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Speak Audiobook, by Laurie Halse Anderson Play Audiobook Sample

Speak Audiobook

Speak Audiobook, by Laurie Halse Anderson Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Mandy Siegfried Publisher: Listening Library Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 3.83 hours at 1.5x Speed 2.88 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: January 2007 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9780739355961

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

19

Longest Chapter Length:

32:38 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

23 seconds

Average Chapter Length:

18:19 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

28

Other Audiobooks Written by Laurie Halse Anderson: > View All...

Publisher 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. She retreats into her head, where the lies and hypocrisies of high school stand in stark relief to her own silence, making her all the more mute. 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. Try as she might to avoid it, it won't go away, until there is a painful confrontation. Once that happens, she can't be silent — she must speak the truth.

In this powerful audiobook, an utterly believable, bitterly ironic heroine speaks for many a disenfranchised teenager while learning that, although it's hard to speak up for yourself, keeping your mouth shut is worse.

Download and start listening now!

"Well written. I believe this is a book, though fictional, that can reach across lines to speak to anyone. I never encountered this circumstance (I'm trying to keep from spoiling the end), but I've known several healed from its grasp. How brave you were to also 'speak'. Great book!"

— Jaime (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “In a stunning first novel, Anderson uses keen observations and vivid imagery to pull readers into the head of an isolated teenager…Yet Anderson infuses the narrative with a wit that sustains the heroine through her pain and holds readers’ empathy…But the book’s overall gritty realism and Melinda’s hard-won metamorphosis will leave readers touched and inspired.”

    — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
  • “An uncannily funny book even as it plumbs the darkness, Speak will hold readers from first word to last.”

    — Horn Book (starred review)
  • “Anderson’s words often seem gleaned directly from a confused teenager’s soul.”

    — AudioFile
  • “Melinda’s pain is palpable, and readers will totally empathize with her. This is a compelling book, with sharp, crisp writing that draws readers in, engulfing them in the story.”

    — School Library Journal
  • “Melinda’s voice is distinct, unusual, and very real as she recounts her past and present experiences in bitterly ironic, occasionally even amusing vignettes…Melinda’s sarcastic wit, honesty, and courage make her a memorable character whose ultimate triumph will inspire and empower readers.”

    — Booklist
  • “A story told with acute insight, acid wit, and affecting prose.”

    — Library Journal
  • “A frightening and sobering look at the cruelty and viciousness that pervade much of contemporary high school life, as real as today’s headlines…The plot is gripping and the characters are powerfully drawn…A novel that will be hard for readers to forget.”

    — Kirkus Reviews

Awards

  • A 2000 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book
  • A 1999 Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist for Young Adult Fiction
  • A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
  • A Booklist Top 10 First Novel
  • A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
  • A 2000 Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominee for Best Young Adult Novel
  • A 1999 National Book Award Finalist
  • Winner of Printz Honors, 2000

Speak Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.84375 out of 53.84375 out of 53.84375 out of 53.84375 out of 53.84375 out of 5 (3.84)
5 Stars: 12
4 Stars: 9
3 Stars: 7
2 Stars: 2
1 Stars: 2
Narration: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 (5.00)
5 Stars: 1
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 (5.00)
5 Stars: 1
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — Jamie Foster, 2/17/2019
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I saw the movie. And I think the movie was better but that is probably because I saw the movie first the book was amazing! "

    — Katie, 2/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I think Laurie Halse Anderson went to my high school and spied on all of us. It's unnerving how perfectly she captured the pain and confusion of finding yourself in a sea of high school. "

    — Leah, 2/14/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " One of my favourite YA books. "

    — Davinia, 2/4/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Boring in the beginning up until the end, unrealistic view of high school, and over dramatic story of rape. I did not like this book much at all. I only kept reading to see what happened at the end. I like books I can relate to. This one did nothing for me. "

    — Emily, 1/23/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I think every teen girl should read this. Extraordinarry read. "

    — Clary, 1/21/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I thought this book was good, but it wasn't one of my favorites. It was about a girl named Melinda, who lost all her friends right before starting her freshman year of high school. It happened because of a party in the summer that she called the cops at. But she called it for a different reason then everybody thought. She got raped at the party and didn't tell anyone. She didn't have any friends the whole year until the very end, when she finally spoke up about it. I recommend this book to teenagers because it shows that if something bad is happening to you, you should tell someone right away and not wait. "

