Speak
Update May 6, 2007 - I have restored the link to the South Fayette Library blog.
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After completing your assignment, return here to write your comments about Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel Speak. |
- Read three on-line book reviews about Speak
- Visit one of these blogs and write a comment about your feelings about the book
- Write your own review
- This entry was posted on May 4, 2007 at 12: 24 am, modified on July 1, 2007 at 12: 00 pm by Mr. Powell.
- Categories: Journaling, Stories | Tags: Anderson Speak book literature | trackback
May 4, 2007 8: 57 am
I have read the book “speak” and i have come to find out that i really liked it. it keeps you interested the whole way through. i could not put it down at some points. i recommend you, teens especially, to read this b/c alot of people could probable relate to it.
May 4, 2007 8: 59 am
I have read the book ” speak ” . I really liked this book a lot. I think people would enjoy it as much as i did. The thing i do not understand is how she kept quite for so long about something i think was serious, but other then that it was a good book.
May 4, 2007 9: 03 am
I really like the the book SPEAK!
I also think its a good book for teenagers to read because its mostly about highschool and what teenagers go through in life.
May 4, 2007 9: 03 am
In the book “Speakâ€, by Laurie Halse Anderson, the main character, Melinda Sordino is faced with a difficult situation. In eighth grade Melinda had a close group of friends and was content with it. That all changed when she called the police about a party she was at over the summer. As a result of her calling the cops many people at her school don’t want anything to do with her and don’t take time to hear the real story, which has caused her to become withdrawn and antisocial finding it difficult to stand up for herself at all. Melinda feels like she cant tell anyone what really happened at that party since all her friends abandoned her and her home life is less than perfect. She ends up spending most of her lunches and some of her classes in an abandoned janitors closet. The one time she does try to tell someone what really happened at the party the person doesn’t believe her. Melinda becomes paranoid and won’t even go to a guy friend’s house after a school basketball game. Eventually she just snaps, for a good reason, and the truth comes out.
May 4, 2007 9: 05 am
I have visited all of the reviews and everyone seems to like the book speak. I loved reading speak. I think it is a great read for eveyone. It is very interesting. I did not want to put the book up at all. So thankx mr.powell for introducing us to speak.
May 4, 2007 9: 05 am
I am very far in the book Speak and I LOVE IT. When i read it i can hardley put it down. I recommend this book to everyone!
May 4, 2007 9: 06 am
This book speak is a pretty good book. I can kind of relate to the book because im in high school.
May 4, 2007 9: 06 am
I really liked this book. I recommend it to everybody, especially those who think they have the worst of it all.
May 4, 2007 9: 06 am
I really enjoy reading speak. Most teens could relate to different parts of the book, so i would suggest teens to read this book
May 4, 2007 9: 07 am
I love the book Speak because it’s a page turner. I could hardly put it down. It kept me interested the whole time.It’s not one of those books where th teachers make you read it and you forget what you are reading and you have to write a report and you forget what the book is about.-Halse Anderson wrote a good book for teens.
May 4, 2007 9: 42 am
Never speaking to anyone about that night or anything else for that matter Melinda becomes a social outcast who only finds comfort in art and skipping school. It is not until Melinda can look her “beast” in the eye that she is able to break out of her shell and finally start speaking again.
i feel really bad for her on the first day when she got nailed with potatoes.
May 4, 2007 9: 43 am
Speak is a book that exemplifies the pain we put each other through. Whether we mean it or not we are slowly destroying each other, through deliberacy or not, we are going to do it and then one day it’s going to catch up with us. Our feelings will one day crush us, and all inside of one day, it can end. Melinda’s pain began at the party. That was one day that completely ruined her. She may never completely recover from the pain of the party, and the suffering of keeping everything inside her. We will never completely stop what is happening in this world, but a little bit makes difference.
May 4, 2007 9: 49 am
sitting in mr. powell’s being a G. Speak is a realy cool book its kinda hard for me to stop reading it. Melinda is a little spooky though.
May 4, 2007 9: 50 am
The book Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson was an interesting book. The has a funny moment and a sad moment. I like how it went back and forth. I recommend this book for all teens.(13 or older)
May 4, 2007 9: 51 am
I really enjoyed reading Speak. It’s a great book that a lot of teenagers can relate too, whether it be holding such a secret as Melinda had or just being a social outcast as she had been also. I recommend it to everyone!
May 4, 2007 9: 52 am
Yeah the noval Speak is about a girl name Melinda Sordino. At a party during summertime Melinda calls the cops and ruinning the party. But their is a vey hurtful reason why Melinda called the cops. When cops show up Melinda don’t say nothing. Then when she go to school her old friends are different to her. Her parents start to fight. Only person know something ir wrong is her art teacher. But later she SPEAK on what happen.
