Product Description

A powerful novel with a believable, bitterly ironic teenage heroine, following her through her first year at high school, from outcast to acceptance.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #527113 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 198 pages

THE SCOTSMAN
'Highly recommended.'

From the Publisher
KEY REVIEWS
A stunning first novel... Anderson infuses the narrative with a wit that sustains the heroine through her pain and holds readers' empathy. The book's overall gritty realism and Melinda's hard-won metamorphosis will leave readers touched and inspired. - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Nails the high school experience cold. An uncannily funny book even as it plumbs the darkness, Speak will hold readers from first word to last. - THE HORN BOOK

The plot is gripping and the characters are powerfully drawn, but it is its raw and unvarnished look at the dynamics of the high school experience that makes this a novel that will be hard for readers to forget. - KIRKUS REVIEWS

'Strong and searching novels that cover very difficult scenarios...The humanity of the protagonist really shines through in the expert characterisation and writing, making these novels really challenge the reader's empathy. I would strongly recommend these stark and thought provoking titles.' - The Bookseller, 13th April 2001

'Anderson has produced an outstanding book which invites the reader's admiration and empathy … The power of Speak to evoke a positive response in spite of harrowing realism lies in Anderson's poetic prose and witty first person narration.' - BfK, July 2001

'Highly recommended.' - THE SCOTSMAN

About the Author
Laurie Halse Anderson grew up in Syracuse, New York, and now lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two daughters. The author of three picture books published in the States, Speak was her first novel. Widely reviewed, it was a National Book Award finalist in the States, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year.

Customer Reviews

All teens should read this!
I saw the movie first but i wish i'd read the book beforehand. It transcribes well to the screen but the book is so much better!

10/10

An amazing book
I think this is the best book you'll ever read. It's about Melinda Sordino, a girl who's just started high school. Her old friends can't stand her because she called the police at an end-of-summer party, but they haven't even tried to find out why. Her parents are barely involved in her life and Melinda just doesn't speak to anyone. Her only friend is a new girl who is using her until she can join another group, and the only class she does well in is Art, where her teacher encourages her to speak up. This book is impossible to put down. Even though it can be depressing, her descriptions of idiot teachers and high school cliques will really make you laugh, and it keeps you gripped until the very last page.
Reviewed by britishfairyprincess

A very good Book
I am one of these persons, who had to read the book "Speak" for school, but I liked it very much. I think Laurie Halse Anderson did her job very well, so good that you can exactly feel like Melinda, the main character in the book.
The first pages were very complicated to read because you can't really understand what happened but if you read more and more pages, the book becomes so interesting that you won't put it away so the one or other night becomes very short.
I think the book tells more than just the story of Melinda, you begin to think about the reasons why some people are outsiders and you see that you sometimes don't know the real reason.
So, all in all I think everybody, who likes to read books about people with social problems, should read "Speak".