Speak

Melinda Sordino is about to start her freshman year, and something terrible has happened that Melinda can't talk to anyone about, especially since she feels as though the whole school hates her. Because of this, she becomes depressed and talks as little as possible. The only thing Melinda enjoys is her art class with Mr. Freeman, who senses a lot of Melissa's internal pain and encourages her to express herself through art. The book brings up the controversial subject matter of rape and has often been challenged.


Although it was written by an adult, Laurie does a great job of portraying the thoughts and feelings of a teenage girl. It's the typical “angst”, but no overly whiny, as other books such as Twilight often can be. I found myself connecting and sympathizing with Melinda as I watched her live through her senior year. The book is great for young girls, encouraging them to speak up when violated. Also, with a strong emphasis on art, you could encourage teens to create their own masterpiece based on their internal feelings.