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.
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"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)
“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" 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" 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" One of my favourite YA books. "
— Davinia, 2/4/2014" 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" I think every teen girl should read this. Extraordinarry read. "
— Clary, 1/21/2014" 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" 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" 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" I thought it was a little slow moving and anticlimactic but a fast read. "
— Janice, 12/27/2013" I liked it because it was a fast read. I am able to speak about this to people. "
— Kim, 7/8/2013" 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" 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" A quick read, straightforward plot, interesting main character. Good teenage novel "
— Denny, 4/26/2013" 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" 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" 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" It was a really good book and the ending was not what I expected it to be "
— melody, 3/28/2012" Read this for my adolescent lit class. Pretty predictable, but it had a unique narrative style. I enjoyed reading it. "
— Stacy, 1/29/2012" If you are a secondary english teacher, it is a definite for the classroom. "
— Sherri, 8/14/2011" 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" Very depressing book that should never be spoken of again. "
— Ivan, 5/23/2011" i loved this book and i believe it is time for a re-read. "
— Leah, 5/22/2011" 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" 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" 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" 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" Every teenage girl should read this book. "
— Kay, 5/19/2011" 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" 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" 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" 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, 5/16/2011Laurie 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.
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.