Speak

Anderson, L.H. (1999). Speak. New York, NY: Penguin. Melinda was never popular but she had friends.  She enjoyed sleepovers and the occasional get together.  That was before. Before the night she called the cops and effectively busted up the biggest end-of-summer party.  Now she is ostracized by her peers and the worst part is she has never told anyone why she did it.  Melinda has been silent for so long that she hardly speaks at all now.  Art class is the only place she feels she can express herself and an abandoned janitors' closet has become her sanctuary.  Slowly her silent expression allows Melinda to break her silence and finally acknowledge the sexual assault she experienced the night of the party.  While the theme of Speak is not one addressed often in young adult literature it was one greatly ignored until Laurie Halse Anderson wrote this book.  Though we all hope that most teenagers won't have the same experience as Melinda, the idea of speaking out even when it is not popular is a message most teens can benefit from.