Speak

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read
Review: Speak is funny, truthful, scary, sad -- and always a page turner. Writing is immediate.
Character's voice real, fresh and urgent. Recommend to all middle and high school students.

Rating:
Summary: The Sounds of Silence
Review: Melinda Sordino is having a hard time talking. Every time she tries, her throat swells up and closes around the words. So she's given up trying, and spends most of her time in silence. Her thoughts speak loud and clear, in a way her voice cannot, and Melinda takes refuge inside her head, where her thoughts are locked away and no one can judge them. Melinda has started her career at Merryweather High as an outcast-at the end of the summer she called the cops and busted a senior-class party that had gotten completely out of control. Melinda was present at the party, and while her reasons for doing what she did are not clear at first, the consequences are devastating. No clique at school (Melinda calls them 'clans') is willing to take her in, not even the Losers. Her one action has alienated them all and made Melinda the pariah of school society. She thinks that if maybe she just says nothing, it will all blow over and everyone will forget, but the longer she stays silent, the weirder her classmates think she is, and the more strenuously they avoid her. Bit by bit, as Melinda's fragile self-control disintegrates through a long and friendless freshman year, we come to understand the reasons for Melinda's silence, and root for her to overcome her past demons and once again, discover her voice. Speak is a must-read for anyone who loves a teenager or was once one themselves. I am a young adult librarian, and this is one of the most powerful novels, for teens or anyone, that I have ever read.

Rating:
Summary: I [am not good] at Writing Reviews so Appreciate This K?
Review: I went to the book store with a whopping 9 dollars which wasn't enough to get the book I had in mind ("Prozac Nation" or something by Camus or "The Heart is Deceitful Above all Things" but I'm digressing)so I wondered over to the young adult section because the books are a wee bit cheaper over there and I picked this up. I wanted to hate it simply because it was a young adult book and I'm quite snobby like that sometimes. I however love the way it's written. The Thanksgiving part is very worthy of my attention (and yours too, honest!) and yes some of this book did make me cry because I am an emotional spaz head like that and I have issues that have issues even though I can't personally relate to the main character in the book, but it's also really funny at times. Seriously, I had to put the book down for a few minutes to laugh. The book spans Melinda's first year of highschool and has a weepy good feeling ending. Really, you'll be inspired. Now, you should really read this book, despite my stupid review.

Rating:
Summary: For Ms.Sheilds Reading Class
Review: Speak is one of the best books i've read in a long time. It starts out with her at school. She is just starting 9th grade and she is an outcast. The only reason they tell so far is that she called the cops at a big party over the summer. During this year she keeps getting more into not speaking. She has one friend who dosent yet know what happend but soon her friend leaves her to be in a popular group. In the end they do tell what happend. This story is belivible and funny, but it also has some parts that make you feel bad for the girl. I recomened this book to all.

Rating:
Summary: A Awsome book!
Review: I read this book this summer and it has become my fav. book!! You need to read this book. if i keep writting i'll give away the story so i'll just end with this. You should read this book.

Rating:
Summary: One of those "can't-put-it-down" kinda reads...
Review: This is a story that grabs you from the beginning and keeps you hooked until the very last page. Anderson has humor thrown in unlikely places, as well as other very real emotions. She also did a brilliant job on the diary format. I normally hate books written this way, but her almost touchable character is a person everyone can relate to.

Rating:
Summary: Intense, brilliant and utterly real
Review: This is a gripping coming of age/emotional healing story about a teenage girl living through the often strange and cruel world of school. I picked it up in the bookstore, started to leaf through and found myself hooked into the story. The narrator and main character of this book tells in powerful detail what its like to be an outcast . . . and to have a painful secret that's destroying you from the inside out. I don't read many books outside the fantasy/sf genre, but this is a book I would highly reccomend whatever genre you may normally read. It's a look at the high school world that young people can identify with. It is not a sweet or happy story, instead it's a powerful mosaic of light and shadow that takes hold of you and doesn't easily let go. Find it, read it and treasure it!

Rating:
Summary: A Window into Life in High School!!!!
Review: Speak was a really wonderful novel that I really enjoyed.It gave you a picture into the life of a teenager & the hellishness of high school. This book was so beautiful because of how it portayed Melinda's life & her witty sarcasm was very remarkable for a debut novel. I didn't want to put it down & you almost felt her struggle & the end was very triumphant & touching & it made the book worthwhile.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Book For High Schools
Review: I Love this book I mean it's a sad story the Mel is so funny! like when she listed the groups of the her high school. Or the 10 top lies they tell you in high school. I mean it's sad about how all the kids treated her but she had such a funny way to look at things. READ THIS BOOK!!!! It's very very good

at least I think so!

Rating:
Summary: Good book, mysterious
Review: This book was about a girl who didn't really have any friends. No one ever really talked to her because before school started, she was at a party, and she called the police. Everyone thought she just did it to get busted, but there was a reason behind it that she didn't tell anyone. She doesn't really talk anymore, but enjoys spending time with herself in her closet. She also likes working on the art project her teacher assigned her. Towards the end, she tells people the reason for her calling the police, and people begin to understand why she did it. It was a really good book, and there's a really good lesson behind the whole plot. It was fun to read, and I think a lot of people would enjoy it.