Speak

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Summary: i loved this book
Review: I think this book was fabulous. I couldn't put it down. I liked how she totally ditched heather. i want to read more books this good. -a 12 year old girl

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Summary: 9th Grader who loved this book!
Review: I really enjoyed "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson! I am in 9th grade and I chose this book for a report not really knowing what it was about. The reading was a little easy for me. I could really relate because I am in 9th grade and so is the main character. She describes her first year in high school and the author was so accurate about what high school is really about! I recommend this book to middle school students so you can get a feel of high school and I really learned a lot about this book and I really got to feel what Melinda, the main character, was going through!

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Summary: A Tormented, Realistic Portrayal of a High School Outcast
Review: At first glance, Melinda Sordino is a high school outcast, ostracized for calling the cops on an out of control party the summer before her freshman year. In cynical, depressed first person prose, Laurie Halse Anderson portrays a young girl who suddenly finds herself without friends and constantly hearing whispers behind her back. Her response is to withdraw into herself and speak as little as possible. No one knows why Melinda called the police at the party, and she doesn't tell the reader why until the last third of the book, but it is apparent that she experienced a traumatic event. Through her semi-friendship with a social-climbing new girl, and her admiration for a boy who sticks up for his beliefs, Melinda continues to become more withdrawn, her feelings only coming out in her work for her art class, the only place she feels comfortable. It is only when her former best friend starts to date a popular senior that we find out the truth, that the same senior raped Melinda at the party. It is with this development that Melinda starts coming out of her silence, and begins a slow fight back. Anderson's skilled prose gives Melinda a soul. We feel her pain and loneliness, but we do not pity her. Her voice is one of fear and confusion, but also of strength and humor. Despite the serious nature of the novel, there is humor in Melinda's voice. From descriptions of the various cliques and the incompetence of some of Melinda's teachers to her report card, on which she grades herself not only on math, gym and spanish, but also on clothes and attitude, we see school through the eyes of someone who is not a cheerleader, and it's funny. At the same time, we understand her torment, her alienation and her inability to speak about the rape. When she decides to begin to speak about her experience, we applaud her, and feel as though we have made an important journey from fear and silence to strength. Through her strong character, Anderson gives a voice to all rape victims. Melinda shows us how the elusive journey through silence, alienation and fear to fortitude and recognition of power can be made without losing a sense of humor or recognition of herself as a person.

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Summary: One of the best books..... EVER
Review: This story is really touching and It's so sad how all her friends turn on her. And i feel that the reader experiences her growth and it's an amazing story!

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Summary: Speaking the Truth
Review: When I picked up this book and began reading it, I didn't know it would change my whole outlook on school. The author does the most superb job of displaying all the deffects and downsides to what are supposed to be the best years of your life, that can make you laugh to tears. She also creates a character with a sharp wit and good eye for art, yet has personal problems of her own, that at times could make the reader cry, (in the case of the book the reader would be the only one on her side). So all in all this is definately one of the BEST books I have ever read. I think it should be requirred for all those who have ever denoted a friend with out understanding or someone who's lost their voice, to find a way to "speak".

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Summary: Great Book!
Review: This book really was a true good read! It has so much information and i love how the author starts at the bginning and makes you want to find out why! I also loved her way of writing. she pulls you into the mind oh the main character. This is also a good book for teenage girls to read becuase it deals with rape. The girl in the book may not have done the right thing but it shows another way of dealing with it and how things may end up depending on what you do. It was a great book and i read it twice! I would recomend this to anyone who likes books that are realistic! In my mind this book is on my top ten favortite books, and i will nver forget it!

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Summary: summer party gone wrong
Review: As a studnt i feel that the book overall was good. Its the story of a girl who busts a party at the end of summer. This action made her immediatly an outcast. As the school year begins she forgets that she doesnt have any friends trying to confront them in the gym she fails an they shun her. Melinda trys to explain why she called the cops but every one thinks its a lie untill "it" wants to... her agin in a janitors closet. By then the school year has ended and the who school feels sorry for her.

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Summary: Speak By: Laurie Halse Anderson
Review: Speak is about a girl (Melinda) that has had friends all her life and all of a sudden doesn't have any. She is fifteen years old and trys to cope with a tragedy that changes her life forever. No one has talked to her since she busted everyone at a birthday party when she called the cops. She never tells anyone what happened, not even her mom and dad. Everyone in school had a relative there. Melinda has never liked any teacher then all of a sudden she falls in love with her art teacher. He helps Melinda build enough courage for her to start speaking again. She enjoys drawing all the time. This is an outstanding book of a high school outcast which will hold you in suspense until the very last word. It is an emotional book, yet a mystery, because you want to find out what happened to her and who did what to her.

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Summary: Excellent Book!
Review: This book was so great! I would read this more if i had a little more extra time. I love how the author "starts at the end" She puls you in so when you read the beggining you want to read the rest of the book. And she enchants you along the way! I would make sure that everyone read this book! its excellent for teen girls becuase it tells you what to do in a situation as the one she is in! so all in all i think this book should be on the top ten books in the US its already on my top ten list in my mind!!! I will always remember this book and keep on recommending it to all my friends!

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Summary: SPEAK is a great Book!!!!
Review: "Speak" I think is an excellent book for teens. That was the only book I read where the main character was the person who all the bad things happened to. This book seems like to the reader that there talking about a real girl, because she is going through everyday teen problems in High-School. I can't believe that Melinda had to go through all that trouble and humiliation just because of one little secret. Even though the ending was very predictable I still give it 5 stars.