Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

85 reviews

emilymbrown's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

i love YA contemporary fiction. give me a traumatized 14 y/o narrating their first year of highschool?? that was me 2 years ago. i’ll take it. i’ll read it. i’ll love it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

im_just_vidu's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

If there's a word I can highly relate to, it would be "silent". I've been the quiet kid throughout my whole life. And also, the outcast. I was not the famous kid or others' favorite one. The only difference between me and Melinda was that I was the nerd and at the top of the class every time. I got good grades, and that's how people knew me. "Quiet nerd" who doesn't speak. Even now, my mom tells me to "speak". When she gets angry and scolds me, she gets tired and tells me "At least argue, so I don't feel bad". Yeah, that's how I am. So I can 100% relate to most of Melinda's story.
When you hit a new point of introversion, you kinda forget how to fight for yourself. You forget how to say "No". So when people come with a plastic smile and ask "can you do this?" you either automatically say yes or say silently that they take it as a "Yes". And that's so sad. Growing up I don't think I've ever had best friends who thought the same way as me. The friends who won't be there anymore when they don't have any use for you anymore. I'm glad that she was not bullied very hard as it happens in most cases. But sometimes not having someone to call your "friend" is also another kind of pain. A pain famous kids might not understand.
I see myself through, Melinda. When she closes a part of her brain because you don't want to feel the way she did, she forgets how to cooperate with things. I think that is what was going through with Melinda as well. And when you have really unsupportive parents who don't even care about you, that's a cherry on top. I liked this story for how relatable it is. How truthful it is.
I hope people won't force others to step out of their comfort zone just because they are quiet or weird. And also I hope everyone gets the courage to speak up for themselves.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Hate crime, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

czoltak's review against another edition

challenging dark sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

“I’ve learned that Speak is not just a book about rape. Speak is a book about depression. That is why it has resonated so deeply for so many readers. Today's teens have to cope with massive amounts of stress and conflict. Way too many of them understand the pain of not feeling like they can speak up. This book reflects their experience and offers them hope.” - Laurie Halse Anderson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

To this day, one of the most powerful and profound books I’ve ever read. It helped me back in high school when I was depressed and had no one to talk to. All these years later, it still helps whenever I’m in a funk or need the comfort of an old friend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship

ryan_rajp's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Ableism, Animal death, and Alcohol

wends_nblw's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

Loved David, everyone else not so much. A good book for teens going through similar issues. Freshman me needed this, but I read it 5 years too late LOL. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Ableism, Racism, Self harm, and Xenophobia

tomatothesoop's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

cheeseplant111's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Toxic friendship

ainemcgeheemarley's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I believe I've read this book three times. Once in 8th grade, once in 9th grade for English class, and just a couple weeks ago I picked it up and read the whole thing in one sitting. I wasn't sure how it aged-- it was written in 1999! I was blown away as to how poignant it was. Laurie Halse Anderson does an impeccable job depicting the depression and PTSD that follows a traumatic event like sexual assault. The fear and anxiety that Melinda has about sharing her story is so real, and the reader just empathizes with her. I was really, really impressed. Also-- we love you Mr. Freeman!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Self harm, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

rebecca_77's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship

mkwreads's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Eating disorder, Self harm, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Blood, and Vomit