Summary of Speak
Speak is the story of one young girl’s triumph over a very traumatic experience in her life. Melinda has more of a right than anyone to be nervous about starting high school. The summer prior to entering ninth grade, Melinda attends her first high school summertime party where alcohol is in abundance. Trying to fit in, she gets acquainted with a boy that will be a senior at her new school. It turns out to be Andy Evans, who is the Big Man on Campus, Mr. Popular, Mr. Jock. Unfortunately, “Mr. Perfect” rapes her. Scared and disheveled, Melinda dials 911 but cannot speak. Before she can explain what has happened, the kids at the party catch her on the phone with 911. The party is broken up by the cops and Melinda is seen as snitch.
Melinda starts her freshmen year off as an outcast. She chronicles her high
school experience about weird teachers. English teachers beware hopefully you
won’t be seen as “Hairwoman.” Her parents pressure her to bring up her grades
having no idea what has happened to the smart teenage girl they once knew in
junior high. She also chronicles her anguish as her ex-best friend, Rachel,
starts dating Andy. She finally finds herself through
art with the teacher that gave
her strength and the medium to
Speak at last. By the end of the book you are not only rooting for Melinda,
you are begging her to tell someone.
Speak Movie Trailer Speak Movie Trailer 2
Meet Laurie Halse Anderson
Laurie Halse Anderson was born on October 23, 1961 in Northern New York State. As a young girl she never dreamed she would become a published author. Anderson was interested in biology and had aspirations to become a doctor, however, her dream deflated after taking her first chemistry course. She also had a passion for foreign cultures and languages which lead her to pursue this interest at Georgetown University. She graduated in 1981 with a B.S.L.L. in Language and Linguistics, and soon after married and had children. It wasn’t until 1996 that she realized that her life-long writing hobby could actually turn a profit. She began as a free-lance reporter and was able to publish her first book, Ndito Runs and Turkey Pox that same year. Turkey Pox was actually based on her own daughter’s experience when she came home with chicken pox on Thanksgiving. Quickly following this book she then wrote No Time for Mother’s Day, which used the same characters as Turkey Pox.
Anderson’s publishing blossomed after these publications. She wrote Fever 1793 and then, one of her most famous writings, Speak in 1999. Speak is a nationally acclaimed novel and has won many awards such as being a National Book Award Finalist, Printz Honor Book, an Edgar Allan Poe award Finalist and many other outstanding awards. Other books Anderson has wrote are the Wild at Heart series (the 12th book published in 2003), The Big Cheese on Third Street, Catalyst, Thank You, Sarah!, Prom, and her newest novel Twisted.
Check out her website! http://www.writerlady.com/
