Speak

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Bibliographic Information:

Anderson, L.H. (1999). Speak. New York, NY: Square Fish. ISBN 9780312674397

Summary:

Entering high school is like entering the unknown. In the case of Melinda Sordino, her freshman year is already off to a horrific start even before the first bell rings. The kids at her school have already started to show their disgust for her. They treat her as an outcast. Will Melinda ever fit back in? Even after she decides to speak. 

Critical Analysis:

Laurie Halse Anderson has an amazing way of making extremely difficult situations seem tangible even to young adults. In her first novel, Anderson moves her readers with her words, her patience, and her accounts of what it is like to be a freshman teen girl that is the victim of a horrible act. The organization of her novel makes the reader feel as if you are in or are back in high school.

Slowly and sometimes almost painfully drawn out, Anderson provides the reader with snippets of the horrific night’s account by dropping pieces recalled by Melinda. For example, Melinda finally leads the reader to her attacker by referring to him as IT as she encounters him in the school hallways.  It is not until about two-thirds of the way through the novel that the reader eventually finds out what happened to Melinda one summer night. Anderson has beautiful crafted this story and keeps the reader’s attention all the way through. It is no wonder that Anderson’s work was a Printz Award Honor Book, a National Book Award Finalist, and the winner of eight state book awards.

Not only does Anderson explore what it is like to be the victim of sexual assault, she also shares the daily struggles of a young high school girl in trouble. As it so often does, this trouble goes unidentified by her peers, teachers, and even her parents. Librarians and teachers should be cautioned that this novel has been frequently challenged for its sexual content being called “soft porn.”  

Creative Activity:

Artful Feeling

Melinda, under the guidance of her art teacher – Mr. Freeman, begins to find freedom and her voice through her art. Melinda’s yearlong art challenge is the tree. Find another symbol or object that represents this novel and represent it in art. How has creating this piece helped you more deeply understand Anderson’s novel?

First Amendment Rights

Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel, Speak has been challenged yearly since its publication. Why do you think this book frequently makes its way to the list of challenged books? Do you feel it should be banned? Why or why not? What good comes of allowing challenging books to remain on our classroom, our library, and our personal shelves?

There is discussion about First Amendment rights in Mr. Neck’s class when he shuts several students down for their opinion. What are your thoughts and opinions on how Mr. Neck handled David in his class? Was this fair? How would his actions hold up against the First Amendment? Where do challenged and banned books fall with the First Amendment?  

Related Resources:

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Dessen, S. (2008). Just listen. New York, NY: Penguin Young Readers. ISBN 9780142410974

-       -  Dessen’s novel Just Listen also explores the story of a young girl who has been a victim of sexual assault. Thankfully for her, she finds sanctuary in a friend. Consider how this is like and different than Melinda’s experience in Speak. Readers who enjoyed and connected well with Melinda will connect with Annabel Greene in Just Listen.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Asher, J. (2011). Thirteen reasons why. New York, NY: Penguin Young Readers. ISBN 9781595141880

-       -  Told from the point of view of a young girl, Hannah Baker, who has taken her life, readers learn first hand about the cruelty we can do to one another. Thirteen Reasons Why explores the cruelty and struggle Hannah endure before ending it all. Melinda in Speak often contemplated her life and endured many mean acts at the hands of her classmates. Readers of Speak can connect with Thirteen Reasons Why.

Help Guide in Collaboration with Harvard Health – Teenager’s Guide to Depression

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/teenagers-guide-to-depression.htm

-       -  Help Guide offers various articles on topics concerning young adults and how parents can support their teens. This page is specifically a guide for teenagers who are suffering from depression. This site is “not a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.”

Child Mind Institute – How to Help Your Depressed Teenager

http://childmind.org/article/how-to-help-your-depressed-teenager/

-       -  Child Mind Institute provides information for adults and parents in an effort to help support their depressed teenager. The site also contains a list of common signs that indicate a child may be depressed. This site is geared towards offering information for parents and is “not a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.” Melinda’s parents in Speak would have benefited from recognizing the signs.

Published Reviews:

Publishers Weekly remarks Speak, “will leave readers touched and inspired.”

Publishers Weekly. (1999). Speak. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-374-37152-4

Nancy Matson from CNN.com Reviews calls Speak a “dead-on portrayal.”

Matson, N. (1999). Speak. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/books/reviews/9911/29/speak/

Additional References

Staino, R. (2010). Anderson’s speak under attack, again. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com/2010/10/sljarchives/andersons-speak-under-attack-again/#_

This is a beautiful piece of literature that is worth sharing. The novel explores why we all need to learn to speak, and just as importantly, learn to listen. 

