Speak

Hello fellow blog followers, this week I would like to talk about the book Speak by Laurie Hasle Anderson. As a teacher, I feel like I should evaluate these books on a different level rather than as an avid reader or a parent. This book is no exception to how I would evaluate other books. My main point of concern when I evaluate a book is if the book is educational, sends a message, and makes the students want to read. I really did enjoy this book and I think it is a great book to share with students. I would present this book to an advanced junior or senior English class.

Firstly, I believe that Speak by Laurie Hasle Anderson is a very educational book. I believe that this book gives us a non-sugar coated version of about what high school can be like for someone who is in the “non-popular” crowd. Even though I believe that this book is an educational book, I would not throw this kind of material at a group of freshmen who are already scared out of their mind about coming to high school. Rather, I would share it with my juniors and seniors and have them think about what high school was like for them when they first started. Then having them think about what high school would be like having a tragic event happen to them right before high school started. Not necessarily rape, but possibly something else tragic. This book is also a great example of some literary terms being used at their finest. Hasle really focuses on motifs of trees, mirrors, and mouths in the book. At one point in the novel, Melinda uses a piece of a broken mirror to ward off the boy who raped her.

I truly believe that Speak is a book that sends a message. The realism that Hasle uses is one that I feel students want when they are reading books. I also believe that this book really paints a picture of what some of the problems and struggles that kids their age can go through. It also gives some students things to relate to throughout the novel. I know I personally related to some of the “Top 10 Lies They Tell You at the Beginning of High School.” Hasle also does a great job of characterizing a lot of the characters. Which in turn, I feel allows the students to be able to relate to at least one character in the book.

Lastly, I feel that this book will make students want to read. I found myself very engaged in the book. I fully believe that the classics like Hamlet and Pride and Prejudice are valuable books for students to read. However, I also feel that students and adolescents should be reading books that they can relate to and that are about problems that they could possibly be going through. This book, and reading in general, could be a form of therapy for them. Thanks for listening and I’ll see you next week!

Best,

Ben

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