Leslie Manning's Reviews > Speak

I don't know what took me so long to review this timeless book. I won't go too far into details, as it would be easy to destroy the ending (much like the second edition, which gives away the gist of the story on the back of the book, much to my dismay.) While I am not a proponent of trigger warnings, let it be said that this book should be for young teens that are mature, and for ninth grade and up. I just finished reading it with three of my private students (summer book club, yay!) and they are rising 9th grade girls. They loved this book so much, they are telling all of their friends to read it. It came out quite a while ago, but it still holds its value. It is the story of a young girl who starts out her first day of high school knowing that all of those who used to be her friends are suddenly her enemies. Something happened during the previous summer, and Melinda (the protagonist) is to blame. But Melinda has a secret, and it festers so deeply that she hasn't the courage to talk to anyone about it. Laurie Halse Anderson, the author, shows us what it's like to hate the world because we hate ourselves, and that healing can only begin when we tell the truth to those who love us. With humor sugar coating the darkness at the heart of the story, Anderson nails the angst and snarkiness of a teenage girl so well, I would swear she was a teen herself. I think that most of us will find bits and pieces of Melinda's life in common with our own. Another classic to be read for years to come. Share it with your teens. It's totally worth it.