Speak a thought provoking book
Teenagers! The immediate response is often rolled eyes. These are the turbulent years that bridge the gap between childhood and adult maturity. Not only are there critical physical changes, but emotional and mental changes that are all at times intertwined. The teenager is torn between carefree dependence on family and responsibility-filled independence.– Can’t they have carefree independence with no responsibility? – This makes life difficult at the very least. Add to this troubled time of life a truly traumatic event, and disaster can happen.
The book, speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, tells the story of one girl who experiences such a trauma and how fear, misunderstanding, and her alienation from all those around her, festers to create a frightening change. As in many stories, this has a “positive” ending, but it could just as easily have turned out badly. When Melinda is first introduced, she is not a pleasant character. And we all know how abrasive a hostile, withdrawn, uncooperative teenager can be. As Melinda’s story slowly unfolds, we see her torment and grow to understand her. Personal expectations and judgments combined with peer pressure, judgmental cliques, ect., alienate this girl when she most needs help. Her inability to communicate exacerbates the situation. Her isolation, partly direct shunning by her peers, and partly self-imposed, highlights the delicacy of young
self-esteem.
I think this is a very important book for all teenagers and adults to read. Even though this is the story of a rape, the trauma could have come from many other sources. It certainly made me look past obnoxious or distasteful behavior to care more about asking “Why?” Reading this book speaks to many areas that are in need of more personal concern. Everyone should be aware of the consequences of heavy partying and the danger of rape. They also should be confident that rape is
always an unacceptable crime. Everyone needs to see just how damaging an act of aggression can be. Parents and teachers need to be more sensitive to changes in youngsters around them and actively foster paths of open communication, especially in times of trouble. In addition, this book is a well-written, fast read. It came to me as a recommendation from my adolescent child and I thank her for that.
speak is available in both school libraries. Please make the effort to read it.
Irene Phaksuwan
Parent and Teacher
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