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I’ve been wanting to read this book for a while but never go to it, now that i have read it i can only wish i’ve read it earlier. This book is so good, the details and how she writes the characters is just incredible. I was scared I wouldn’t like this book but I was proven wrong, i’ve called in love with this book, I cried while reading it. This is a book i’ll hold in ny heart, i recommend reading it.

Loved this book as a teenager and I just purchased it for a friend and he loves it as well

This was such a good read. Offers a great perspective on how trauma can ruin your whole life if you let it. And shows how cruel high school/teenagers can be

I think many can relate to the emotions and situations the author describes in SPEAK. This book is written in what I think of as a cross between diary entries and a modern day sonnet. It’s almost as if, as readers, we are inside Melinda’s mind and witnessing her thoughts first hand, as she feels things. School is not easy. Even the people you think have it made, probably have issues that no one can see. I think that it’s really important to remember that and keep it in mind while reading it.

There are some things Melinda describes at the beginning that REALLY hit home to me. At my school we had the two-faced Christians who claimed to be all about God and were inviting everyone to church on Sunday. Their moms sold Mary Kay and their daughters were walking advertisements for the product. I have nothing against Mary Kay, but in Jr High? My mom only let me wear pressed powder and lip gloss but these girls had an entire make-up arsenal in their lockers and knew how to use it–eyeliner and all. But, it’s ok that they looked made-up and kinda slutty, right? Because they looked perfect and say they love Jesus so… it must be ok…right? NOT. What most parents don’t know is that those were the same girls that wore the itsy-bitty string bikini’s to the parties and were the first to suggest a game of spin-the-bottle if there were boys around.*gags:p*

Why am I telling you all this? Well it’s to demonstrate that people aren’t always what they seem and that there is a double standard in schools and it’s not fair. Melinda started a downward spiral after something horrible happened to her. Her grades slipped, she quit taking care of herself, communicated as little as possible and subconsciously retreated from friends, all in what people call a “cry for help”. She was depressed, and even I could see it. But because she is at the age when so many kids and even some adults are focused on their own self interests it goes unnoticed OR comes off as her being emo or anti-social.

No one seems to get it…and when she does finally reach out to someone, no one wants to hear it. Image is everything in school and it doesn’t take much to ruin someones reputation. I think if anything this book shows how bad decisions are made when drinking is involved at a party where as my dad says boys can’t be trusted because “Hormones are raging at that age” and how even today people are hypocritical and two-faced and as my mom says it’s a “good lesson to learn cause the world is full of hypocrites”. It also shows how someone can heal slowly from a really bad event and though, they never will forget what happened that somehow they find healing.

Throughout the book Melinda finds some comfort or “sanctuary” in her art class and there is a really great theme of trees and growth through out the book. In class she is creating a tree for a project, and at home her dad has someone come to cut down some dead branches on a tree. It took me a little bit to understand it all but what I got from it was this…By pruning a tree and cutting off the diseased branches you give the tree a chance to grow bigger and stronger. It’s the same way for life in the sense that if we shed all the bad stuff that holds us back we can move forward and grow.

One more thing I want to add. I downloaded the audio version of this book on Audible and cried. The reader is SO amazing. I felt like I was listening to someone spill their heart out to me and it really touched me. If you can afford it, I suggest getting both the audio and the printed book. Also, I understand that this book isn’t for everyone. Some people will read it and take Melinda’s inner dialogue out of context or miss the sarcasm. For me personally, it’s what made the book feel real, but I’m not so naive that I don’t see that it takes a mature reader to grasp the true message of Speak.

It was ok

Amazing good read for teenagers