This is a real good book
May 4, 2007 10: 19 am
The book “speak” is very moving for a teen in high school. I would recommend this book to everyone. Once you are reading this book it is hard to put down because the book just keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what would happen next.
May 4, 2007 10: 20 am
I have to say that this was a great book to read and it was hard to put down at times. The book speak was about a girl, going through the problems and stresses of a teenager going into the high school world. The way the book was formatted was also good too because it was split up into sections about diffrent short stories about various diffeent things going on for the main girl in the story. I would have to say that everyone reads this because even though i don’t really read much i like this book a lot!!
May 4, 2007 10: 24 am
I’ve read the book speak, and found that is a very good book, and would recomend anyone to read it.
May 4, 2007 10: 27 am
The book Speak is a very good book. It is one of those books that once you start reading you do not want to put it down. It gets better to because you start finding out more and more things in Melinda’s past. I recommend that anyone in high school read this book because it relates to almost everyone in high school.
May 4, 2007 10: 28 am
THIS BOOK WAS GREAT WE ARE ALMOST DONE READING THE THIRD CHAPTER. THIS BOOK IS A GREAT BOOK FOR YOUNGER TEENS. ESPECIALLY YOUNGER TEENS ABOUT TO GO INTO HIGH SCHOOL.
May 4, 2007 10: 29 am
Speak is a really good book.It shows that not all teens have allot of friends. It also shows that not every teen is happy.They might be happy on the inside and act like everything is ok when it might not be.
I recomend the book speak to anyone in out age group.
May 4, 2007 10: 32 am
I like when other people read the book out loud but when I read it I tend to fall asleep.
May 4, 2007 10: 33 am
Well I read the book speak. SO far it is very good. It really portrays what its like to be a high schooler. I really enjoy the dark humor. When you fimd out what happen to Melinda it turns into a real moving story. I really enjoy reading it. Its like I am leaving someone elses life. This Book is super swell.
May 4, 2007 10: 34 am
My review of speak is that Melinda is no different than anyone in highschool. Everyone has those 1st day thoughts of “is anyone going to like me, or is people going to talk to me?” The only difference with Melinda is that she had a past experience that crashed a party. So in school Melinda has to face the consequences of being a “party crasher.” I beleive experiences like this one inspires others, that no matter what you have done in the past, move to the future and do better and dont try to please anyone before you have pleased yourself. This was a wonderful book and I would recommend it to anyone!
May 4, 2007 10: 34 am
Yo dogs, Matt here. Speak is a good book. I never read, unless I am forced to do it. But, Speak is a book that I wouldn’t mind reading on my own. I wouldn’t mind reading it right now. :O I am only on page 136, but I don’t plan on stopping until the end of the book. Is there a sequal? I want to read that book too, if there even is one. :O Anyways, I would recommend this book of everyone, as long as they know how to read.
May 4, 2007 10: 35 am
i would recommend it to anyone who wants to read it. i thought the book was ok telling the life of a teenager that is depressed and doesnt like to talk
May 4, 2007 10: 35 am
The book “Speak” is an awesome book-I’ve enjoyed what i read so far and i plan to read more. Speak is a book that once you start reading you can’t put
it down.I can’t wait to find out more in the book Speak. I reccomend this book to not only highschool students but to anyone who is struggling with
school.I think the author of Speak,Anderson should make a 2nd part of the book.
May 4, 2007 10: 36 am
I think that this is a amazing book. The book grabs every readers attention i think that the book gives the readers a good idea and it also makes the people feel the same way the people think. over all this book was great.
May 4, 2007 10: 36 am
I really enjoyed reading this book because it is very entertaining. I agree with Derek because it was very hard to put it down. When I would read it at home to catch up with the class, I would read a little further than I was supposed to. That’s how good the book is and that ususally doesn’t happen to me.
May 4, 2007 11: 11 am
I really enjoy the book “Speak”. I think it is a great book for teenagers to read because many of us can relate. I would recomend anyone to read this book.
May 4, 2007 11: 16 am
Speak is a verry good book. Im not finished but so far it has been intersting except for maybe the first few pages. i would highly recommend this book too anyone of any age just because its interesting and keep you guessing.
May 4, 2007 11: 17 am
I think Speak is an amazing book! It is very dramatic and keeps you wondering what is going to happen next! So a great story told from the point of view of the most sarcastic and witty person I have ever heard, makes a really good book! I would recommend this book to anyone!
May 4, 2007 11: 19 am
Speak, is a great book. i really enjoyed it. i would recommend this book to freshman students.
May 4, 2007 11: 20 am
the book speak was a very good but because i enjoy books that deal with teenagers.The book explain alot of thin gs teens go through in life. it was hard
not to read.it was an extremely good book and i hope to read some more of Laurie Halse books.
