Post #2 for Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

        What a tear inducing book!  I appreciated the way the author skillfully pulled us, the reader, into Melinda's head.  The author used emotion to bridge our connection with the protagonist, Melinda.  As the young girl attempted to work through the moment her innocence was lost- my heart broke for her.Also, I felt horrible for her parents. As a parent myself I can't even fathom something as devastating as a rape happening to my child- my baby. The daily business of making a life for our family doesn't always make it possible to truly "be there" for them. The routine interactions within a family becomes just that, routine.  Everyone knows their place and what is expected of them. The routine craziness of life doesn't always make it easy to be as attuned to our child as we should be.  

        As I stated in my first post about, Speak, I can really see this book leading to deep conversations within the classroom as well as outside of the educational setting.  Even though kids want to talk about their feelings and thoughts they often feel awkward and embarrassed to do so.  This book can connect them with each-other and with the content within the book: exclusion, victimization, alienation, and perseverance.  Being a teenager isn't always easy and life isn't always perfect.  Speak creates a safe environment for the student to identify with the protagonist on various levels.  You don't need to have been assaulted (sexual or otherwise) to feel helpless, abandoned, or confused.  All and all I really enjoyed this book and would definitely share it would my future students.