Speak is an award-winning novel about a young girl's inability to find the words so many young girls have a difficult time saying. I've broken the story down so that both parents and teachers can determine whether or not they will be able to successfully teach this to teens. In my opinion, it is of the most important young adult novels of our time. But don't just take my word for it, see what others have said on Goodreads.

 

Points of Interest:

 

Major Story

Minor Story

Summary

Themes and Motifs

Character Analysis

Links to Classic Literature

Personal Reaction

Classroom Application

Parental Warning

 

Major Story:

                                                                            (source: Amazon)

The book starts on the first day of high school for an observant young lady named Melinda. She details all the parts of high school life we are all too familiar with. From the layout of the cafeteria to the way schools try to give teens a sense of well-being. The entire beginning of the book reads like the diary of a teen trying to navigate the halls of high school the way prey tries to navigate the dangerous landscape surrounded by its predators. The reader knows that something bad happened over the summer from the first few chapters. Each former friend and would be mean girl imply that Melinda is the "enemy of the state" at school. Spoiler Alert: Over the Summer, Melinda was raped by a boy from her school. After calling the cops, Melinda is a social reject and ostracized by her friends and fellow students. None of whom have any idea that Melinda called the cops only after being raped.

 

Minor Story:

 

Subtext is the most important narrative of the book. There are many stories that will come out and smack you in the face with the message they want to get across to you, but here, within Speak, the author manages to introduce you to the mind and feelings of a teenage girl who is easily relatable. By having either been this young lady, made fun of this type of young lady, or heard stories about this young lady while they were in high school; Melinda is not a stranger. The way her life begins to unravel is not shocking, nor is it so extreme that it would send shock waves through the halls. It is a slow deterioration that sneaks through in the form of an inaudible whisper, a stare that lingers too long being accompanied by a teasing smile, and the continued growing silence the character displays. Silence from being told speaking is wrong and silence in hopes that someone will attempt to listen to words left unspoken. Within the subtext, the reader understands the pain of being a teenage girl who is a victim of sexual assault and verbal mockery.

 

Summary:

 

Melinda is trying to fit back in at school, but in this high school, she seems to only find people who consider her their enemy. Though she has a single friend at school, she only does so to keep up appearances and not stand out any more than she already does. Throughout the story, we see that a victim of rape is being unfairly persecuted by her fellow classmates; a majority of whom are also female. It is a male dominated school, where females are only respected if they play sports like a boy or put out easily like the cheerleaders. Melinda makes friends with Heather, a fellow outcast. Heather is desperate to fit into the scene, unlike Melinda. Melinda isolates herself while at school in hopes of avoiding old friends and trying to stay hidden from Andy, whom she refers to as "IT" throughout much the novel. 

 

Melinda begins to suffer in school, both academically and physically in harm that she inflicts on herself unknowingly. After months of suffering in silence, she finally accepts the fact that what happened to her was rape and that is is not her fault. She begins to develop a new sense of self-worth and warns an old friend to be cautious of Andy as he has begun to take a liking to her. After revealing that she was raped by Andy, people begin to take notice. Andy attempts to rape Melinda a second time in the broom closet at school Melinda finds her voice screams "no", and her classmates rush to her side, witnessing what they had been trying to ignore for months. In finding her voice, she helps many other girls, who have also been assaulted by Andy, find their voice as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                      

                                                     (Source: http://www.macteenbooks.com/)

Themes and Motifs:

 

The major themes of this story and motifs to use for students who you believe may be going through a difficult time are self-worth, acceptance, popularity, self-mutilation, art therapy, sexual assault, isolation, and self-defense.

 

Character Analysis:

 

Melinda Sorindo- The main character of the book who struggles to find her voice after being sexually assaulted at a party of the Summer before her Freshman year in high school. Throughout the book, she grows and learns to not spend her life as a victim. Deciding, rather, to defend herself and stand-up for those who have not stood up for themselves.

Andy Evans-  The charismatic high school senior who has raped Melinda and other girls in the high school. He teases Melinda throughout the year when he sees her in the halls of their school.

Heather- Melinda's only friend.  Heather is struggling to find her clique at a new school. Because Melinda is also an outcast, Heather uses her as an anchor. Their co-dependent relationship only benefits Heather. As it begins to take its toll on Melinda, Melinda begins to distance herself. 

 

Links to Classic Literature:

 

The most striking similarities in this book come from Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. It is similar in the way a female is shunned by a population of people she once felt a kinship with. there is a shame that she is marked with that is known to only a handful of other students but not spoken of. The story shows how cruel people can be instead of understanding. It is a story about how we get into a mob mentality and follow a group instead of standing up for someone who is being ostracized. In order to get students to fully apply themselves in understanding the beauty in the classic novel, it would be best to have them first start by reading this story the summer prior to entering a classroom where The Scarlet Letter will be taught. For educators, here are some other ways teachers are making The Scarlet Letter more relevant to today.

 

Personal Reaction:

 

It is so easy to read a story like this and deny yourself the truth that you, the reader, were at one point not unlike a character in this book. Whether, as a female, we were the mean girls, so quick to point a finger and call a name. Or if we were the victim of a faceless crime. To think back on how I treated girls who I had heard mumblings about and rumors of makes me feel disgusted. Some will read this book and feel for the character because they can’t imagine having to spend a year around peers who thought so little about them. Other will read it and place themselves in Melinda's shoes because they were victims of rape. I read it and felt embarrassed. I judged so many girls and never took the time to hear their side of a story. As teens, we grow up learning to pass blame and assign labels to girls like “slut” “trouble-maker”, or “whore”. And the boys grow up never learning that they have done something wrong. It's sad to say, but as teens, many of us females create monsters of men and offer unwavering support and senseless forgiveness. It sickens me and breaks my heart. This is one of, if not THE MOST IMPORTANT book for EVERY high school student! Hands down the best most relevant book in our most recent years of literature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            (Source: https://tackk.com/wm1srp)

                                           

 

Classroom Application:

 

When going over this novel, it would be wise to engage the students in a conversation about bullying and isolating other students. A dialogue also needs to be had about speaking out about sexual assault. This may actually give some students a chance to find the resources they need in order to get help outside of the classroom. 

 

Warning for Parents:

 

Because of its serious nature, parents need to be prepared to discuss rape with their children. If you are a parent having a difficult time broaching this type of conversation, you can find many resources online. Some sites specifically discuss having a conversation about rape with younger children and teens. There are additional resources available for parents like this article from CNN which discusses having the conversation with your son. Both are great resources for parents to use. I encourage you to read the book and determine whether your child is ready to handle the mature content of this book. In my opinion, this will be one of the most inspiring conversations you will ever have with your child.