A prezi about the book speak by laurie halse anderson. Above all, laurie halse andersons speak 1999 highlights identity as a pivotal theme. See which new books our editors chose as this months favorites for kids of all. Directed by jessica sharzer the film was published in 2004 with award winning actress kristen stewart as the protagonist, melinda sordino and eric lively as the upper classmen that rapes her at end of the summer party. A film version of the same was released in 2004 which featured kristen stewart as melinda. Jan 24, 20 cover image bibliographic information anderson, l. After accidentally busting an end of summer party due to an unnamed incident, melinda is ostracized by her peers because she will not say why she called the police. One of the most well known ya books is speak by laurie halse anderson, which follows the healing process of a young girl who was raped in high school. An analysis of hyperbole in speak by laurie halse anderson. This book was the national book award finalist, best seller and print honor book. Childrens and young adult novels about challenging topics are the specialty of bestselling author laurie halse anderson. Edwards award from the american library association in 2010 for her contribution to young adult literature. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. If there is anyone in the entire galaxy i am dying to tell what really happened, its.
In 1999, anderson published what was to be her most famous book yet titled speak. She lives with her husband together with their four children. It would be fair to call laurie halse anderson s bestselling novel a tearjerker. The theme of nonverbal communication throughout the laurie halse anderson s novel speak is a metaphor for the main. The creators of sparknotes speak themes from litcharts. Im doing this for free in order to help those who want assistance while reading the text. Its fifteen years since laurie halse andersons young adult novel speak was first published.
Speak up for yourselfwe want to know what you have to say. Conformity in high school, is it better to fit in or to be different. Apr 08, 2014 its fifteen years since laurie halse andersons young adult novel speak was first published. Speak platinum edition by anderson, laurie halse and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Speak is an american independent film based on the novel written by laurie halseanderson. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in speak, which you can use to. Here is my audiobook of speak by laurie halse anderson. From the first moment of her freshman year at merryweather high, melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She speaks for many a disenfranchised teenager while demonstrating the importance of speaking up for oneself.
In laurie halse anderson s powerful novel, an utterly believable heroine with a bitterly ironic voice delivers a blow to the hypocritical world of high school. Speak kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. Speak, laurie halse anderson speak is book about a young girl who loses her voice after being raped and slowly gains it back over time. Two of her books, speak and chains, were national book award finalists. Melindas only friend is heather, a new student, who tries to get melinda involved in. You will have time to get to your class before the bell rings. Mascot power of the human voice in speak by laurie halse anderson, the mascot of merryweather high kept changing. Laurie halse anderson is the new york timesbestselling author who writes for all ages.
Melindas connection to a mentor, her artistic creations, and. The students spoke up and said they were proud of their hornet selves. Speak has earned national attention and received the following honors. Laurie woke up one night when she heard a girl crying hysterically. The critically acclaimed, awardwinning, modern classic speak is now a stunning graphic novel. Laurie halse anderson is an american writer, known for childrens and young adult novels. Because of the rape situation, melinda was very shy and selfconscious. Her constant need to sleep, her selfmutilation, her depression are all symptoms of the deep sadness she feels. Throughout the book, melinda finds it harder and harder to speak. Need help on themes in laurie halse andersons speak. Thats exactly what melinda sordino went through in speak, a novel full of loss and depression, but also a message that author laurie halse anderson wants us to know. Every year several books are challenged and banned across the nation by individuals and organizations who believe the content of the books is inappropriate. Speak by laurie halse anderson is multiple awardwinning books, but it is also listed by the american library association as one of the top 100 books challenged between 20002009.
Book summary over the summer, she and her friends went to a party and melinda ended up calling the police, causing her friends and everyone at the party to socially reject her. Melinda, a high school freshman, is the protagonist in laurie halse andersons speak. Books similar to speak meet your next favorite book. Laurie has a past of frequent nightmares as a child. Speak is an american independent film based on the novel written by laurie halse anderson. National book award finalist, printz honor medal, booklists top 10 first novels of 1999, society of childrens book writers and illustrators golden kite, l. After accidentally busting an end of summer party due to an unnamed incident, melinda is ostracized by her. Melinda, a high school freshman, is the protagonist in laurie halse anderson s speak.
From the first moment of her freshman year at merryweather high, melinda knows this is a. Speak written by laurie halseanderson has a very interesting story about how the story was written. The main character, melinda, cuts class, steals passes from teachers, and deliberately cuts herself. Speak study guide contains a biography of laurie halse anderson, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.
What doesnt kill us makes us stronger, and this couldnt be more true for the main character of the novel, speak by laurie halse anderson. Download and read online for free speak by laurie halse anderson. Comingofage novels are often novels of education and like speak they often not always. A frightening and sobering look at the cruelty and viciousness that pervade much of contemporary high school life, as real as todays headlines. Merryweather high school becomes a character in the novel. The graphic novel comes alive for new audiences and fans of the classic novel. Laurie halse andersons awardwinning, highly acclaimed, and controversial novel about a teenager who chooses not to speak rather than to give voice. She is an american based writer who is best known for her impressive work on childrens and young adult books. All the people she thought were her friends hate her. Due to her trauma and inability to tell anyone about what happened, melinda spirals into a dark depression. Mar 11, 20 speak by laurie halse anderson book trailer yalspring. The theme of nonverbal communication throughout the laurie halse andersons novel speak is. In the book speak by laurie halse anderson the main character melinda learns many things.
