4.47 AVERAGE

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
challenging dark sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Reading the graphic novel version of this book was like reuniting with a long-lost friend for whom I have the utmost respect. Speak was a novel I used for lit circles when I taught freshmen; I remember being a new teacher and this book being *the* YA book to get in kids' hands. This book changed the conversation about what was possible in YA. I'm glad it's being freshened up for the digital, image-oriented generation of readers we have now.

The graphic novel makes explicit what was so understated in the novel: Melinda's isolation and outcast experiences as a 9th grader. To see those lunchroom and bus insults was so much more immediate for me than (my memory of) reading them. The ending is fast, but that's ok because the struggle to speak is what this book is about. I love that it finishes with a list of resources.

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

"Let me tell you about it."

Crying in the library rn. Show me a better young adult novel and I owe you one million dollars.

Diluted into graphic novel format, this story is more amazing than ever.
dark emotional sad medium-paced
challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I don’t really have words to express how much this book resonates if you are a survivor. You truly feel seen in Speak. Thank you Laurie Anderson and Emily Carroll

Speak is such a powerful book, and this adaptation is beautifully done. The text and the images play off of each either with neither one outshining the other. It’s a really well done collaboration!