Last week in class I shared my last book club read, Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel, Speak. I really enjoyed this book, for a few reasons. The main character, Melinda, is at first seen as a weak, shy, and perhaps weird character; by the book’s end she is stronger when she confronts the root of her depression and grief. There was suspense, as the reader knows that there was a tragic event of some kind in the main character’s life, but not what kind of event until very near the end. The novel also touches on very common teen activites, like dating, alcohol, parties, cliques and sex. Anderson’s other novel, Catalyst, features Melinda from Speak, so if students enjoyed one they may be likely to pick up and read the other.
Erica
