Speak

Rating:
Summary: REAL!
Review: This is the first book by Anderson that I've read and I will follow this author's work very closely now! My favorite aspect of "Speak" is that it is REAL! Anderson is incredibly adept at capturing the teenager/high school experience. You don't get teenagers speaking like their 30 or 10 but acting their age and experiencing the confusion and problems that go along with being a teenager. I also like how Anderson conveys how "PC" our society has gotten and subtly infuses references to the power of the schoolboard to control students' lives especially in regards to censorship. Standing O for this work and author!

Rating:
Summary: what a book!
Review: The first time I came upon this book was about a month ago. I was on my way to a concert and my friend was reading it. Judging from the cover it looked interesting. She read a paragraph or two and right away I was drawn to it. After Christmas I went to the bookstore and purchased it. While reading it, it kept me engrossed and there wasn't a dull moment. I liked Anderson's style of writing because it is different than any other authors. There was a lot of humor incorporated in it as well. I could totally tell where the main character was coming from in her situation. Without any true friends going into her freshman year, I can see where she would feel like a teenage outcast. Not a hard book to understand, this novel is good for all teens. This book really says something about the hard times teens can have when something in their life isn't going well. All my other friends that have also read the book said it was excellent. I can see why, Anderson's book was a National Book Award finalist. Whether your old or young, I recommend this book to anyone. I defiantly give it a five.

Rating:
Summary: Speak was an excellent book!!
Review: The book speak was a very good book. It related to alot of kids you wonder about at school. It makes you think twice about what others are thinking at school. It makes you want to help and wish kids could only know. This book im sure relates to alot of kids at my school even though I don't know who. Seak was a great book that I couldn't put down. At times it made you real sad, but at other times it made you feel good. This was the best book I've read in a while and would love to read it again!

Rating:
Summary: Truely the best book I've ever read
Review: "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson is truly one of the best books I've ever read. I discovered the book in my high school library, where the first few pages instantly grabbed my attention. I had to get a copy of my own- this book brought tears to my eye's. Reading about Melinda's torturous ninth grade year, learning what REALLY happened and how she was treated just brought a rush of emotion over me. To top it off, it's happy ending only made it better. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. A++++++++

Rating:
Summary: Speak speaks to me
Review: "Speak" is one of my favourite books. Most books about rape talks about the stalking and the stuff beforehand. This is the only one that talks about the horrible aftereffects of it. Melinda's closet is a good setting and stuff... and her views on people such as Todd Ryder and Hairwoman and the popular clique and the Cheerleaders are very funny and, even though I thought the Martha storyline was stupid, the Eurotrash one was quite interesting.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Book !!!!
Review: Oh my gosh! This must be the best book I've read! I read it in 2 days, it was so good. The writing style is unlike any other I've read. It's so unique, but it keeps your interest throughout the whole book. The words are so powerful and the meaning gets to you. You realize how even if your life is perfect there are others who thinks life bites and you have to help those people. It shows you not to treat the outcast like she's some weird alien that has diseases, but to put yourself in her shoes and realize that all she needs is a friend. I strongly suggest that all teenagers should read this book!

Rating:
Summary: knowing the feeling
Review: Wow. First off, I found out about this book in gym class. We were learning about date-rape and watching Oprah videos and such when my gym teacher brings up this book. She's talking about how it was written about our school. (SCARY!) So I read it thinking of who the teachers might be that I know and certain areas that I probably still walk past. We're still the hornets, too. And the party still happens at the end of summer, and there's still field parties.. but this book is amazing. I loved it! The girl in it is just like us somewhere inside, when we can't talk about what's going on. I think this book encourages not just rape victims, but anyone who struggles with internal battles to speak up, no matter how hard it is. I don't mean to get all inspirational in this review but the book is great.

Rating:
Summary: amazing
Review: this book was amazing. at first i wasnt sure i wanted to read it but once i started i couldnt stop. it isnt a plain old book about high school or ...it isnt even depressing. its uplifting and about the power of speaking out and the courage of talking. its about the strength it takes to talk and the power it gives. it is also about the changes of friendships and people upon entering and leaving different stages of their lives. its about finding oneself and finding one's voice

Rating:
Summary: This book in very much like your 9th grade life.
Review: This is very interesting book and if you like reading about other people's problems then you would like this book about a young girl who goes through a lot, the summer before she starts high school. She doesn't start the school year out so well. She goes back to school and doesn't have any of her old friends and she can't understand why. She thinks she knows but it wasn't her fault, she had to do it. It's a good thing she does what she did or more could of happened at this party something happens and if she doesn't tell it's going to happen again and again. She just doesn't know how to tell anyone what happened she thinks it's her fault when it's NOT! She holds it all inside and it drives her crazy. People at school pick on her about it. She can't even talk about it with the new girl. Her parents don't even know about the summer party.

Rating:
Summary: O Wow
Review: What a book. It was so touching. I never thought she would find her voice. She was so sad, and her art was a wonderful addition to the story. You see exactly what she is going through, and you feel as if you are her. So hard.
A real accomplishment.