Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - Speak: The Graphic Novel

Speak is a book that everyone should read and no one should have to. It's dark and intense and a beautifully done portrayal of adolescent trauma. You connect with the main character, you want to reach through the pages to encourage her, and ultimately you cry with her. I will definitely be reading the full length version of this as well.

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the_embodiment_of_chaos's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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travelseatsreads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I'd seen Speak: The Graphic Novel recommended by dublinbookmum and despite not knowing a thing about it, knew immediately it was a graphic novel I needed to read. The book was originally published as a young adult novel in 1999 and adapted to a graphic novel in 2018. I can honestly say the combination of both the words from Laurie Halse Anderson and artwork from Emily Carroll is one of the most beautifully devastating, haunting and powerful I think I will ever read.

There is not too much I want to say about this book as I really want everyone who reads this to pick it up and experience it for themselves. This graphic novel is something very special and really goes to prove that the genre can be so meaningful and worthwhile.

Within these pages both women's talents combine to convey the sheer breathtaking level of damage that sexual violence has across every aspect of a persons life. The pervading noxious nature of the trauma and damage lingers and crawls through every page within the most striking art work. There are so many points within this graphic novel where I had to put it down and just sit with the intense feelings of rage and devastation it brought and for a book to do that really is something spectacular.

While being an absolutely gut-wrenching read, Speak isn't without hope and really shows the continuous ever changing journey a person goes through after experiencing sexual violence. It is a book I truly believe should be put into everyone's hands in the hope of someday broadening the discussions and understanding of sexual violence and it's impact.

I borrowed this from the library and will be ordering a copy to keep on my shelf, it's something I never do with graphic novels but this is simply so much more. I also hope to read the original novel and Laurie Halse Anderson's memoir Shout in the near future.

Content Warnings