Pages: 230
Published: March 20th 2008
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Genre: YA, Realistic Fiction
Description:
From her first moment at Merryweather High, Melinda Sordino knows she's an outcast. She busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops - a major infraction in high-school society - so her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't know glare at her. No one knows why she called the police, and she can't get out the words to explain. So she retreats into her head, where the lies and hypocrisies of high school stand in stark relief to her own silence. But it's not so comfortable in her head, either - there's something banging around in there that she doesn't want to think about. But, try as she might, it just won't go away...
Review:
Speak is a great Young Adult novel that follows a young girl, Melinda as she is trying to cope in school after a traumatic and horrible event that takes place at a summer party. As she starts high school she has no friends as they have all deserted her. Its a very emotional journey for her and really gives the readers alot of think about.
Melinda is very likable and even though her story is very dark there is still a few funny parts that just balances out the darkness and depression. I really liked Melinda from the start and even though I couldn't even imagine what she is going through I felt that Laurie is did a wonderful job with getting into Melinda's head. I liked how we get glimpses from Melinda's summer where it all happened. I had a lump in my throat when Melinda finally reveals and actually tells someone what happened to her.
I only have one negative about it and that was her friends. Well her ex-friends. Honestly if I was at a party and one of my friend phoned that police. I would automatically think they had to have reason and I wouldn't stop being friends with them. I just found this part a bit unrealistic.
Overall though. Speak is a fast read that is dark and thought provoking yet has its funny moments. I read this after I read Twisted not knowing the twisted was the follow up novel. However, the stories have nothing do with each other and can be read as stand alone novels.
This book is really good i enjoyed it alot and even though i read it already i still keep going back to read it over and over again. It is very descriptive about melinda's feelings about what happened and you feel just like she did'almost'she is a great character she goes through alot of problems including grades,social life, and forgetting that night.You have to read it i would recommend you read the book first and then watch the movie.
ReplyDeleteYou have a nice review! Here's mine: http://lorxiebookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/07/speak-by-laurie-halse-anderson.html Have a nice day!
ReplyDelete