Speak

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Summary: An amazingly touching book for both young and old adults
Review: Laurie Halse Anderson has created a character, Melinda Sordino, who shall live in my heart for a very long time. Melinda's smart and funny, disturbing and yet an absolute delight. It's a book not only for young adults but for anyone who's ever been to high school and felt like a neverwas, neveris and never will be. The reader will most assuredly care deeply about this plucky young girl. Melinda Sordino can sit at my table anytime.

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Summary: 1999 National Book Award Finalist
Review: October 13, 1999 - SPEAK is cited as a National Book Award Finalist for Young Adult Literature

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Summary: Great author of children's books too!
Review: I have met Laurie and she puts a lot of feeling and compassion into her books. I can't wait to read this and will buy it for my daughter, a high school freshman! Her previous children's books have been worth reading also!

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Summary: Engrossing look at high school and at the aftermath of rape
Review: WOW. I loved this book. Melinda, a high school freshman, was raped by a popular jock at a party and called the police - but her friends (and the rest of the school) think it was just to bust up the party. Melinda spends the school year lost in a daze - she can't tell anyone, the only person in school who likes her is the new girl, her parents are never there and don't seem to like her or each other very much, and her teachers think she just has a bad attitude. Her only solace is art class, which becomes the catalyst for her telling the truth. I found myself mesmerized at the end of the book (dramatic scene involving Melinda and the rapist) and really found myself caring about this girl. Can't wait to see if Ms. Anderson writes more young adut novels.

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Summary: A Great Book! A Must Read!
Review: This book is way to good to pass up! I have read 10 + times, and every time I see something new, different, that I hadn't seen before. Laurie Anderson's best woork yet! Speak is not just about how much one event can change your life - It also speaks about the character of people in high schools these days. The cruelty, gossip, and hate that can spread so easily. The first time I read it, I read it in one night! That's how much I loved it! You feel a bit of pity of Melinda, but by the end Melinda is like a friend of yours, and your cheering her on in the end! I recommend this book greatly! Happy reading!

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Summary: Whatever you say can and will be used against you
Review: Speak is an amazing read for anyone. While it is targeted towards Young Adults, I think it would be a good book for parents to read as well. Perhaps parents could read more YA books and it might actually give them a better understanding of their own teenagers. This gives the reader a good insight into the theory that there are two sides to every story. Not only does the unspoken character have to deal with the horrid aftermath of rape pulling at her emotional soul, but she can't talk about it to anyone. Fear of rejection, peer pressure, and teen angst play a major part in this powerful coming-of-age story

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Summary: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Review: I really liked this book. I just finished it a few weeks ago, because in English we had to do literature circles and this was the book three other people and I read. I thought that the book was really good and so did two of the other people in my group they rated it 8 out of ten and 10/10 and I rated 9/10 but the other person in the group gave it 1/10. He said that all Melinda did in the book was whine about things but I don't think that's true.

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Summary: Teenage Life
Review: For the fabulous book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, i give a great recomendation. This marvelous book is an excellent read. It can relate to many teens and adults alike. Because this teen 'speaks' her mind and is very observant causing her to learn new lessons and accept new things. This book is a great resource for adolescence and also growing up. Teens can relate to the main character,Mel, all throughout the book. The same feelings, emotions, and thoughts bounce off Mel, relating to the reader. Anderson does a fantanstic job of making these emotionos and thoughts realistic. Not only can teens learn from this book, but adults can learn things from this book. Such as their influence on teens and their role in their lives. Teens always look to and judge adults and this book can help adults realize how they do this. Not only this but also to see why young adults judge or how the judge, causing the adult to better understand young adults. This book is an all around winner. It is a great book to read for anyone. I highly recomend it!!!!!!

