SPEAK
by Anderson, Laurie Halse
Summary
Speak is a fantastic book for young adults written
by Laurie Halse Anderson that tells the story about a young girl named Melinda
Sordino who is raped at a party. Overcoming these feelings of hate, sadness and
confusion the story unfolds as if it were reaching out to the reader. Melinda
becomes an outcast at school as everyone blames her for calling the police the
night she was raped and apparently ends the party. The story takes you for a
ride as you walk with young Melinda as she goes through pain and depression
while in high school. As her grades begin to suffer greatly and she goes from
been an honor student to flunking most of her classes, one can’t help to think
if anybody in the story really cares about her. Author Anderson does a great
job explaining how a young girl isolates herself from everyone after this attack
but somehow finds a way to survive.
Analysis
SPEAK tells the story of Melinda Sordino a young
girl who is raped at a party and then socially outcast by her peers. Melinda
who is the main character, finds herself fighting not only those around her but
the very feelings she must deal with. A depressed girl, Melinda deals with humiliations
from her classmates, friends and rapist, but somehow fights on and shines
towards the end of the book. Important characters like Mr. Freeman, a
persistent Art Teacher, who never gives up on Melinda, becomes involved and
helps her move forward. Then there is David, Melinda’s lab partner who is a
brilliant young man, which Melinda finds comfort with. Along with other people
who run in and out of Melinda’s life, the young girl’s character is strong and
determined.
Young adults can relate to the story and what
Melinda is going through at this stage in their lives. One can look back to
their high school days and make a connection to what Melinda is going through
to some of the real life incidents. The author gives plenty of examples about emotions
and realistic situations that many high school students go through. For instance,
throughout the book Melinda recounts different sentiments; shyness, isolation,
depression as well as embarrassment. For example on the first day of school,
the author gives us a great passage on an incident many can probably remember.
“Thwap! A lump of potatoes and gravy hits me square
in the center of my chest. All conversations stop as the entire lunchroom
gawks, my face burning into their retinas. I will be forever known as “that
girl who got nailed by potatoes the first day.” The Basketball Plot apologizes
and says something else, but four hundred people explode in laughter and I
can’t read lips. I ditch my tray and bolt for the door.”
Nevertheless, the book carries a solid message that
any young adult can relate to; survive.
The main character of the story grows very slowly
from beginning to end, yet at the end of the story readers can acknowledge a
different girl. At first Melinda is portrayed as a victim, but as the story
progresses, we see a young girl who not only is a victim, but most important a fighter.
Melinda introduces herself to the world not by what she experienced or the
humiliation she endured but how she was able to cope with it.
The book SPEAK has many advantages the reader can
take with them such humor and emotions. The dialogue between the characters
gives a realistic feeling taking the readers imagination to real events. Within
each chapter the author offers related subjects to what she is talking about, letting
the reader know what the next theme is going to be about. The story is not only
filled with sadness though, like any other tale about young innocent girls, it
too makes you laugh and remember the crazy days of high school.
At the end of the book, author Anderson, in an interview
setting talks about the book. This narrative adds to the importance of the
issue with young girls who might have faced such a dramatic event.
Reviews
PW said of this stunning first novel narrated by a
rape survivor, "Anderson infuses the narrative with a wit that sustains
the heroine through her pain and holds readers' empathy." -- Publishers
Weekly. April 9, 2001
An uncannily funny book even as it plumbs the
darkness, Speak will hold readers from first word to last. -- Horn Book
Magazine. September/October 1999
Connections
Activities-
Information about the importance of high self-esteem
can be discussed with young people.
The danger and importance of rape can also be
discussed with young men and women.
Related
Book-
So Much to Tell
You by John Marsden
Bibliography
Adams, Lauren. 1999. “Speak.” Horn Book Magazine 75, no. 5: 605. MasterFILE
Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed November 25, 2013).
Anderson, Laurie Halse. 2006. SPEAK. New York, NY:
Penguin Group. ISBN 0142407321
Zaleski, Jeff. 2001. “SPEAK (Book Review).”
Publishers Weekly 248, no. 15: 77. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed
November 25, 2013).
TALES
FROM OUTER SUBURBIA by Shaun Tan
Summary
The graphic novel TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA written
by Shaun Tan consists of fifteen different short tales filled with magic,
mystery, humor and adventure. Many of the stories are amusing, while others are
just plain strange; nevertheless the book is very entertaining. From a huge
water buffalo that lives in a vacant lot to a pack of 100 dogs that sought
revenge, this book was written to amaze.
Analysis
There are fifteen short tales throughout the book
and each contains one, two or several characters. Some of the characters are
human; others are animals and some, the reader will just have to guess, like
Eric whom is a mixture of part leaf and insect. Once into one of the short accounts,
the reader can begin to relate to one of the characters in the fable. However,
some stories don’t really reveal the main character until almost the end.
Either way, the book is hard to put down as you begin to switch the pages and
asking yourself why.
Each account stands individually on its own and is
not related with one another. Many of the short tales however tell a story with
a message for the reader to learn and comprehend. The title of “undertow” is a
good example as well as “stick figures.” Both stories are very strange, but
reading them between the lines allows
the reader to really appreciate the moral of the tale. It seems a lesson is to
be learned in all of these sagas, but the reader has to really sit down and
think what the author is trying to convey.
