"I see IT in the hallway. IT goes to Merryweather. IT is walking with Aubrey Cheerleader. IT is my nightmare, and I cant' wake up."

Melinda Sordino is a ninth grader at Merryweather High School. She is having a miserable year because of something that happened at a summer party.  The awful incident is affecting Melinda's grades, her relationships with her parents, and she has no friends except for Heather (which is hardly a positive).  Art class is her only refuge until she receives the opportunity to confront the source of her misery. It is then she begins to heal.

Narrated by the main character, Melinda, Speak is an extremely intense captivating novel about a teen girl's struggles with being raped.  Written in humorous and at times sarcastic language, Anderson manages to also dedicate serious attention to Melinda's challenges being a victim.  Melinda is presented as a strong girl who attempts to proceed with her day to day routine despite having to deal with the memory of a traumatic experience. Anderson's description of school cliques and teen behavior is eye-opening and significantly contributes to the realistic value of the novel.

"They (cheerleaders) rent beach houses in Cancun during Spring Break and get group rate abortion before the prom. But they are so cute.  And they cheer on our boys, inciting them to violence and we hope victory."

The depressed yet witty tone of Speak gives the novel balance but does not take away from the serious issue of rape.  The theme of the novel is silence speaks volumes. While dealing with her horrible experience, Melinda stopped communicating. She became an outcast.  Through Melinda, Anderson communicates silence as a significant warning sign of trouble.

Speak should be read by teens, parents, and individuals who work with youth. It will definitely inspire communication and as Booklist notes young readers will put the book down feeling empowered!