Speak

Anderson, L. (1999). Speak. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. Melinda is a high school senior who doesn't have many friends anymore.  The kids at school know that she called the police on Kyle Rodgers.  Melinda starts to neglect her school work and starts spending a lot of time in the janitor's closet.  Melinda starts to injure her body by biting her lips and nails.  When she finally tells her parents and counselor that Kyle actually raped her she feels free.  She finally opens up and starts liking school again.  At the end Melinda opens up to Mr. Freeman her art teacher.  

I would recommend this book to high school students.  I think teachers could use this book to teach students the importance of telling teachers and parents things happening in their lives.  I think this book has a great conflict.  Melinda has a big problem of keeping her secret and how it makes her feel about herself.  Also showing how keeping a problem this big can affect you.

 Laurie Halse Anderson is an award winning writer of children’s and young adult novels. Among her novels are Catalyst, Prom, and Twisted, as well as the historical novel, Fever 1793. Anderson has also published children’s books such as Turkey Pox, No Time for Mother’s Day, and The Big Cheese of Third Street.