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Summary: use your voice: SPEAK!
Review: Life isn't fair when you appear the social outcast of the 9th grade, and people either refuse to talk to you or give you the evil eye. Laurie Halse Anderson's novel Speak showed and taught so many valuable lessons. The story is one of Melinda Sordino a 9th grade girl who crashed an end of summer party by calling the cops. Everyone hates her. Her friends refuse to look at her; strangers simply stare and bow their heads. All Melinda needs is someone to talk to someone who will trust her word. Currently her words are taken as a load of crap- but the sooner someone listens to Melinda the better off everyone will be.
Melinda had her own group of friends- five of them; they were called the Nena Jeans. They had been together for nine years ever since kindergarten. So at the end of their eighth grade summer they decided to attend a senior party. Melinda's night began fun she drank her first two beers, met six new seniors and had even gotten a kiss. But when a tall jock (Andy Nevens) walked out of the crowd and took her somewhere else she followed willingly. He smelled of beer and anger but had that jock body and appearance- how could she resist? No one saw him or her until about an hour later. He came back smiling and laughing she came back with tears in her eyes- and called the police.
Ever since that night Melinda can't speak she'll say mmm... or hm... or mhm.... But anything beyond that can't come out of her mouth. She hasn't had the strength to tell anyone of what happened that night when her and a senior disappeared. No one listens to her, they don't want anything to do with her she's a social outcast- the girl who crashed the senior party. Melinda makes her way slowly and painfully throughout high school with the help of her art class, and an old janitors closet, which she has adapted to as a hiding space. Even with this as a hide away, she still needs someone to talk to.
By the third trimester Melinda has gained back one of her friends- Ivy. But her old best friend is going out with Andy Nevens. Melinda dosen't know what to do she still hasn't fully recovered, she still can't speak, how can she pull Rachel out of a bad relationship? She for the first time tells someone Rachel and Melinda have a note session but when Melinda tells Rachel she dosen't believe her and calls her a liar. It ends up with Rachel breaking up with Andy for fear of the lie being true but Rachel still dosen't know was Melinda really raped? This leads to Andy and Melinda meeting again, this time for justice to be held.
Andy after getting ditched by Rachel at prom finds Melinda in her closet at school. He tells her how much she's screwed his life for him. And then he tells her "I think it's time again"! Melinda dosen't know what to do she hasn't talked yet and is getting ready to be hurt again. She finds inner strength and screams Andy tackles her to the floor and begins his "magic". Melinda lets out another scream and falls back quietly.
This book showed me how important my voice is! Melinda couldn't speak for the longest time, and through that time she never got better. Had she used her voice maybe the story would have laid out differently. Although I do realize how hard it must have been for Melinda and that staying quiet was the easy road out she needed help. The reality of this story was amazing I hung on every word and could really relate. I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone. The deep feelings contained in the book flowed out like the tears of Melinda herself.

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Summary: Jen Rawding's Speak Review for Miss O
Review: Speak is the captivating tale of a teenage girl trying to find her voice after she was robbed of dignity last summer. The main character of the story is high-school freshman, Melinda Sordino. It is set at Merryweather High in Syracuse, New York. Melinda's troubles begin at The Party. There she met high-school senior Andy Evans. The boy who robbed her of her dignity. The boy who sewed her lips shut. The boy who raped her. When she returns to school, she faces many obstacles. People refuse to talk to her all her friends abandon you. She seeks deeper and deeper into herself. The only place she can express how she feels is Art. She spends her time trying to put feeling into her trees. This may be a metaphor for her struggle to put feeling or meaning to her own life. In fact, there is a great deal of symbolism in this novel. Trees are used to symbolize branching out or communicating. Melinda's struggle to draw trees is used to show her struggle to reach out to people and speak again. Throughout the sourse of her freshman year, Melinda becomes stronger. But her world is turned upside down again when her ex-best friend Rachel starts going out with Andy Evans. Melinda becomes plagues with internal conflicts. Should she tell Rachel? Will she believer her? Should she tell anyone? Will anyone even listen? Does she even have the strength to speak? And if they do believe her will ANdy EVans come after her again? TO find out... read the book!

I liked this book. Even if it was a tad dark i felt i could relate to Melinda. I think every teenager, especially the girls, should read this book. I give it 4 stars.