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Speak
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Speak (1999) (edit title/settings)

by Laurie Halse Anderson (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that's not safe. Because there's something she's trying not to... read more

Summary edit see section history

This book is about a teenage girl who is starting as a freshman at Merryweather High School. Everyone who went to the party this past summer, hated her. She doesn't have any friends and she doesn't like any of her classes aside from the Art class. At the party everyone think that she ruined... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

This book is about a teenage girl who is starting as a freshman at Merryweather High School. Everyone who went to the party this past summer, hated her. She doesn't have any friends and she doesn't like any of her classes aside from the Art class. At the party everyone think that she ruined the party because she called the police, so they hate her

Characters edit see section history

  • Melinda Sordino: The protagonist, with the entire book being told from her point of view. Prior to the start of the book, something happened to Melinda at a party that caused her to lose all of her friends. Very quiet in school & disliked.
  • Rachel/Rachelle Bruin: Was an ex- best friend but they're somehow being friendly to each other now. She is cruel to Melinda for the sake of fitting in. She now associates with the exchange students, and has reestablished "her European culture" by changing her name to Rachelle.
  • Mr. Freeman: A quirky Art teacher. Often voices his opinions against the school board and lack of funding for the art program. Gives students one subject to think about throughout the year, and tells them to recreate it. Best teacher & very deep. Seems to be the only teacher who actually understands Melinda a bit.
  • David Petrakis: Boy described as "so smart he makes the teachers nervous," David teeters between aspirations of law school and of med school. He is Melinda's partner in biology and they soon become friends. Strong-willed and determined, stands up for what is right. Melinda believes he might like her.
  • Andy Evans: Known throughout Merryweather High School as a "player" and is a senior. Is described as being attractive, with many girls wishing to date him. Melinda refers to him as IT.
  • Mr. Neck: Spiteful and biased social studies teacher. Unfair to Melinda. He has a son who is having a tough time getting a job.
  • Ivy: Is a former friend of Melinda's who is very artistic.
  • Nicole: A very athletic girl, kind and has many friends. She is the kind of girl who isn't ashamed to change her bra in the locker room. She is great at every sport. Was one of Melinda's best friends.
  • Dad: Add a description of this character.
  • Nathaniel Hawthorne
  • Todd Ryder
  • Ms. Connors
  • Barbie
  • Andy Beast
  • Heather
  • Jessica Sharzer
  • Mr. Stetman
  • Picasso
  • Santa
  • Emily Briggs
  • Mom
  • Hairwoman
  • Hester
  • Meg
  • Maya Angelou
  • Jimmy
  • Ms. Keen
Show all 27 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “I am Outcast”
    Melinda Sordino
  • “"The tears dissolve the last block of ice in my throat. I feel the frozen stillness melt down through the inside of me, dripping shards of ice that vanish in a puddle of sunlight on the stained floor, words floats up"”
    Melinda
  • “I think I know what you want.”
    Andy Evans
  • “I have never heard a more eloquent silence.”
    Melinda, about David Petrakis
  • “Why does everyone make such a big hairy deal about me not talking? Maybe I don't want to incriminate myself. Maybe I don't like the sound of my voice. Maybe I don't have anything to say.”
    Melinda
  • “It's amazing anything survives.”
    Melinda
  • “Nothing good ever happens at lunch.”
    Melinda
  • “I said no.”
    Melinda
  • “Bones are heaped on the cutting board. A pot of glue boils on the stove. Bits of gray, green, and yellow roll in the burping white paste. Dad: It's supposed to be soup. Me: Dad: "It tastes a bit watery, so I kept adding thickener. I put in some corn and peas. Me: Dad:<pulling wallet from his back pocket> "Call for pizza. I'll get rid of this." I order double cheese, double mushroom. Dad buries the soup in the back yard next to our dead beagle, Ariel.”
    Dad and Melinda
  • “When people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time.”
    Mr. Freeman
  • “"Exchange students are ruining our country."”
    Melinda
  • “I have been dropped like a hot poptart on a cold kitchen floor.”
    Melinda
  • “The constitution does not recognize different classes of citizenship based on time spent living in the country. I am a citizen, with the same rights as your son, or you. As a citizen and as a student, I am protesting the tone of this lesson as racist, intolerant, and xenophobic.”
    David Petrakis
  • “"It's easier to floss with barbed wire than admit you like someone in middle school."”
    Melinda
  • “He talks about algebra the way some guys talk about their cars.”
  • “Welcome to the only class where you will learn how to survive. Welcome to Art.”
    Mr. Freeman
Show all 16 quotes from this book

Setting & Locations edit see section history

First Sentence edit see section history

"It is my first morning of high school."