    — Anna, 1/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I will let this book speak for itself (pun intended). An incredible story that gives its readers the courage to speak up. "

    — Sarah, 1/14/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Amazing connection to the girls that have gone through this. All you want to do is read for hours to know what happens next. One of my favorite books. "

    — Brendaliz, 1/13/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I thought it was a little slow moving and anticlimactic but a fast read. "

    — Janice, 12/27/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I liked it because it was a fast read. I am able to speak about this to people. "

    — Kim, 7/8/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This is difficult to read....I'm glad I stuck with it! I want all 3 of our kids to read this as soon as they hit High School. Watched the movie after I read the book, they did a good job of capturing the feeling of the book. "

    — lori, 6/13/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Sad, but liberating. We got to watch Melinda come to terms with herself & learn to cut out the dead parts of her to let the new life grow. Well written & chock full of symbolism (as well as references to not caring about symbolism... nice touch, I guess) "

    — Emma, 5/9/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A quick read, straightforward plot, interesting main character. Good teenage novel "

    — Denny, 4/26/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " too much talk in the book the only reason why i think people should reasd it because of the acctualy story line "

    — Dejah, 4/20/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I read this at a pivotal time of teenagedom. A time where I did not read often. I read it in one night. It opened my eyes in so many ways and I am grateful for the words I read and what they taught me. "

    — Rachel, 4/13/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " It was really good just not really the kind of book I would usually read. I like Melindas sarcasm throughout the book and how the characters portrayed "

    — Alexis, 4/2/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " It was a really good book and the ending was not what I expected it to be "

    — melody, 3/28/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Read this for my adolescent lit class. Pretty predictable, but it had a unique narrative style. I enjoyed reading it. "

    — Stacy, 1/29/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " If you are a secondary english teacher, it is a definite for the classroom. "

    — Sherri, 8/14/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Fantastic. Simply amazing. There is a real voice of truth to this book and no matter your high school experience, at some point you can and do relate to Melinda. "

    — Eliza, 5/23/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Very depressing book that should never be spoken of again. "

    — Ivan, 5/23/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " i loved this book and i believe it is time for a re-read. "

    — Leah, 5/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Hmm... I actually didn't have to read this book for school... shocking. However, I could never really get into it. It was a good book, well written ect. ect. Perhaps if I were to read it again today I'd feel different, but it just wouldn't be a book I would rave over. <br/> "

    — Jessica, 5/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Very interesting reading...more so for parents of young girls. Met the author, heard her read from the book and why she wrote it. "

    — Vinita, 5/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I have read this twice and seen the movie many times. Such witty writing on such a fragile topic. It captures high school in a way no other book does. "

    — Emma, 5/21/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Not as good as all the hype would make it seem. However, it is interesting and keeps you in the zone. There is nothing bad about it, nothing to complain about. Pretty good, overall. "

    — Maggiy, 5/20/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Every teenage girl should read this book. "

    — Kay, 5/19/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " So sad. Extremely suspenseful. I was on the edge of my seat the whole thing waiting for THE INCIDENT to be revealed "

    — Jessica, 5/19/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I rarely rate books with 5 stars. This one deserves every one. It's a short book with a lot to say about being a teenager in high school. "

    — Vicki, 5/18/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This is one of those powerful books. Not everyone is going to get it, but if you do, it's a power house. "

    — Zoe, 5/17/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A timeless novel about the awkwardness of adolescence and the things that really ARE life or death dramas when you're a teenager. A Breakfast Club for readers. Really enjoyed reading this despite it taking me straight back to my high school days which I'd rather forget. "

    — Brittnee, 5/16/2011

About Laurie Halse Anderson

Laurie Halse Anderson, New York Times bestselling author, writes for kids of all ages. Known for tackling tough subjects with humor and sensitivity, her work has earned numerous American Library Association and state awards. Two of her books, Speak and Chains, were National Book Award finalists. Chains also made the Carnegie Medal shortlist in the United Kingdom. She lives in northern New York, where she likes to watch the snow fall as she writes. She and her husband, Scot, plus their menagerie of critters, enjoy country living and time in the woods. When not writing or hanging out with her family, you can find her training for marathons or trying to coax tomatoes out of the rocky soil in her backyard.

About Mandy Siegfried

Mandy Siegfried has worked at theaters in New York, on and off Broadway, and around the country. Her film work includes School of Rock, Two Weeks Notice, Winter Passing, Liberty Maine, The Out-of-Towners, and St. Andrew’s Girls.