~ Mandy 

*book cover image borrowed from www.barnesandnoble.com*

Monster

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Bibliographic Information:

Myers, W. D. (1999). Monster. New York, NY: Harper Teen. ISBN 9780064407311

Summary:

Consider the word “monster.” When it comes to mind, what do you imagine? Do you imagine a sixteen-year-old boy? An aspiring filmmaker? Or your older brother? This word – monster – is used to describe Steve Harmon, a young man who claims he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Will this “monster” serve time for a crime he claims he didn’t commit? Or will the jury see the “monster” he really is?

Critical Analysis:

Walter Dean Myers has an eloquent way of capturing his reader with words and style. Monster is written as both a screenplay for a film and as a personal journal full of Steve Harmon’s reflections and the telling of his time on trial for murder. The entire book is written from Harmon’s perspective and explores his account of the trial. The placement of the text on the page, the fonts utilized, and the novel format, all make this a unique work. It is no wonder that Myers earned the first presented Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature in 2000 for this text. The novel was also selected as a National Book Award Finalist and earned a Coretta Scott King Award Honor. These honors are certainly well deserved.

Monster challenges young adults to consider their actions and the potential ramifications or consequences in a youth friendly format. In an effort to have a deeper understanding of Harmon’s consequences, Myers’ novel encourages readers to look into Harmon’s mirror and into the readers’ own mirror. Readers will consider what these reflections show and tell. This book would serve as a beautiful lead in for difficult discussion centered on challenging situations that young adults face today. Furthermore, Myers has the ability to take a tough subject and make it approachable and manageable for teens.

Educators and librarians should be cautioned regarding several references in Myers’ novel that center on actions that happen in prison between inmates. While this may be a factual account of what may occur, it is important that educators and librarians are aware of these references in case this content may not be appropriate for specific audiences or patrons. Besides this small word of caution, Myers’ has crafted a piece that will captivate his readers for decades to come.

Creative Activity:

Film Footage

In small groups, select a scene from Monster and act it out as Steve has written. Next, take the scene and rewrite it from the point of view of a different character, perhaps Ms. Kathy O’Brien – Steve’s defense attorney. Discuss how the scenes are different and alike from each point of view.

Tug of War

Steve Harmon claims that he simply walked into the store to buy a package of mints and walked out. Now he’s being accused of being the “lookout” for a drugstore robbery that ended in murder. Even though, Steve may not have been an actual accomplice, several of the accused state that Steve is an acquaintance and was at the scene on the day of the crime. How does Steve simply being there and having known the men responsible for the robbery impact his trial? Decide whether or not you believe he should be found guilty.

On a bulletin board draw or post a length of rope. Label one end of the rope “guilty” and the other end “not guilty.” Allow participants to pick sides in a “tug-of-war” fashion and add supporting evidence on sticky-notes to each side of the argument – guilty or not guilt. Encourage participants to research legal code and other similar court cases. Remind the participants: “A man is known by the company he keeps” (English Proverb).  How does this impact young adults today?

Related Resources:

- Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers

Myers, W. D. (2011). Lockdown. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN

9780061214820

-       Walter Dean Myers speaks from experience and the heart in Lockdown as he tells the story of fourteen-year-old Reese who is currently locked down at a juvenile detention center. Myers spends a great amount of his free time visiting and conversing with troubled young adults about making good choices and the power of writing. Readers who enjoyed and connected with Steve Harmon in Monster will certainly enjoy Lockdown.

- Dope Sick by Walter Dean Myers

Myers, W. D. (2010). Dope sick. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN

9780061214790

-       Follow the story of another troubled youth in Walter Dean Myers’ Dope Sick. Is running away the answer? Will Lil J get a second chance like Steve and Reese may? Readers who enjoyed Monster will certainly engage with Lil J and his life that is on the line.

- Help Guide in Collaboration with Harvard Health – Help for Parents of Troubled Teens

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/teen-issues/helping-troubled-teens.htm

-       Help Guide offers various articles on topics concerning young adults and how parents can support their teens. This site is geared towards offering information for parents and is “not a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.” The articles could be beneficial for parents who have teens that have encountered similar situations as those in Monster, Lockdown, and Dope Sick.

Published Reviews:

Publishers Weekly remarks Monster, 

“will leave a powerful, haunting impression on young minds.”

Publishers Weekly. (1999). Monster. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0

06-028077-2

Kirkus Review calls Monster a “breathless, edge-of-the-seat… moving drama.”

Kirkus Review. (1999). Monster. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/bookreviews

/walter-dean-myers/monster-myers/

All readers, young and old, will engage with this novel; teen readers will especially connect. This novel will make us all consider what is a real "monster."

~ Mandy

*book cover image borrowed from www.barnesandnoble.com *