Melinda used to be shy but now because of big events and different people she is confident. Listen, a poem inspired by readers of speak laurie halse anderson has created a poem made up of lines from letter written to her by fans of the novel. A theme statement regarding the topic of communication in speak might be. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your. Teens face just as many issues and questions while growing up as adults do, and ya literature can.
Speak, by laurie halse anderson, enjoys the dubious distinction of making a regular appearance on the banned books circuit. Laurie halse anderson was born on 23rd of october 1961 in potsdam new york. Laurie halse anderson uses an internal voice throughout the book to show the havoc that is attacking melindas mind. Like melinda, the main character in the story, laurie halse anderson grew up in syracuse, new york. Apr 01, 2014 as always, and specifically in this reader guide, mileage for how well these books work for fans of andersons speak may vary.
Depression is the unspoken theme that defines melindas behavior for much of the novel. Speak by laurie halse anderson at the best online ebook storage. The subplot of the school mascot, meanwhile, strikes a humorous note in an otherwise unhappy section. Read this summary to follow melindas journey as she. Speak by laurie halse anderson book trailer yalspring. Melinda sordino, the star of speak, goes through intense growth over the course of the story. The summer before starting high school, she was raped by a senior student, andy evans. Eye on the tigers check out laurie in mexico, at the library, of course. From page 1 to page 198, laurie halse anderson captures every little detail that teens go through everyday like, dealing with all the cliques and becoming accepted by your peers. Relax it doesnt go towards your grade or anything, it is just for fun.
Shocked and scared, she calls the police, who break up the party and send everyone home. Complete comprehensive study guide and summary of speak by laurie halse anderson. In a stunning first novel, anderson uses keen observations and vivid imagery to pull readers into the head of an isolated teenager. Laurie halse anderson once said in an interview, ive learned that speak is not just a book about rape. What are some theme statements for speak by laurie halse.
Speak cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test. Laurie halse anderson, speak 9780142414736 youtube. The students went with it until they were the horny, horny hornets. In fact, the book was even incorporated into the school curricular across the country. From the time she was young, she enjoyed typing and pounding away on her fathers typewriter while he would read or write poetry. But the author offers real solutions to melindas pain. As in the novel melinda calls the cops, but does not report the rape. Because speak takes place within melindas mind, author laurie halse anderson is able to vividly and achingly portray the effects of isolation and loneliness upon human consciousness. Watch this video of laurie halse anderson talking about her school experiences and how she came to be a writer. May 10, 2011 in laurie halse anderson s powerful novel, an utterly believable heroine with a bitterly ironic voice delivers a blow to the hypocritical world of high school. If you are reading this than that means that you are about to take this quiz. In honor of this anniversary, and in conjunction with april being sexual. Melindas pain and ultimate hope for healing is described honestly and compassionately.
Speak by laurie halse anderson full audiobook youtube. Throughout the book, mel struggles to emerge from a cloud of depression and apathy that surrounds her, yet continually finds herself rejected and alone. Born laure beth halse in potsdam, new york in 1961, she spent her senior year in high school as an exchange student, living on a pig farm in denmark. The novels young heroine, melinda sordino, is deeply sad. Laurie halse anderson immediately establishes melindas loneliness, but also her perceptiveness. The book is about a girl, melinda, who stops speaking at school. I would recommend speak to anybody, boy or girl, from middle school to high school.
Speak themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. The theme of adolescence connects melinda to the real world. Speak by laurie halse anderson, read by mandy siegfried by. Speak by laurie halse anderson, read by mandy siegfried by prh audio published on 20150224t20. Melindas only friend is heather, a new student, who tries to get melinda involved in her schemes to gain popularity. Explore our editors picks for the best kids books of the month.
Chains also made the carnegie medal shortlist in the united kingdom. Speak, published in 1999, is a young adult novel by laurie halse anderson that tells the story of high school freshman melinda sordino. Known for tackling tough subjects with humor and sensitivity, her work has sold nearly five million copies. Laurie halse andersons powerful novel follows melinda as she relearns to talk. I have seven new note books, a skirt i hate, and a stomachache.
I would recommend this book to the age group of 1216, because the theme, to my surprise is a little bit more mature, yet its at an easier reading level. Speak by laurie halse anderson book trailer youtube. Speak was a 1999 national book award finalist for young peoples literature. This is the intro to the novel speak that i used with my 9th grade english class. As a coming of age novel, speak has a strong focus on adolescence and the. Well take this test and see, dont be discouraged you will do fine all you have to do is believe in your self. Laurie halse anderson books list of books by author. In laurie halse andersons powerful novel, an utterly believable heroine with a bitterly ironic voice delivers a blow to the hypocritical world of high school. The fact that she is an outcast makes her unhappy, but also allows her to see the truths about high school life that her peers miss. Speak, laurie halse anderson essays 770 words cram. Books to read if you like speak by laurie halse anderson. We already have a laurie halse anderson and we already have a speak. The graphic novel is hypnotizing and heartbreaking, with the kind of empowering finish that unshackles protagonist and readers alike. Free study guide for speak by laurie halse anderson.