7.59k reviews for:

Speak

Laurie Halse Anderson

4.02 AVERAGE

bemyangelll's review against another edition

4.5

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

autumnallalong's review against another edition

3.0

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I bought this book in high school thinking it was about bullying, and in part it is, but that isn't the main story. For the topic, the book is actually really clean, and the main character goes through a year-long grieving cycle. I think it would be a great book to read with your high schooler (or to have on your classroom shelf) to help students know how to open up about hard things they experience.

I wish the book didn't end so quickly and talked more about Melinda's resilience.

cinmndza's review against another edition

4.0

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I'd seen this book at many bookstores, heard of it from many people who read it for school, but I really had no idea what it was about. It was one of those books I must've read about once and stored the image of the cover into the back of my mind, because when I saw it at the library, I couldn't remember anything about it, except that it was on my TBR list. So naturally, I picked it up.


This is a very quick and easy to read book (or in my case, listen to.) It starts off a bit slow, but the unknown reason to why Melinda will hardly speak, encouraged me to want to continue listening to it. As soon as I heard her mention "it" though, the mystery dissolved and I knew exactly why Melinda wouldn't speak. And why Andy Evans was the one to blame. And that kept me listening to it.


Melinda is cynical, sarcastic, depressing, angsty. I didn't like her at all. But I understood her. I can't say I could relate to her or any of the characters in this book. I could relate to the situations though, and to her feelings.


This was the first book I read written by Anderson and I liked how she tackled an important and tough issue. I currently have another one of her books on my desk, and I hope I can get to it soon enough.


I thought this book was well written, although at times it seemed a bit unrealistic. The beginning is a bit boring but it gets better towards the end and I would recommend it to anyone middle school and older.

beckolta's review against another edition

5.0

dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

dadcalves's review against another edition

5.0

emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

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This should be required reading in school; it opens up such an important conversation. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault

feral_queer69's review against another edition

hopeful

ohthebooksyoucanread's review against another edition

4.0

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I enjoyed this book and the impact it left on me.

Spoiler

Melinda is going into her freshman year. She used to have friends but that changed when she called the cops during a party over the summer. However, nobody know why and what happened except Melinda. She only had one friend the whole year and that is someone that moves in. Melinda cannot find herself or can she?

bjlchamps's review against another edition

4.25

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

yayajlyfish's review against another edition

5.0

emotional sad tense medium-paced

shemah's review against another edition

4.25

emotional sad tense