Book review: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

"Speak," by Laurie Halse Anderson, was written in 1999 and made into a film of the same name in 2004. It follows protagonist Melinda Sordino, a high-school student who, ostracised by her peers, becomes a selective mute. Over the course of the plot, it becomes apparent that something pretty nasty has happened to Melinda, something of which her classmates have no idea. The review below details out the good and bad points of the novel.

The good elements

Use of first-person narrative
"Speak" is written in a punchy, first-person voice that manages to capture the essences of its protagonist Melinda. The book is crammed with good lines - e.g. "It's easier to floss with barbed wire than admit you like someone in middle school." The dialogue is well adjusted - it doesn't come across as dated, even though the book is over a decade old. It reads like a high-school student's voice. The story is balanced between some fairly dark stuff - such as Melinda's "incident" with Andy Evans - but also contains elements of humour. Furthermore, the fact that Melinda gets a happy ending helps to cement enjoyment of the book - a welcome change from the current trend in the literary mainstream which is towards the dark and profoundly sad. "Speak" has plenty of that, but it focuses on saying something true as opposed to saying something shocking. The characters are well-drawn, not simply high-school stereotypes, and their interactions ring true. Overall, there is plenty for the author to be proud of.

The bad elements

Extreme reactions There are no perfect novels, and "Speak" is hardly the exception to the rule. The mysterious incident that leads to Melinda's ostracisation (she calls the cops because of it and thus ruins a party for everyone) is needlessly obscured. Furthermore, at the end of the book, when she is presented with the prospect of having a similar thing occur, her reaction is somewhat extreme. This is not to say that a woman in such a situation should or shouldn't do what she does, but the title of the book is "Speak" and not "stab-them-in-the-neck." Violence Without giving too much away, it could be said that having her main character act so violently at this point perhaps undermines the message Anderson is trying to give - which seems to be along the lines of "Speak Out." As a way for Melinda to re-empower herself, screaming and then smashing a mirror for the shards leaves something to be desired.

Conclusion

Overall, Speak is worth reading. Despite a few quibbles, the story is well written and the characters well realised. Those looking for more information should check out the author's website at Madwomanintheforest.com(young adult speak).
Enjoy!