May 4, 2007 11: 20 am
So far I have really enjoyed reading this book. I think alot of people may be able to relate to it, thats why I think it is so interesting. I would recommend it to anyone in highschool or that could relate to being an outcast.
May 4, 2007 11: 21 am
I really enjoy the book “Speak” it keeps me wondering what will happen next.
May 4, 2007 11: 51 am
I thought of the book “Speak” as a must read for all high school students.The character Melinda feeling like an outcast and wanting to be alone is something all teenagers could relate to.I would recommend this book to all teenagers cause it shows that the problems we face other teenagers face them too.Speak has become one of my favortie books and will always be.
May 4, 2007 11: 54 am
The book was a mix of humor and high school life that all teens could relate too.
it was interesting till the end and had me wanting to know what happened next to melinda.
May 4, 2007 11: 55 am
I think that Speak was a very good book. All teenagers can relate to this book in some possible way. Once i started reading this book i could not put it down. I jus had to know what happened next.The part that mostly surprised me is the part when I found out why Melinda called the cops. I would recommend this book to everybody.
May 4, 2007 11: 57 am
i really enjoyed the book alot as i read the book i felt a connection and im sure everyone did also. Everyone felt like an outcast once in there life. Melinda seems to be lonely and has no one to go through high school with. I would reccomend this book for all teenagers because its a good book to relate to. When you first read the book your like “why am i reading this after you get to the middle your like i got to read that book i want to know what happened to this girl and i want to know more about her.
May 4, 2007 11: 57 am
THE BOOK SPEAK IS A VERY INTRESTING BOOK AT THE BEGING I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA BE BORED READING IT BUT..NOW THAT IM KINDA IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORY ITS A PRETTY GOOD BOOK.IM NOT DONE YET SO ILL TRY TO KEEP YOU POSTED ON WHAT I THINK.
May 4, 2007 11: 58 am
I really enjoyed the book speak. It was a page turner. I wanted to know what happenend to Melinda and why she wouldnt talk to anyone. When i found out what happened I was just as mad a Melinda was. I recomend this book everybody expecially teenagers.
May 4, 2007 12: 00 pm
I have read the book Speak and I think it`s a very interesting book. I think every incoming Freshman should read the book speak because it tell`s about
high school life and what high school is like. It`s hard for Melinda to stay quiet, but she stay`s quiet.
May 4, 2007 12: 01 pm
Ayo Alex S. here keepin it real.Speak is a real good book. i can really relate 2 MeLiNdA BeCaUsE ShE wUz BuLlIeD there fore i can relate. it was depressing how she was “HURT” up and down TWICE in the book. i would recamend 2 all with a 7th grade & up reading level.
May 4, 2007 12: 03 pm
This was a great book! At first i thought “oh great another boring reading assignment” but once i really started reading it.. it became very intresting. I finished the book in about 3 weeks, i never wanted to put it down. But it really makes you think about all the quiet kids, that everyone calls either freaks, or outcasts, maybe their going through soemthign like this. The book really made me thinkabout all the things people say and how it affects different people.
May 4, 2007 12: 04 pm
This book keeps you interested the whole time. When I’m in class I don’t do any other work in class. I just pick up the book and try to finish as much as I can in 45 minutes. It’s a really good book for someone entering the 9th grade. It makes you feel that your not the only one who has something they want to say but they can’t. I think that parents should also read this book. So they can understand what teens have to deal with. I cant wait to finish to the book!
May 4, 2007 12: 05 pm
I liked the book “speak”. I thought that the book lets people know that when people talk stuff on you that isnt true that you should just ignore it, and that when people say stuff about you and they dont even know you that you should not pay attention to it because all they want is a reaction out of you and you cant give that to them,and you just shouldnt let it bother you because it is not worth getting all upset and mad over. And even if it does bother you, then you just can not let people see that. The thing that kept me interested in this book was that I can relate to it.
May 4, 2007 12: 05 pm
Speak, so far is a good book that is interesting and keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. I would recomend this book to anyone who is going into highschool or already in high school as a freshmen. At first when I started reading this book I thought it was going to be a book that I wouldnt want to read. But now I see that its not a bad book and it might relate to what some of the quiet people might be going through.
May 4, 2007 12: 06 pm
I really liked the book Speak. It shows how teenagers feel at times and it is easy to relate to. It is an interesting book that keeps you going and makes you want to read more. I recommend this book to all teenagers. I think all teenagers will like it.
May 4, 2007 12: 08 pm
I have read the book Speak and I think they should make a new sequal and maybe with another girl.
