Speak

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Stars: 4
Review by: YA Fan
This is the first novel I read by this author, and Chains and
Forged will be my next two.  Laurie Halse Anderson received the 2009
Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring her significant and lasting
contribution to writing for teens. When reading this controversial novel
on rape, I felt as though Anderson was handing the reader pieces to a
puzzle that didn't immediately fit together.  That's what kept me
reading. "SPEAK is cautionary tale about the emotional aftermath of
rape. It tackles bullying, depression, rape, sexual harassment, and
family dysfunction."-The Author
 
As a parent, I was most affected by the behavior of the main character's
parents.  They were entirely self absorbed, too wrapped up in their
careers to notice that something was drastically wrong with their child.
Neither of them took the time to have a discussion with the main
character, they only talked "at" her.

Although this Young Adult novel was published in 1999 and was a National
Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature, it is still the topic
of controversy. You can follow this link to read about the controversy
and Anderson's response as of 7/08/2103
http://madwomanintheforest.com/really-again-speak-labelled-pornography/