Freeman is the art teacher and the teacher who influences Melinda the most throughout the novel. Keen is the biology teacher who makes biology fun for Melinda Hairwoman is the old English teacher who gives out tough assignments but whose class Melinda still enjoys Melinda’s Spanish teacher refuses to speak English, which creates several humorous moments Mr. Neck is the social studies teacher who always seems to be angry and is eventually revealed to be racist Ms. Melinda has several teachers with unique personalities: Mr. Instead, she keeps it to herself, which eats away at her self-esteem and ability to enjoy her life. On top of this, she has not spoken about the rape to any of her old friends or her parents. In a moment of panic, she left the house before they arrived and never told anyone her story. The shock and terror from the experience clouded Melinda’s mind at the time, but she was able to call the police. Melinda is insecure and shy, as anyone would be in a new place she also has a secret that she keeps deep within herself: She was raped at a summer party that she attended with her then-best friend, Rachel, by a senior named Andy Evans. She attends Merryweather High School and starts her first day with nobody to talk to or sit with. It starts as school and the first marking period begin, and it is Melinda’s first year of high school. Speak is divided into four parts, each one being a marking period for the school year. This guide utilizes the 2011 publication of the novel.Ĭontent Warning: This novel deals with topics such as sexual assault of a minor, child abuse, and verbal abuse. At the novel's end, Anderson includes resources for survivors of sexual assault, which serves as one last reminder of her desire to help those who feel voiceless be heard. Anderson continues to receive letters from readers about how Speak has impacted their lives and helped them through difficult times and similar experiences, and she speaks to as many youths as possible about her book. Speak was a National Book Award finalist, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, and an Edgar Allan Poe Award finalist, among many other awards and nominations. Edwards award for her important and relevant contributions to the young adult genre. Anderson has written several young adult novels, all of which address pressing issues for teens honestly and empathetically. It follows the plight of a teenager, Melinda, who was raped at age 13 and struggles to put her life back together and find her voice. Speak is a young-adult realistic fiction novel by Laurie Halse Anderson, first published in 1999.

Speak laurie anderson