Speak

Rating:
Summary: BEST BOOK
Review: An amazing book about a girl who really needs mental help. This book will touch anyone who will read it.

Rating:
Summary: Speak
Review: This book is one of my absolute favorite books. It has a serious background, but the tone is funny. It has a lot to chew on and think about, and a lot that causes you to look at your own life in a different way. I highly recommend it for every teenage girl.

Rating:
Summary: My thoughts on the book Speak
Review: Melinda Sordino is a freshman at Marryweather High. She has no friends, and everyone hates her. Why? She busted a party by calling the cops the summer before her 9th grade year, not to break it up, but to report a rape, a rape that she was never able to tell them about. She was the victim of this unthinkable act and was hurt more than she knew right then.
As the year goes on, Melinda comes to think that saying nothing at all will dull the pain, but she can't get the awful memory out of her head.
"It's getting hard to talk. My throat is always sore, and my lips raw. Every time I try to talk to my parents or a teacher, I sputter and freeze up. What's wrong with me? It's like I have some kind of spastic laryngitis."
The only way is seems for Melinda to get her feelings out is in art class where her teacher reaches out with a helping hand to her.
Finally Melinda starts to realize that she needs to say something about what happened when her ex-best friend, Rachel, starts dating Melinda's rapist. She tries talking to her trough notes and when that doesn't work, she then talks to her in person. When Rachel finds out the truth she confronts Andy, and in the end, breaks it off with him.
Now Melinda has another problem, Andy is mad at her for telling the truth and accuses her of spreading false rumors. He attacks her again but this time Melinda finds the strength to stand up to him and show him that she is a stronger person than he thinks.
I think this book is a good way to be educated about rape and how it can affect peoples' lives. This book really teaches you to speak out about your problems, weather it be rape or not, but to tell someone because it will end up hurting you worse and for a longer time if you don't.
Ruth B.

Rating:
Summary: A Book to Remember
Review: The book "Speak" was a very helpful book to me. I really liked how the author expressed Melissa and her friend Rachel in a very descriptive way, like in this quote, "Rachel is with me in the bathroom. Edit that, Rachelle is with me in the bathroom. She has changed her name. Rachel is reclaiming her European heritage by hanging out with the foreign-exchange students. I cant believe she was my best friend." I believe that the author wanted the reader to learn more about the relationship between Melissa and Rachel, because of something occurring later on in the novel. I also liked how the author described the main plot/climax in the story because it helped me understand what Melissa was going through, like in this quote "The next thing I saw was the telephone. I stood in the middle of a drunken crowd and I called 911 because I needed help." p.136
The theme of the book "Speak" is "although its hard to speak up for yourself, keeping your mouth shut is worse." I definitely agree with this theme because if something unfamiliar has happened to you, just like in Melissa's case when she was raped, what good would keeping it to yourself be, its just going to stay with you for the rest of your life. So I believe that it's better to talk with/to someone about it, so that they can help you solve your problem and put it behind you. The theme relates to my life in a weird way because, there have been times when I would lie about something major, until my parents would find out about it, when I should have just talked to my parents about it and take the consequences like a grown up.
I would definitely recommend the book to others, if you are in for a suspenseful ride through high school and are willing to experience the pros and cons of being a teenager. I would also recommend this book to young readers over the age of 12 because I do think that while students are still in junior high they should be warned of the behaviors occuring, and what actions to take before they graduate.

Rating:
Summary: A Book to Remember
Review: The book 'Speak' was a very helpful book to me. I really liked how the author expressed Melissa and her friend Rachel in a very descriptive way, like in this quote, 'Rachel is with me in the bathroom. Edit that, Rachelle is with me in the bathroom. She has changed her name. Rachel is reclaiming her European heritage by hanging out with the foreign-exchange students. I cant believe she was my best friend.' I believe that the author wanted the reader to learn more about the relationship between Melissa and Rachel, because of something occurring later on in the novel. I also liked how the author described the main plot/climax in the story because it helped me understand what Melissa was going through, like in this quote 'The next thing I saw was the telephone. I stood in the middle of a drunken crowd and I called 911 because I needed help.' p.136
The theme of the book 'Speak' is 'although its hard to speak up for yourself, keeping your mouth shut is worse.' I definitely agree with this theme because if something unfamiliar has happened to you, just like in Melissa's case when she was raped, what good would keeping it to yourself be, its just going to stay with you for the rest of your life. So I believe that it's better to talk with/to someone about it, so that they can help you solve your problem and put it behind you. The theme relates to my life in a weird way because, there have been times when I would lie about something major, until my parents would find out about it, when I should have just talked to my parents about it and take the consequences like a grown up.
I would definitely recommend the book to others, if you are in for a suspenseful ride through high school and are willing to experience the pros and cons of being a teenager. I would also recommend this book to young readers over the age of 12 because I do think that while students are still in junior high they should be warned of the behaviors occuring, and what actions to take before they graduate.

