Speak

== = Speak = = by Lauri Halse Anderson =

"A lady answered the phone, 'Police, state your emergency,' and I saw my face in the window over the kitchen sink and no words came out of my mouth..."



//Speak// is a realistic fiction novel for young adults written by Laurie Halse Anderson. The novel is aimed at readers ages ten and up, but is most appropriate and relevant for teenagers. The novel captures social and personal issues that young adults may experience in middle and high school. The novel expresses the unseen social issues and the tragedies that are often not discussed in society. Furthermore, it portrays the psychological turmoil that occurs after a violent and emotional experience. With the largest part of the setting being high school, this book is a story that students can relate to their own experiences. This novel is a gateway to opening discussions about rape and can lead to student ability to adequately deal with their own experiences with sexual abuse.

The book is about the experiences of a girl named Melinda. She went to a high school party with her best friend, Rachel, the summer before her freshman year. She entered high school a social outcast and friendless because, while attending the party, she called the police. What happened at the party that caused Melinda to call 911?

Melinda rarely speaks to anyone except the reader, and she expresses her emotions through the images of a tree that she is required to draw for art class. Melinda has strong emotions that reflect her loneliness and depression as seen through her drawing descriptions. She tries to draw the tree in front of her house, as she thinks "There's a tree in front of my house just like it. I can feel the wind blow and hear the mocking bird whistling on the way back to her nest. But when I try to carve it, it looks like a dead tree, toothpicks, a child's drawing. I can't bring it to life. I'd love to give it up. Quit. But I can't think of anything else to do, so I keep chipping away at it." Her descriptions of the trees she draws are clear symbolism of her feelings.

As Melinda's depression causes her to stumble through the school year all of her grades suffer with the exception of her art class. She struggles to avoid the person whom she labels, "IT." When Melinda cannot handle school any longer, she decides to skip. "It's time for a mental health day. So conjugate this: I cut class. You cut class. He/she/it cuts class."

She struggles with making friends and dealing with the loss of friendships. There is one person that she pretends to befriend just so she could have some form of normality. Her irritation with the would-be friend encourages her to be courageous enough to stand up for herself. She begins by kicking the fake friend out of her house. This act is followed by the attempt to open up to her ex-best friend, Rachel, about what happened at the party. It is soon afterward that "IT" approaches her that she must stand up for herself. This final encounter with "IT" persuades her to speak.

Melinda's emotional growth is evident throughout the book. She learns how to deal with tragedy while developing her identity and making attachments even if she cannot admit that she has friends. Melinda is a believable character that most teenage girls could relate to. Other characters in the book, such as Mr. Freeman the Art teacher, Hair Woman the English teacher, Heather from Ohio, and David Petrakis her lab partner, are all believable and woven into the book in a realistic way.

About the Author
Laurie Halse Anderson was born in Postdam, New York on October 23, 1961. She decided to become a writer in the second grade. She won the National Book award for //Speak// and //Chains//. She attended Onondaga County Community College where she earned her associates degree. She then received her bachelors degree from Georgetown University. She worked as a reporter until publishing her first children's picture book. She continues to enjoy writing picture books, young adult fiction, young adult non-fiction, and historical fiction. The following links give more indepth information about Laurie Halse Anderson. [] [] [] [] ==

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Other books written by Laurie Halse Anderson:
Literature || Historical Thrillers || Young Readers Fiction || Young Readers Non-Fiction || Fleefenbacher Goes to School || Independent Dames || Series || Thank You Sarah! || ==
 * Young
 * Forge || Forge || The Hair of Zoe
 * Wintergirls || Fever 1793 || Vet Volunteer
 * Chains || Chains ||  ||   ||
 * Twisted ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Prom ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Catalyst ||  ||   || ﻿ ||

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Speak the Movie
About the movie: Based on the book by Laurie Halse Anderson, //Speak// released to theatures in 2004 and on DVD in 2005 stars Kristen Stewart (popular for her role in the Twilight Series movies). Those who have read the book loved how close the adaption was to the book.

