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Book Review By Ellen
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

In the book, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, a young girl, Melinda, who used to be a “popular girl” is now an outcast. She used to be very social, outgoing, and loved until one night at a party. Things went wrong and Melinda called the cops. There was drinking and drugs at the party, but this isn't the reason Melinda decided to crash the party.
    After that night, no one could forgive her. Her friends wouldn't talk to her, and everyone ignored her. No one wants to listen to Melinda's explanations, and well, Melinda doesn't even feel like talking to anyone about that night.
    No one knows that the real reason Melinda called the cops was because of rape. She was drunk and didn't know it happened until after it happened. She got so scared that she called the cops. When they showed up she ran and didn't say anything to anyone.
    Melinda was into art at school and expressed all of her feelings through it. But she didn't like her year assignment. Everyone was given a topic that they had to center all of there projects around. When Melinda opened her paper, it read “trees”. She had no idea what she was going to do with this topic. But her art teacher, felt as if she could really open up through all her artwork.
   Melinda hangs out everyday in a janitors closet just so that she wont have to go to class. Even during assembly's and things like that. But one day, Andy, the boy who raped her at the party, traps her in it and tries to rape her again. Melinda says no, but he doesn't care. She breaks a mirror and takes a piece to cut his neck. A girl walks in because she heard all the screaming. She then tells everyone and Rachel, Melinda's ex-best friend and now Andy's girlfriend, apologizes for everything.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book? -
Time/era of story - 1980's-1999
Romance/Romance Problems Yes
Kids growing up/acting up? Yes
Kids: -
Kind of sex: - rape
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Age group of kid(s) in story: - high school
Taboo sex story? Yes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - a teen
Ethnicity/Nationality

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 4 ()

Writing Style
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - rape/molest
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