Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak, NY: Penguin.
Summary
According to her high school, Melinda is a snitch. At least she was when she called the cops and busted up the party. But what her high school classmates don't know is that Melinda, the quiet girl who is a social pariah, the silent girl who escapes in art class, has a dark secret that she is trying to face. Despite her sullen, practically "emo" view, of high school, Melinda still goes and faces her difficult world every single day, despite knowing her assailant is still around: an upperclass guy who is still very a problem for Melinda.
A Teacher's Perspective
I don't know why, but I wasn't expecting this reaction to Speak. I went in blind, didn't read the blurb on the back, and honestly wasn't even aware that this was about a girl's difficulties after being raped. It wasn't what I thought it would be. It was much more. I can completely understand why this book is often banned, because many people don't want to face the reality of what goes on at a high school party, or how often this situations happen, or even how the negative side-effects can go much deeper than anyone could understand. Anderson captures high school with such raw and real emotion, which almost makes one feel like they're really walking the halls with Melinda, facing what she faces with her. I highly recommend this book for those mature enough to handle the situations within.
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Here is a short interview snip of Anderson discussing her book:
If you would like to view the Showtime movie featuring Kristen Stewart:
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