This article was written by Daria Melikova of Richard Montgomery High School
Trigger Warning: This book includes mentions of rape, depression, and self abuse.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is an authentically raw book that everyone should read. It’s dark, heartbreaking and distressing, but also gripping, life changing and incredibly important. Its timeless lesson of learning to find your voice but also respecting the voice of others, is one that we can all benefit from.
Melinda Sordino, the book’s narrator, is entering her first year of high school completely friendless and terribly lonely, anxious and depressed; she’s a complete outcast, suffering under the weight of her secret. Nobody, not even her supposed best friend, will talk to her, all because Melinda busted an end of a summer party by calling the cops, but not for the reason that everyone believes. This book shows how just one night utterly shattered her entire life and highlights Melinda’s struggle to overcome the turbulence and calamity of her new reality.
“I know my head isn't screwed on straight. I want to leave, transfer, warp myself to another galaxy. I want to confess everything, hand over the guilt and mistake and anger to someone else. There is a beast in my gut, I can hear it scraping away at the inside of my ribs. Even if I dump the memory, it will stay with me, staining me.” -Melinda Sordino, Speak (Laurie Halse Anderson)
Melinda struggles to accept what really happened to her on that cataclysmic summer night; and with no one to rely on for assistance and consolation, Melinda is forced to understand and attempt to resolve her consistent internal turmoil. So, as time goes by, Melinda starts to retreat into herself more and more, becoming entirely isolated, to the point where she can barely speak at all. Her academic performance plummets as she continuously skips classes and even full days of school in an attempt to avoid excruciating encounters with former friends, cruel classmates, and worst of all, her tormentor, who Melinda refers to as “IT.” Melinda’s one solace lies in her art class where she’s understood and accepted by her teacher, Mr. Freeman, and where she, incidentally, is able to finally face what happened to her through her work on an art project.
"The next time you work on your trees, don't think about trees. Think about love, or hate, or joy, or pain- whatever makes you feel something, makes your palms sweat, or your toes curl. Focus on that feeling. When people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time.” -Mr. Freeman, Speak (Laurie Halse Anderson)
Reading this book, I felt absolutely immersed in the story and incomparably sympathetic towards and concerned for Melinda; it was honestly impossible to put down from the very first word. Part of what made Speak feel so powerful and real was the honest and raw stream of consciousness that’s so distinctive of many of Laurie Halse Anderson’s books. Melinda’s narration isn’t meant to make you love her or hate her. She isn’t a perfect mold of a character but rather, she’s someone completely genuine. Anderson’s vivid imagery greatly expanded on by the countless metaphors and similes really lets the reader see into Melinda’s head. Her pain is strongly palpable yet, at the same time, her humorous wit and sarcasm shines through in a way that makes her voice so distinct, sincere and memorable.
“I just thought of a great theory that explains everything. When I went to that party, I was abducted by aliens. They have created a fake Earth and fake high school to study me and my reactions. This certainly explains cafeteria food.” -Melinda Sordino, Speak (Laurie Halse Anderson)
The best of books can teach us lessons of utmost significance and address uncomfortable topics that nonetheless need to be discussed. “Speak” teaches readers to use their voice, to speak up for themselves and others. It teaches readers to be more considerate and cautious in their judgement of others; to listen before they criticize and judge.
Moreover, Laurie Halse Anderson dedicates this book to discussing the issue of sexual violence, a topic that’s either rarely addressed or isn’t addressed in adequate ways. Speak shows how rape takes such a heavy toll on victims, it shows how traumatizing and depressive it is. The book also displays how hard and frightening it can be for a victim to speak the truth, to confess what truly happened to them, especially when nobody wants to hear it. Overall, aside from being absolutely stunningly written, the importance of this book’s message is one that can, and should, speak to everyone.
Comments