running away from the memory of it. She still, however, remains silent. In the spring, her former best friend, Rachel, begins to date Andy Evans. Horrified by this, Melinda knows that she must warn Rachel about the danger of spending time with Andy. Melinda opens up to Rachel about the rape by exchanging notes with her in the library. Rachel is receptive until Melinda names Andy the perpetrator, at which point she angrily leaves the room. However, Rachel does, in fact, listen to Melinda's story. The next weekend, she publicly leaves and humiliates Andy at the prom.Producer and screenwriter Annie Young Frisbie read the novel and successfully made a bid to get the rights to a film version. Production took place in Columbus, Ohio because a production partner, Matthew Myers, was relocating there with his wife. I liked that the graphic novel didn't focus solely on what happened to Melinda at the party. It brought up normal high school issues, like cliques and rumors, and didn't try to romanticize the high school experience. I'm not going to lie, I went to a small private school my freshman and sophomore year of high school, so I was never subject to the kind of harsh insults that were hurled at Melinda. But girls can be downright cruel at that age (I know I had my moments of jealousy) & guys can be just as big of jerks, and I wanted to throw Heather down a trash chute !!!!! Sorry had to mention that 💁🏼