Speakby Laurie Halse Anderson
reviewed by Genevieve Spiotto
All Melinda Sordino wants to do is speak; yet it is the one thing she can’t seem to do. All she needs to do is let go of her feelings, tell at least one person. However, this is easier said than done. In the book Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson gives readers an opportunity to understand and even relate to what it is like to go through something horrible and not have the courage, or to just not know how, to speak about it.
Melinda Sordino is a seemingly ordinary teenager, however, after a particularly traumatizing experience with another high school student, Melinda goes into high school with a ruined reputation and a heart swarming with emotions of which she can’t seem to get a grasp. Melinda’s life is nearly turned upside down as she tries to figure out how to find someone to confide in, just let someone know so she doesn’t feel so alone.
Anderson does an excellent job of creating a young teenager who other teenagers can relate to. Melinda is very mature, and her wittiness makes the reader fall in love with her character instantly. Her outlook on life and other people give her a unique and humorous personality that makes the book very interesting. Melinda’s wanting to be accepted by others and her desire to have someone to talk to and understand her makes her a very relatable character, as most people her age deal with similar problems.
In general, Speak is a book that illustrates what it is like to feel alone when you need someone the most. At the same time, however, it offers hope and encouragement as Melinda discovers how to express her feelings and find the people who truly care about her so that she may finally have someone to speak to.
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