Author Shaun Tan does an excellent job with each one
of his stories by allowing the reader to imagine the world of Outer Suburbia. Many of the characters
in the TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA never say a word, like the water buffalo or
the big whale, also known as a dugong, which mysteriously appears in a family’s
front lawn. Nevertheless, the reader is able to connect with these characters
because of the vivid description and touching account author Tan gives. Each
story is written with passion, feeling and brilliance all bundled together
allowing the reader to jump forward into the novel itself. Many of the passages
are also filled with humor, mystery and scary scenes and characters, yet the
reader will be able to identify with these characters and the setting as well.
Once the reader reads the first story, it is almost impossible to put the book
down.
The graphic novel’s pictures are breathtaking and
they add to the depth of each and every tale. Some of the artwork is in color
while other images are black and white. The reader can easily distinguish those
images that were created by pencil and those that were actually painted. The
detail of each picture compliments the story being told and adds to the beauty
of it. The pictures in the tale “Stick Figures” are a good example of pictures
created in relation to the fable. In one of the pictures found on page 68, the
stick figure stands at the end of an alley as if it were a mysterious creature
waiting to scare somebody passing by. In “Grandpa’s Story” the images are even
more frighten as Tan uses dark and scary like monsters. These characters relate
well with the story and allow the reader to really enjoy themselves.
Reviews
These 15 unique short stories in graphic novel format
will send the reader in search of additional titles by the author. -- Library
Media Connection, May 2009
Intriguing, wacky, or downright surreal, these
dynamic illustrated vignettes by a master artist show unequivocally that there
is no such thing as an "ordinary" suburban community. -- School
Library Journal, April 2009
Connections
Activities-
Children can be gathered around and given the
opportunity to tell stories, even as weird as some found in Tales from Outer Suburbia.
Readers can write a reflection of one of the stories
that they read.
Related
Book-
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
Bibliography
2009. "Tales from Outer Suburbia." Library
Media Connection 27, no. 6: 76. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed
November 27, 2013).
2009. "Tales from Outer Suburbia." School
Library Journal 55, 40. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed November 27,
2013).
Tan, Shaun. Tales
From Outer Suburbia. 2008. New York, NY : Arthur A. Levine Books. ISBN
9780545055873.
When You Reach Me by
Rebecca Stead
Summary
“WHEN YOU REACH ME” by Rebecca Stead is an outstanding
book about a 12-year old girl named Miranda. The story takes place in New York
City during the 1970’s where Miranda faces many challenges and adventures. Her
mom is preparing to compete on a game show, she loses her best friend and there
is a strange homeless man who keeps appearing throughout the book. The story
takes a turn when out of a sudden she begins to receive some weird notes and realizes
many of them point to a death. This is a great story that will have you reading
and wondering “what’s going to happen next?” Author Rebecca Stead adds fantasy
in a realistic world of a sixth grader and brings a great story to life.
Analysis
The main character of the story is a young girl
named Miranda, who is full of life and energy. The book is written by a first
person account and takes you on an adventure about friendship, love, growing
pains and even into fantasy. The characters throughout the book play an important
role in Miranda’s life. Her mom, a single parent, who is about to enter a game
show, her step father, Miranda’s best friend Sal, the sandwich store owner,
Marcus the bully and others all add to the excitement of the tale.
The setting takes place in 1979 on the Upper West
Side of New York City. Author Stead does an excellent job describing the
culture and way of life back in the late 70’s. The reader can really get a
sense of the time period while reading the book. The author also uses
descriptions of the scenery throughout the book, allowing the reader to really
imagine themselves, standing where the character is standing.
The theme of the book is filled with mixed emotions
of love, companionship and acceptance. Not to mention that the story is also part
fantasy, mystery and science fiction. One of the main themes that are discussed
frequently is time travel, which keeps the reader wondering how it “fits” into
the story, but reveals itself towards the end.
The book is arranged in short written chapters
filled with exciting information, dialogue and a pretext of what is going to
happen next. Therefore, a reader must continue onto the next chapter to
understand what happened in the previous one. Author stead does an excellent
job with the dialogue of each character as well. The reader will also enjoy the
slang language that was used back in the 1970’s. The story is filled with mysterious
characters and unreal situations that make the reader actually think that these
people and circumstances “do exist.” The writing is not difficult to understand
and a young person can easily get through the story without any problems. WHEN YOU REACH ME is a great story and young
readers will enjoy every page from it.
Reviews
Rebecca Stead brilliantly weaves details of setting
from memories of her own teen years on the Upper West Side, including a strange
individual and her mom’s appearance with Dick Clark on The $20,000 Pyramid. -- Journal
of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, March 2011
In the way of all great literature, it lifts a
corner of the veil for its readers, allowing them a glimpse of the world as it
really is, in all its beauty, sadness, and love. -- Horn Book Magazine,
January/February 2011
Connections
Activities-
Children can learn about time travel and other science
related topics.
Children can look up New York City on a map and
learn more about the area: culture, history, etc.
Related
Book-
Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead
Bibliography
Blasingame, James. 2011. "When You Reach Me." Journal Of
Adolescent & Adult Literacy 54, no. 6: 461-464. Academic Search Complete,
EBSCOhost (accessed November 25, 2013).
M. V., P. 2011. "When You Reach Me." Horn Book Magazine 87, no. 1: 35.
Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed November 25, 2013).
Stead, Rebecca. 2010. WHEN YOU REACH ME. Publishing
Place: Yearling. ISBN
