Courtney Kroner
Speak is centered on the theme of secrecy and how secrets can destroy one’s
social and personal life if he/she keeps them bottled up. The book Speak is by
Laurie Halse Anderson and was published by the Penguin Group. Speak by Laurie
Halse Anderson is a page turner that is relative to teenagers.
Speak is about a girl who is going into ninth grade in high school named Melinda
Sordino. She experienced a traumatic event last year at an end of the year party and
called the cops because of it. They ended the party and now everyone is mad at her
for it. She is excluded from all clubs, and all of her friends absolutely hate her. She
only has one friend now that she barely even likes named Heather who is later taken
control of by the Martha’s. The Martha’s are a group of happy helpers who Melinda
hates. She is alienated in school, and her home life isn’t much better. Both her
parents work, and they usually talk through Post- It notes on the refrigerator. Her
secret about why she called the cops is eating her alive inside, and she is burning to
let it out. She constantly wonders what would happen, and if it would haunt her for
the rest of her life.
The book was obviously written to entertain, but also to learn the lesson about
keeping secrets and how they can hurt you in the long run. I enjoyed reading it, and
it was very hard to put it down to go to bed. I personally don’t enjoy reading, but I
found Speak to be very interesting. The author used Melinda’s story to convey the
effects of secrecy. She displayed this theme by keeping Melinda’s secret away from
everyone in her life, which has alienated her from the other teens and clubs in her
school. There is a recurrent image of Melinda’s classmates laughing at her, talking
about her behind her back, and excluding her from all social activities and
opportunities. In the beginning of the book, when Melinda was walking into the
auditorium for freshman orientation, Melinda hears her old best friend, Rachel
Bruin, laughing with her friends about her behind her back. She turns around to see
if they would stop, but instead Rachel mouthed the words, “I hate you,” and turned
around to her friends to laugh some more about Melinda. This was an effective
experience that displays the true effects of Melinda’s alienation in school. The
author uses vivid language and metaphorical statements to help display the true
feelings and effects the secret has on Melinda and everyone she interacts with. This
was an entertaining book that I would recommend to anybody. Those who feel they
are outcasts would like this book. Also, if you enjoy other books by Laurie Halse
Anderson, or if you are just looking for a pleasurable book to read.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson was entertaining and relative to all teens. The
author uses vivid language in this book to display the recurrent theme of how
secrets can harm you if you keep them inside of you. It is recommended to all
outcasts or if you are looking for an appealing book that you won’t be able to put
down. If you don’t enjoy reading, then this is a book that will change your mind.