Speak,+the+Novel

** 2009-2010 Summer Reading Selection ** Author's official website: []

Merryweather High School, home of the Trojans—not to mention the Wombats, Tigers, and Hornets—forms the not-so-welcoming backdrop for the novel [|Speak], by [|Laurie Halse Anderson]. [|Melinda], the main character, has just been thrust into her freshman year, while still reeling from a summer party that changed her life forever. Click here to read a short excerpt from YA Reviews.

More than being a story about rape, or life in high school, //Speak// is the story of Melinda. It’s the tale of her struggle, but also of her courage in the face of unimaginable hurt and pain. Not only does she win her battle against fear and silence, but she wins a permanent place in the hearts and minds of those who come to know her. She embodies hope and strength in a devastating situation that nobody, much less a teenager, should ever have to experience, and does so in a way that makes her appealing to many different kinds of readers. Melinda’s character is certainly worth getting to know, and //Speak// is a definitely a novel worth reading.

If, because of the serious topic and the use of some profanity in this first person narrative, you or your parents have any concerns about reading this novel, please contact me to consider reading one of two alternative texts, both by Thomas Friedman: [|The World is Flat]: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century and [|Hot, Flat, and Crowded]: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America.

** //Speak// by Laurie Halse Anderson ** ** Discussion Questions ** // Speak // Discussion Questions [|CyberEnglish]
 * 1) How does communication deteriorate in Melinda's family? What could each person do to improve it? 
 * 2)  Why do we sometimes not like people who are really good at things, like sports, music, art, or school? Is this fair? Are adults like this?  
 * 3)  Are we sometimes different people on the outside than we are on the inside? How? Why is this true, do you think?     Relate this topic to the characters in //Speak//.
 * 4)  Who is a "real" American? What do you think of Mr. Neck's opinion? Going by his definition, are some of you not really Americans? How does that seem to you?  
 * 5)  Why is it that people sometimes "like us" more when they can get something out of us? Are the Marthas good friends to Heather? Why or why not?  
 * 6) What should we value in other people? What qualities are important in a person? What do you usually notice first about someone? Does that matter or not? 
 * 7) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Mr. Freeman tells his class, "You must walk alone to find your soul." What does this mean? Is it true? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">
 * 8) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> Mr. Freeman also says that "art is about making mistakes and learning from them." What else is like this? Explain.  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">
 * 9) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> Mr. Freeman, again! He tells Melinda that "nothing is perfect. Flaws are interesting." He's literally talking about a drawing of tree, but what do you think he really means?  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">
 * 10) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> Melinda's father explains to her that the arborists are cutting off disease and damage to make it possible for the tree to grow again. How can the pruning of the tree be compared to Melinda's life?  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">