Table of Contents edit see section history

1. Welcome to Merryweather High
2. Our Teachers Are the Best...
3. Spotlight
4. Sanctuary
5. Espanol
6. Home. Work.
7. Our Fearless Leader
8. Fizz Ed
9. Friends
10. Heathering
11. Burrow
12. Devils Destroy
13. Cheerleaders
14. The Opposite of Inspiration Is.... Expiration?
15. Acting
16. Dinner Theater
17. Blue Roses
18. Student Divided by Confusion Equals Algebra
19. Halloween
20. Name Name Name
21. The Marthas
22. Nightmare
23. Go ______________ (Fill in the Blanks)!
24. Closet Space
25. All Together Now
26. Job Day
27. First Amendment
28. Giving Thanks
29. Wishbone
30. Peeled and Cored
31. First Amendment, Second Verse
32. Wombats Rule!
33. Winter Break
34. Hard Labor
35. Foul
36. Coloring Outside the Lines
37. Poster Child
38. Dead Frogs
39. Model Citizen
40. Death by Algebra
41. Word Work
42. Naming the Monster
43. Rent Round 3
44. Can It
45. Dark Art
46. Death of the Wombat
47. Cold Weather and Buses
48. Escape
49. Code Breaking
50. Stunted
51. Lunch Doom
52. Conjugate This
53. Cutting Out Hearts
54. Our Lady of the Waiting Room
55. Clash of the Titans
56. Miss
57. Picasso
58. Riding Shotgun
59. Hall of Mirrors
60. Germination
61. Bologna Exile
62. Snow Day - School as Usual
63. Stupid Stupid
64. A Night to Remember
65. Exterminator
66. The Wet Season
67. Spring Break
68. Genetics
69. My Life as a Spy
70. Thin Atmosphere
71. Growing Pains
72. Gag Order
73. No Justice, No Peace
74. Advice From a Smart Mouth
75. The Beast Prowls
76. Home Sick
77. Oprah, Sally, Jessy, Jerry, and Me
78. Real Spring
79. Fault!
80. Yearbooks
81. Hairwoman No More
82. Litte Writing On the Wall
83. Prom Preparation
84. Communication 101
85. Chat Room
86. Pruning
87. Prowling
88. Postprom
89. Prey
90. Final Cut

Glossary edit see section history

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

  • Teenage Strife: Trying to overcome a horrible experience while surviving in the world and hopefully, eventually thriving in society.
  • Rape and Sexual Violence: Describe this theme.
  • The Tree: Melinda Has to draw trees for art and in the begining the tree looks dead, sick, and sad sort of like melinda but through out the book the tree looks more lifeful and at the end the trees she draws look healthy happy and alive sort of like melinda at the end of the book
  • Literary allusions to the novel: Anderson did not intend to reference To Kill A Mockingbird with the several references to mockingbirds. Other references are intended.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 60 of 100 in ALA's Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009. (authoritative list)
This book is in Tayshas List (2000). (authoritative list)
This is book 138 of 195 in Shelfari Most Popular (December 2011). (authoritative list)
This is book 143 of 195 in Shelfari Most Popular (June 2011). (authoritative list)
This is book 176 of 195 in Shelfari Most Popular (June 2010). (authoritative list)
This book is in Young Adult. (community list)
This book is in Dysfunctional Families. (community list)
This is book 156 of 194 in Shelfari Most Popular (December 2010). (authoritative list)
This book is in Bite. (community list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Laurie Halse Anderson (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Penguin Group
Country: United States of America
Publication Date: 1999
ISBN: 978-0-14-241473-6
Page Count: 198

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

With the little violence there is, you cant miss out on this life changing story.

Movie Connections edit see section history

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • The Lovely Bones
  • Lucky
  • Twisted
  • Wintergirls
  • Thirteen Reasons Why
  • The Outsiders
  • Just Listen

Books That Cite This Book edit see section history

   
  • Connecting Young Adults And Libraries

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