Speak

The Bookworm says...Yes! Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson was a wonderfully powerful book. The summer before ninth grade, Melinda went to a party. A big high school party her ex-bestfriend's brother got them into. When some bad things happened, Melinda called the cops, getting a lot of people in serious trouble. Everyone instantly hated her. She had no friends left. Her parents argue. All the time. The janitors closet she transformed into a little room is the only safe place at school. Her only friend is the new girl Heather. Heather turns on Melinda and the boy from the party invades her closet. She is almost done when the girls lacrosse team runs into the closet and saves Melinda's...life. Finally, the end of the year has come. Only three more years until she can get out of this school, and get out of this town. 

Speak is a great book. It tackles hard issues with much humor. It is a great way to encourage teenagers to... Well...Speak. Thank you, Laurie Halse Anderson, for giving this gift to our generation.