Rating:
Summary: *~*SPEAK*~*
Review: The book speak is about a depressed 9th grade girl named Melinda Sordino. The summer before her freshman year Melinda called the police on a party she went to with her friend Rachel. Ever since then all her friends haven't spoken to her and no one in the school likes her. Melinda finds a friend, heather but who later ditches her. What no one knows is that Melinda has a secret about that night at the party, but is too afraid to tell anyone.
I thought this was a great book, that many teenagers can relate too. There's a lot of people that other kids think are weird, but this book helped you to see that they could just be going through a rough time. This book is especially good for girls who have been raped, because it can help them see that it isn't their fault and they shouldn't be afraid to tell someone.
This book is also good for guys. It shows them that rape can practically destroy a girl's life. It might make them think twice before doing something like this to someone. Plus guys can get raped too even though it may not happen very often.
Speak was very well written. It showed great symbolism through Melinda's artwork, the tree in her front yard, and the school mascot just to name a few. I would suggest this book to anyone. I think all teens can get something out of this book whether it be not to drink, about rape, or that they aren't alone and there is always someone you can talk to.

Rating:
Summary: If Only She Could Speak
Review: She was a typical teenager going through every day struggles that come when you are starting high school. She had to deal with a little more than she deserved. Her world came crashing down around her that one unforgettable summer night. The whole high school knows about it and they all ignore her without thinking twice. If you are seen talking to her, you can kiss your social life goodbye. So maybe you would have talked to her..or maybe you wouldn't have. But do any of them really know what happened? Do any of them know how Melinda really feels?

It all started one summer night. It was the biggest party of the summer and Melinda was invited. One hot night, too much to drink, and a beautiful senior boy with one thing leading to another and before you know it, Melinda is calling the cops. She crashed the party and nobody knows why. All they know is she did it and no excuse is good enough. She is not worthy to be talked to or even acknowledged. Melinda is an outcast.

To top off her school and friend problems, it seems her parents are too busy & don't care about her. You would think they would notice the sudden change in their daughter. No more phone calls or visits from friends. In fact, she not only doesnt speak to her friends, she doesn't speak to anybody. She wants to speak though. So very badly...But she is afraid. If only someone would listen.

This is a great book for people of all ages, but especially teens. It shows the struggles that they can go through and that there is help available out there. Speak is a page-turner till the end.

Rating:
Summary: The best book for teen girls ever? Something to ponder...
Review: When I first started reading this book, I thought it had no purpose or direction. This book is crammed with all kinds of methaphorical verses and similes. The end meets a clean cut, edgy resolution, and the best comes for the girl "with out a name" in highschool. If parents want to know the pressures of highschool your teenage daughter, I suggest you read this book, even with your daughter.

Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest books i have ever read!
Review: I thought this was an awesome book for all young adults. It has so many real life issues in it that are addressed from the standpoint of the age group that we are in. Melinda (our main character) has such truth about everything she says, and although it is somewhat dark humor, it is definitely amusing to read. Almost anyone who reads it can relate in one way or another to the things she says. The reader is instantly drawn into the story as Melinda starts out describing her new school year. Every character is described in complete detail, from "principal principal" to the infamous "Mr. Neck" who is really more around for the football than the teaching. As the story builds it becomes more and more apparent that there is something very wrong with Melinda, and you can't help but be compelled to find out what it is. She has a dark secret and she refuses to say anything to anyone. At first this is only a slight problem but eventually her family and her school starts to notice. Also the one friend that she could make soon leaves her. This makes Melinda's state of silence seem even more apparent. Her grades steadily fall, and the only class she seems to stay on top of is art. In one particular assignment she makes a sculpture, and her teacher comments that it shows real pain. After this Melinda slowly starts to want to tell her secret and to break her silence. I think she was more afraid of nobody listening than anything else. The story all ends on one major moment when all of Melinda's fears come together and all of the conflict followed throughout the story is suddenly put right into her face and she has the only option of speaking, to end it all, and to try and bring things back to normal.

Rating:
Summary: speak
Review: I loved this book. Laurie Halse Anderson does an excellent job with capturing a troubled teenagers life. I was so surprised when I came to the end, and really learned why her life as a freshman was so bad. Her best friends left her, she was scared and couldn't talk to anyone. If anything like that had happened to me I dont know what I would've done. I really liked how Ms. Anderson showed Melinda's life style and what she thought, also her perpesctive of IT. Highschool is full of new things and changes and I think that she captured that life extremely well. I was so drawn into this book i couldnt put it down! Im glad that it was recommend to me... if I had never heard of this book I'd definitly be missing out. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a great book!