Speak
Laurie Halse Anderson
Laurie Halse Anderson
• Born October 23,
1961 in Potsdam,
New York
• Laurie Beth Halse
• Wanted to be a
Doctor
• Exchange Student to
Denmark for Senior
Year
• Onondaga
Community College
for 2 Years
Laurie Halse Anderson
• Graduated from Georgetown University
in 1984 with a B.S.L.L. in Languages and
Linguistics
• Married Greg Anderson
• Had 2 Daughters – Meredith and
Stephanie
• Worked as Freelance Reporter
• Wrote as a Hobby
• 1996 First Book, Ndito Runs, Published
• Later 1996 Turkey Pox Published
Laurie Halse Anderson
• 1998 No Time For
Mother’s Day Published
• 1999 Speak Published
• Speak Won Numerous
Awards
-National Book Award
Finalist
-Printz Honor book
-Booklist “Top10 First
Novels of 1999”
• 2000 Fever 1793
Published
• 2001 The Big Cheese on
Third Street Published
• 2002 Catalyst and
Thank You, Sarah!
Published
• 2005 Prom Published
• New husband, Scot
Larrabee
• 2007 Twisted Published
Catalyst
• Set in the Same
High School as
Speak
• Features a Few
Cameo
Appearances
from Speak’s
characters
Rape
• “Rape is forced, unwanted sexual
intercourse. Rape, sometimes also called
sexual assault, can happen to both men and
women of any age."
• Teens Help
Depression
• constant feelings of
sadness, irritability, or
tension
• decreased interest or
pleasure in usual
activities or hobbies
• loss of energy, feeling
tired despite lack of
activity
• a change in appetite,
with significant weight
loss or weight gain
• a change in sleeping
patterns, such as
difficulty sleeping, early
morning awakening, or
sleeping too much
• restlessness or feeling
slowed down
• decreased ability to
make decisions or
concentrate
• feelings of worthlessness,
hopelessness, or guilt
• thoughts of suicide or
death
Setting
• Syracuse, New
York
• Late 1990’s
Characters
•
•
•
•
•
•
Melinda Sordino
Andy Evans
Rachel Bruin
Mr. Neck
Heather
Ivy
•
•
•
•
•
Mr. Freeman
Mrs. Sordino
Mr. Sordino
Nicole
David Petrakis
Conflict
• Internal
• Dealing with
Rape
• Dealing with
Depression
• External
• Harassment by
Andy Evans
• Isolation from
Entire Student
Body
• Dealing with
Parents
Themes
• Rape
• High School Cliques
• Peer Pressure
• Social Alienation
• Sexual Harrassment
• Bullying
• Dysfunctional Family
• Depression
Plot
Climax
Exposition
Denouement/
Resolution
Works Cited
• "Depression-Related Mood
Disorders." Depression.com 19972008 23 Jul 2008
<http://www.depression.com/type
s_of_depression.html>.
• Theo Black and Laurie Halse
Anderson, "Biography." Laurie Halse
Anderson. 2002. 14 Jul 2008
<http://writerlady.com/>.