Book 78- Speak

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is a young adult novel about Melinda.

Melinda is a freshman in high school and she's be labeled a social outcast due to the fact that she called the police which busted a huge party right before school started, at the end of summer. She feels the safest place for her to be is alone, except that's not so good either. There;s something going on in her head which haunts her, too.

She has no friends, everyone hates her, the 1 one she had dumps their friendship, her grades fall except for art class, and her parents fight. She skips schools and hides. She won't speak. she's afraid of what will come out of her mouth.

She thinks if she talks about the tragic thing that happened to her the night of the party, her world will fall apart so she remains silent. Until one day, after school, when something happens, she breaks her silence.

Powerful and captivating young adult novel. I can see why it won awards. It's sad but so true.