Speak (Audio Book)

* Bibliographic information
Anderson, L. H. Speak. Random House Audio Publishing Group, 2000. ISBN 1-4000-8998-0. Read by Mandy Siegfried.

-National Book Award Finalist
-Winner of the Michael L. Printz award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature by the American Library Association.
-New York Times Bestseller
-Booklist “Top 10 First Novels of 1999”


* Plot Summary
Melinda thought her first year in high school would be great, especially when an older boy started talking to her at a summer party before the school year started. She had no idea that moment would change her life forever. After being raped, Melinda called the cops but never spoke about the incident. She entered high school as the girl who called the cops on a great party. Melinda loses all of her friends and her life; she shuts down and stops talking; except for a few words here and there. Meanwhile, one of her friends from junior high starts dating the boy who assaulted her. This motivates Melinda to finally face what happened and talk about it. Throughout the book people try to get Melinda to speak but she never does, not until she deals with what happened and decides to get past it.


* Critical Evaluation
This is an amazing story told through a very lonely teenager. Throughout the story she will not speak no matter how much people want her to. This aspect of the story is really brought to life with the audio book format. Mandy Siegfried captures the essence of a young adult who has gone through something horrendous all by herself. The reader feels for Melinda; the writing is spot on. The author lets us into Melinda’s head; allowing us to see the real damage of the events leading up to this point in her life. Anderson knows how teenagers think, that is why this character’s is so important for young adults to read. What happened to Melinda could, and has, happened to so many young girls; the story is extremely relevant and important. After reading a bit of the book and listening to all of the audio book it was apparent that the reading of the audio book aided in the character’s telling of situations. Seeing the blank spaces where Melinda said nothing was not as powerful as the reader saying, “Me, ‘silence’” every time Melinda was supposed to respond to someone talking to her. The absence of words can only be imagined but having a reader clearly display what is occurring makes it more real and more personal.



* Reader’s Annotation
Melinda experienced something horrible and lost all her friends in the same night. She now stays silent; refusing to speak.


* Information about the author
Anderson grew up in Northern New York but now lives in Central New York with her second husband. She has two daughters from her first marriage and a German Shepherd. She likes to run marathons and hike in her spare time. In her young adult years she worked on a pig farm, then a dairy farm which made her become a vegetarian. She graduated from Georgetown University in 1984 with a B.S.L.L in Language and Linguistics. Anderson has written many books, and was in the midst of writing Fever 1793 when she took a break and wrote the award winning Speak in 1999. Speak has been used in high school curriculums throughout the country. For more information about the author, check out her website: http://www.writerlady.com/


* Genre
Teen Fiction; Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Issues


* Curriculum Ties, if any
English:
According to the English–Language Arts Content Standards for California Public Schools, found at http://curriculum.suhsd.k12.ca.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=66, this book would tie into the Literary Response and Analysis part of the curriculum, the student must “Analyze interactions between main and subordinate characters in a literary text (e.g., internal and external conflicts, motivations, relationships, influences) and explain the way those interactions affect the plot” (p.57). The interactions in this book are so important to the entire story and the plot is one that many teenagers should be familiar with, if they are not already. The event that takes place which causes Melinda to choose silence happens so often and in many cases is never reported. Students need to be aware of this issue; this book is a great way to address it.



* Booktalking Ideas
1) Talk about Melinda’s scabbed lips and what that says about her internal turmoil.
2) Why do you think Ivy finally decides to talk to Melinda?
3) Discuss Melinda’s silence and how things would be different if she had spoken sooner.
4) Look at the difference between the characters, Melinda and David Petrakis, why does Melinda grow feelings for him?



* Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 8 and up/ 14 and up



* Challenge Issues and Defense
Challenge Issues: rape, sexual harassment, bullying, and violence.

Defense ideas:
1) Ask the patron about the book and issue in question and find out how much they know about the book.
2) Help the patron become more familiar with the book and its content.
3) Show the patron positive reviews for this book, such as ones found on amazon.com; School Library Journal and Library Journal, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/073933672X/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books.
4) If available, introduce the patron to people who have read it in the library or tell the patron what you thought of the book if you have read it.
5) Show the patron the collection development policy for that particular library. For example, the one for the San Diego County library, http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.41_material-selection.pdf
6) If they still want to file a grievance about the book begin the necessary paperwork by giving them the forms they need to fill out. In the San Diego County system, the grievance will then go to The Challenged Materials Team. If the committee cannot resolve the issue, it then goes to the County Library Director for a final decision. http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.34_intellectual_freedom.pdf


* Why did you include this book in your titles you selected?
This book was a no brainer for this collection of titles. Looking at young adult literature there need to be stories that address important issues among teens. This book talks about a very important issue that is often unreported, as in the book, and does it through a very relatable character. Melinda is very witty; her point of view although sad, is still fun to read. The way she dissects high school gives teens even more to relate too. Anyone who has ever been to high school will appreciate Melinda’s lists of “Lies They Tell You in High School”. The character is very well written; teens will listen to what she has to say even if she chooses not to say it out loud.