The following are links that will allow you to view parts of the movie
[] __ [] __ __ [] __ __ @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajkd3RrJy1o&feature=related __ __ [] __ __ [] __ __ [] __ __ [] __ __ [] __ __ [] __


 * Laurie Halse Anderson wrote the poem, "Listen," ten years after the publishing of //Speak// and numerous response letters later.** **Many of the readers felt a connection with Melinda because they had a similar experience. Many of these letters speak of rape, molestation, or other forms of despair. Therefore, Anderson felt it was time for her readers to speak through her poem. Portions of the poem are taken from letters written to Anderson. To find out more about "Listen" click on the following link. []**

**LISTEN**
You write to us from Houston, Brooklyn, Peoria, Rye, NY, LA, DC, Everyanywhere USA to my mailbox, My Space Face Book A livejournal of bffs whispering Onehundredthousand whispers to Melinda and Me. You: I was raped, too sexually assaulted in seventh grade, tenth grade, the summer after graduation, at a party i was 16 i was 14 i was 5 and he did it for three years i loved him i didnt even know him. He was my best friends brother, my grandfather, father, mommys boyfriend, my date my cousin my coach i met him for the first time that night and� four guys took turns, and� im a boy and this happened to me, and I got pregnant I gave up my daughter for adoption did it happen to you, too? U 2? You: i wasnt raped, but my dad drinks, but i hate talking, but my brother was shot, but i am outcast, but my parents split up, but i am clanless, but we lost our house, but i have secrets - seven years of secrets and i cut myself my friends cut we all cut cut cut to let out the pain my 5-year-old cousin was raped hes beginning to act out now do you have suicidal thoughts? do you want to kill him? You: Melinda is a lot like this girl I know No shes a lot like (me) i am MelindaSarah i am MelindaRogelio i am MelindaMegan, MelindaAmber MelindaStephenTori PhillipNavdiaTiaraMateoKristin­aBeth it keeps hurting, but but but but this book cracked my shell it keeps hurting I hurt, but but your book cracked my shell. You: I cried when I read it. I laughed when I read it is that dumb? I sat with the girl� you know, that girl� I sat with her because nobody sits with her at lunch and Im a cheerleader, so there. speak changed my life cracked my shell made me think about parties gave me wings this book opened my mouth i whispered, cried rolled up my sleeves i hate talking but I am trying. You made me remember who I am. Thanks. P.S. Our class is gonna analyze this thing to death. Me: Me: Me: weeping

//Speak// addresses social issues in schools that are often overlooked. The book provides teachers with material that can help spawn conversation and bring awareness to sexual abuse. Teachers may also use the book to explain the importance of taking social action to help prevent sexual abuse in their school district.
 * Teacher Resources **

In addition to teaching important social issues to students, //Speak// is a fantastic novel for teaching literary terms such as foreshadowing and symbolism. For example, teachers may ask students how the changing seasons in the book relate to the evolution of Melinda's emotions. It would also be useful to discuss the significance of Melinda's art project.

For additional sources when discussing symbolism a teacher may want to discuss //The Awakening// by Kate Chopin. This is another novel that is excellent for teaching literature lessons about the symbolism of changing seasons and how they relate to the story's characters, however; //The Awakening// is an older novel and may be a better fit for more mature readers. "Speak" teaches the same lesson through its smooth flowing, updated, and age relevant material. ** Lesson Plans ** The following are external sites containg useful resources that a teacher may use to construct their own lesson plan:  [|Lesson plan guides from the author's website] [|Lesson Plan 1] [|Lesson Plan 2] [|Lesson Plan 3] [|Lesson Plan 4] [|Speak anticipation/reaction guide] Further resources are available at the following wesites: []

If you have experienced rape or sexual abuse, you are not alone. According to the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network, 1 in every 6 women and 1 in every 33 men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. The fact that 60% of all assaults do not get reported shows the number could be even higher. Every two minutes in the United States, someone is sexually assalted.
 * Additional Resources**

If you are being assalted, help is available. The following are phone numbers and links where you can find help. Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE Online hotline is available at [] Childhelp USA National Child **Abuse** **Hotline**: 1-800-4-A-CHILD; 24 Hours a Day

Legal Resources of Sexual Abuse can be found at the following website []