Speak

by Laurie Halse Anderson
F AND

Also available as an audio book - AUD F AND

Summary: At an end of the Summer party, Melinda calls the police after a traumatic, violent incident. When the kids at the party discover that Melinda was the person that called the police, she becomes a social outcast once school starts. Her freshman year becomes a nightmare. Not only does she stop talking to everyone in her life, but she has to continually face her attacker. Her only solace is her Art class where she can express her feelings and emotions through her paintings. Will she ever tell anyone about the horrible incident that has scarred her?

Thoughts: This poignant novel touched my heart. The author does an excellent job showing the pain that Melinda is going through. You desperately want her to talk to someone about her problem and share her experience so she can get some help, but she has to slowly come to this conclusion on her own.