Reviews with content warning for Rape - Speak

My personal goal of reading everything that Emily Carroll has illustrated led me to pick up her graphic novel interpretation of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, which was not something I’d normally choose, but I really enjoyed it. Carroll’s artwork made the emotionally heavy material easier to bear somehow- in a way it’s not far off from the spooky material that she usually presents- the same anxiety and fear is there, but directed at human physical and social interactions rather than the supernatural. And the satisfaction of having a loved protagonist find reconnection with her family and community is gratifying.

Content Warnings

maxcarrillo39's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

I didn't like it because the story felt short because it was super paced and the charcter was always sad and I was lowkey mad

Content Warnings

jegarcia30's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional sad tense 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? No

4.25

Content Warnings

thirdtimesacharm's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.25

Content Warnings

samk2u's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Content Warnings

mmuutthh's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I have not read the source novel this is based on, but this "adaptation" was brilliantly effective. As someone who chronically and nervously bites their lips, every line around the main character's mouth was felt by me. There is a theme that is presented -- very explicitly -- near the beginning, and it winds up becoming beautifully visualized and potently enriching by the end, but I couldn't help think it could have been more present in other ways more thoughtout the middle of the book. (Or maybe it was and I just wasn't as focused on it when it wasn't literally being commented on in the text or visually.)

But yes, I loved the book -- as messy and complicated as it is to say that about a book revolving around the topic of sexual assault. My only other slight criticism is there's moments where it feels like the book was made to be printed in color, and there's some real contrast issues between some of the text and the art.

Content Warnings

More...