Reviews

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

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cloned's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

3.75

Content Warnings

bantwalkers's review against another edition

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1.0

Ugg! I absolutely hated everything about this book. I think it deals with an important issue, one that should be dealt with, especially for this age group. However, this book is silly, whiny, cliched, pretentious and just plain bad. I don't recommend it at all.

elkjlen's review against another edition

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3.0

I feel like Melissa’s development is something that is slowly shown through-out this book and it was such a moving experience. This book was great, but I don’t think I’ll think about this book too much. Was a wonderful experience, but only a brief one.

strange's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

annagraceceder's review against another edition

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4.0

slow, sticky & sweet silence

jaydiebug's review against another edition

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5.0

There's a lot to talk about with this book. Laurie Halse Anderson continues to write profound and emotionally intense books, the subjects are tough but handled in such perfect ways.

This was not the first book I read of hers, but it is the book I've read and reread many times. And it still holds up each time. It still holds up, over ten years since its publication.

I felt a connection to this book that was bittersweet. The MC is terribly depressed due to a traumatic SA. While no one wishes to relate to this, the author does a wonderful job of building the world Melinda is spiraling in--it's harder not to relate. At the same time, I did find it triggering to read and live through Melinda's assualt, but also healing for myself.

This should be required reading.

Obviously this book will not be for everyone--as mentioned above it can be triggering. But the topics of consent, depression, and the coming-of-age in this book are important for everyone.