Book Review: SPEAK by LAURIE HALSE ANDERSON

Picture from Penguin.com

Penguin Group

ISBN 9780142407325 

224 pages 

Apr 2006  

14 - AND UP years

Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won’t talk to her, and people she doesn’t even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that’s not safe. Because there’s something she’s trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, would blow her carefully 

constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have to speak the truth. This extraordinary first novel has captured the imaginations of teenagers and adults across the country.

Description:  Speak is told from the point of view (POV) of a girl starting high school: Melinda Sordino.  Using first person POV means the narrator has to provide all the details of description.  In all the reading I've done, I've found it amazing at how many authors can accomplish this seamlessly.  Laurie Halse Anderson is one such author.  Not only do I see what Melinda sees, but I can feel it, taste it, hear it and I don't feel overwhelmed with extra stuff. I particularly love the way Melinda uses art to talk in context of life and learning.  It was a great way to really showcase all that was going on inside her head.  And though this book was first published in 1999, in no way did it feel dated.  (Score: 10/10)

Narrative:  Laurie Halse Anderson uses a form of narrative I admire.  The paragraphs are short and spaced apart.  This setup alone makes me subconsciously feel more in tune with the personality of the story and the character.  But the words themselves come straight from the head of Melinda.  It's authentic with a voice that stayed with me long after I finished the book. And miraculously, she covers an entire school year without ever letting the story lag or move too fast. (Score: 10/10)  

Dialogue:  I'm not quite sure how she did this, but the author used a rather unique form of dialogue that I fell in love with.  Instead of the typical layout, much of the dialogue was in a scripted format.  This too added to the feeling in the book.  I imagine it was difficult to write this way because the author loses the ability to communicate body language.  Her words had to speak for themselves. And the did, in a big way.  Not all the dialogue was done this way, some was buried in with narrative, but it kept it interesting.  (Score; 10/10)

Characterization:  Speak's characters were all engaging and multi-dimensional.  I admire the way Laurie Halse Anderson was able to make Melinda troubled without being pathetic or whiny.  She was real and in pain, but at the same time strong.  That's really hard to do!  I looked for stereotypes, just because I always do, and really found none.  There are generalizations, yes, but I think that's so true in any book-but they didn't feel forced or faked.  I also really liked the way characters came in and out of Melinda's life-this made it feel more real to me.   (Score: 10/10)

Resolution:  My favorite aspect of realistic fiction is the resolution.  Often, the climax is so subtle that I barely notice it's coming...or maybe I don't want to admit it.  But Speak was like that.  It held conflicts and triumphs throughout while at the same time leading the reader down a road of growth and understanding.  Melinda's growth is sudden, which makes this fictional story so very believable.  The ending was unique and interesting.  I was sad for it to end, but at least I know Laurie Halse Anderson has written more books to enjoy.  (Score: 10/10)

This book is an important read.  Not only is it well written, but the main topic-the unspoken teen- is very relevant to today's society.  Too often, teens (and even adults) feel they can't really say what they need to.  Our world places way too many expectations and restrictions on what is appropriate to talk about.  But some things shouldn't be kept silent.  How many girls are shamed into silence every day?  Who makes that okay?  I also loved how Melinda was "punished" for bad grades.  I mean, hello?? That's a red flag of distress and, again, too often, it's covered up with blame and excuses. Don't get me wrong, I understand why this happens.  People don't know how to deal with such problems.  So, where do we begin learning?  With books such as Speak.  The topic is on the table, now discuss. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

A Nurse/Mom/Writer's Perspective on WSJ's Review: Darkness Too Visible

Irony of ironies....I was dreaming big in NYC when I read Laurie Halse Anderson's Blog regarding Meghan Cox Gurdon's article on the content of teen novels: Darkness Too Visible.

Of course, I have to contribute my unique perspective.  I am an ER Nurse, certified to teach Emergency Nursing Pediatric Care.  I am a Mother of a 12 year old boy and 8 year old girl.  I am a Writer of realistic Young Adult Novels. And I'm fascinated with human growth and development and try to apply it to every corner of my life.  "Darkness Too  Visible" jabbed right at my heart.  Specifically this quote:

"Yet it is also possible—indeed, likely—that books focusing on pathologies help normalize them and, in the case of self-harm, may even spread their plausibility and likelihood to young people who might otherwise never have imagined such extreme measures. Self-destructive adolescent behaviors are observably infectious and have periods of vogue. That is not to discount the real suffering that some young people endure; it is an argument for taking care."

I say: YES! Please normalize these behaviors-so no one has to feel alone or freaky for having unhealthy coping skills. Teens in crisis perform these self harming behaviors (cutting, binging/purging, drinking, etc) LONG before they seek out books that might make them "imagine such extreme measures".  These brave authors provide a means to talk about it and almost all of them do so with great care. And for that, I applaud them.

And that leads to my other pet peeve belief about teens.  This will be a shocker, I know, but TEENS ARE CAPABLE OF MAKING UP THEIR OWN MINDS.  Developmentally, they have outgrown concrete thinking which means they can now reason based on information provided. See Jean Piaget's theory of development for more.  They can and do think critically.  True, they do not yet have life experience to guide them, but that's where books written by adults comes into play.  Well written Young Adult Novels provide insight in a way few other forms of media can.  They tell a story.  Teens have the ability to apply that story to their own life or not.  

Great books make all my jobs easier.  As a nurse-it's a lifeline for me to offer when I see kids in crisis.  I can say "You're not alone. See?"  As a mom, I can open a conversation about what I just read.  And trust me-they always ask what I'm reading and why.  And in return, ask their thoughts about the topic. As a writer, I have mentors, a guide to follow.  These pioneers are clearing the way for me to also share my story.

Do I want my kids to know that rape, violence and brutality exist?  Of course not.  But in order for them to avoid it, I need to be real, with both myself and them-at the right time.  

Is rating books a good idea, as suggested in the article?  As a mom, I'd probably say yes.  To be honest, I rely on those ratings for TV, movies, music and video games.  Publishers do a great job of assigning age ranges most of the time.  But do parents know how to use them properly? 

As my kids age, I'm learning.  I try to read every book for content before my 12 year old to make sure it's appropriate.  And if it's not, I tell him why.  He can still choose to read it, but we will at some point have a discussion about it.

In the end, I'd like to say that good writing should stir up controversy, should push the envelope.  I'm tired of teen issues shrouded under clouds of fantasy, goth or horror.  Teen problems exist, always have and always will.  We owe it to our kids to talk about it for real.  Otherwise, mistakes will do nothing more than repeat themselves for generations to come.