Many go into high school with a fresh and excited mind.  The only problem the incoming freshmen fear are the piles of homework they will be assigned or the maze they must navigate in order to get through the mobs of upperclassmen stampeding through each hallway. However, one freshman, Melinda, has a lot larger of a problem than these. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is a breaktaking, coming of age novel, where one teen is forced to lose her innocence before high school even starts.  

Laurie Halse Anderson grew up in Syracuse, New York, which is where the story takes place as well.  The whole plot is seen through Melinda’s both insecure and scared eyes, mainly in the halls of Merryweather High School in Syracuse.  In her mind, she dreads utilizing her voice and sharing exactly what occurred at the August, upperclassmen’s party just days before school started. People perceive Melinda to be a snitch, as she called the police on the party.  

Many readers are familiar with this exact circumstance, which in turn allows readers to connect and reflect upon their experiences with high school parties, making this scenario the ideal focus for the plotline. 

Readers are exposed to the consequences Melinda now has to deal with because of her actions, as she loses those whom she presumed had her back, and her grades plummet as well because she begins to not care about large aspects of her life anymore.  Her emotions are simply getting the best of her and consuming her life entirely. While reading, circumstances of peer pressure in my own life came into my mind, and I was able to feel Melinda’s exact emotions, which is a reflection of Halse-Anderson’s engrossing style of writing.

Within the first couple of pages, readers are immediately exposed to the isolation Melinda is dealing with as a consequence of calling the cops on the party, which is very powerful and leaves an emotional affect, as readers immediately can begin to feel sympathy toward her.  

Melinda explains, “I close my eyes, this is what I've been dreading. As we leave the last stop, I am the only person sitting alone” (Anderson 3). Melinda has an ache in her heart because she is already being secluded on the first day of school. Furthermore, Melinda is being bullied by her ex best friend Rachel immediately, as she mentions, “Her eyes meet mine for a second. ‘I hate you,’ [Rachel] mouths silently” (Anderson 11).  It is clear if Melinda does want to speak up about the events that unfolded at the party, she is going to have a very difficult time, considering she is alone with no help or moral support and many have hatred toward her.  

Readers are able to feel a sense of being trapped and confined through Anderson’s descriptions, which puts readers in Melinda’s helpless perspective.  This adds an interesting, dramatic spin as the plot continues.  

Laurie Halse Andersons’s writing is both captivating and inspiring, and a true page turner at that.  Readers simply just can’t stop reading because they want to know the reason Melinda's world turned upside down. It is not until the last couple of pages that readers find out the reason behind Melinda calling the cops.  Readers are easily hooked and never want to put the novel down, since Anderson waits until the end to reveal the situation that transpired.  

Many have opposing views on this novel, however. As listed by the American Library Association, this novel was one of the top 100 books challenged between 2000-2009.  Many challenged this novel due to the controversy of teen sexual harassment, underage drinking, and topics that disregard the Bible.  Though controversial, this novel shares the vital lessons all teenage girls can learn from and relate to, as the audience is primarily young adults.  

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is a novel everyone should read, as it shares valuable life lessons, and a very imperative message: speak up.