Speak

Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak. New York, NY: Penguin.

Summary

Melina Sordino is having a tough time in high school. The freshmen seems to have lost her friends that she has had since elementary school over the summer.  It seems the whole school is against her because of something that happened over the summer. Melinda meets a new student, Heather. They begin to hang out but soon Heather ditches her to become part of the clique The Marthas. All of these isolation plus an unknown trauma, and disinterested parents are the cause for Melinda to become a selective mute much to her parents' frustration.  A abandoned janitorial closet becomes her refuge and she begins to find her voice as she tries to complete her art project "Tree".  When Andy Evans, a character we find out raped her earlier, attacks her again in her hiding place, she fights back and gets help from the lacrosse team.  At the end of the book, she finds her voice and feels comfortable enough to tell her story.

Commentary

The book is rather predictable.  I was able to figure out on the bus ride in the first chapter when she mentions a party that she was probably raped.  That seems to be the go to for young females when a trauma is needed.  But the story is well written and develops nicely.  After reading the after thoughts by Laurie Anderson I began to see why rape is a common theme for young female characters.  Sexual assault is prevalent in the lives of young girls in the 21st century. Laurie wrote about all the letters she got from girls saying that they were raped or attacked.  It is a shame that our girls are still having to face this. However it is nice that so many found this book something that helped expressed the confusion and hurt they were feeling inside.  It is a very quick read and doesn't try to go to deep into theory. It is just a girl telling her story of the immediate aftermath after she is attacked.  Many victims go through the stages of shock, self-blame, depression, and anger.

Connections

Connections
Finding your voice is a common theme in YA literature. That is why Speak is such an appropriate title.  Of course it works literally, because Melinda will not speak after her attack. But it also comes in to play with what is going on inside of her. She was silent during her attack and didn't speak up.  She was silent after attack and didn't speak to the 911 operator. She is trying to find her voice when it comes to friendships and speaking up for herself against difficult teachers.  All around her it appears others do not have a problem making their voice heard but Melinda does.