May 4, 2007 12: 08 pm
Mr. powells very cool (sike) sike im just playing he’s cool in his own type of way. I loved the book so much im writting another review. it was cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool and fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnyyyyyyyyyyyyy
May 4, 2007 12: 09 pm
yeah i really like this book, speak but at the moment i can’t think of what to say and i keep looking at the clock. its 12:05. the battery light keeps flashing so i better go. but i think that we should def watch the movie after we’re done reading.
May 4, 2007 12: 42 pm
Thanks for the link to my Speak post.I’m impressed with how you’re introducing your students to social media and having them interact with people on the web. I’m also enjoying your students’ comments on my site. Thanks again.
May 4, 2007 1: 11 pm
This book was ok, wasnt my type of book and hope next book is better…
May 4, 2007 1: 13 pm
“Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson is an epic novel about Melinda Sordino and her adventure of surviving high school. I have not finished reading the book but I have seen the movie. Personally, i think that the movie is a lot more detailed and descriptive than the book becuase in the book all you get is mental images. I reccomend reading the book AND seeing the movie. It was such an amazing book and i love it because i can relate to how melinda feels because i am also a teenager in high school. I deffnitly reccomend people, kids and adults, to read this book.
May 4, 2007 1: 14 pm
Watching the movie would be better than reading the book because the book. has. annoying. sentences. like this. I don’t like Emo kids.
May 4, 2007 1: 20 pm
yeaa this book is ok but melinda is kinda weird. i like how the book is split and it shows how the nerds feel.
May 4, 2007 1: 20 pm
The book Speak is supercalafradgilisticexpealidotous. It relates to a real teens life. Because it was broken down into for marking periods it was easier to read and comprehend.
May 4, 2007 1: 21 pm
This book is pretty good so far, I hope we also will watch the movie in class soon.
May 4, 2007 1: 24 pm
My 9th grade english class is now reading “Speak†and so far im now in the middle of the book and its a very good book. Not only girls i would reccomend this book for everyone to read no matter what sex or age you are. This book reveiw is good because its mostley goes overwhat the story is about. Luvz ya ~Tay Smuchesz
May 4, 2007 1: 26 pm
The book was a good book to read and very interesting and i couldn’t put it down sometimes.
May 4, 2007 1: 27 pm
What to say…
the book “Speak” is great even though i didn’t get
that far in the book, it is still interesting to read.
The book is fabulous and i would recommend it for any teen!
May 4, 2007 1: 28 pm
The book Speak was unexpectingly good to me. I liked how Mrs Laurie used a lot of details in her book so the readers, such as me, can read visually.
May 4, 2007 3: 31 pm
[...] My students posted comments to several blogs in response to those authors’ reviews of  the novel Speak. Then I had my students post their own reviews of the novel on our blog. [...]
May 4, 2007 5: 52 pm
[...] learned today that Mr. Powell required his English classes to read and comment on web sites that reviewed the novel his students [...]
May 4, 2007 5: 57 pm
[...] 5.4.05: Thanks to Mr. Powell for making this post an assignment for his English class, and thanks to his students for all their [...]
May 6, 2007 6: 59 am
I have enjoyed all your comments. Most of you provided well written, thoughtful comments on the various sites we used for this lesson. Excellent work!
May 7, 2007 7: 13 am
I think that speak is a great book. It great because Anderson has done a great job of painting the picture in your mind of what is going on. Speak also does reflect very well the life of a high school outcast. The only thing I don’t like about the book is that Melinda doesn’t talk when it’s is necessary to talk. I would recommend this book to everyone and anyone.
May 7, 2007 12: 04 pm
hey i loved speak the books like whoooa and melinda was like wow and i was liked ooh snapp and then i got bored and then i started reading it agian i thought the book was wow and i couldnt belive how much people can relate to it and whooa..
May 7, 2007 6: 04 pm
Personally I think that the book Speak was really great and should be recommended to be read in other schools. This book is mainly about a girl named Melinda entering High School after getting raped and staying silent about it. By doing so it made her life a living hell, so this book is letting others know to speak when the time is right and not wait until everyone dislikes you.
May 8, 2007 3: 19 pm
The book SPEAK relates to teenagers and how they feel at times and its easy to realte to. The book also makes you want to keep reading more. I enjoyed it very much.
May 13, 2007 3: 04 pm
I think that Speak is a very well-written book about how teens go through a lot in their life to make it adulthood. Also I totally think she should write a sequel I think she left us hanging at the end though you can predict what she is going to say. Also the movie is good too.
June 7, 2007 5: 31 pm
Hi! nice site!
February 27, 2008 10: 36 pm
WELL iiM STiiLL READiiNG THE BOOK
SO FAR ii LIKE IT BECAUSE SHE IS UMM SHE IS WIRED IN A
WAY BUT THEN AGAIN WHO IS IT!
WELL FOR ME Melinda IS A iiGHT PERSON BUT UMM
WHY DID SHE CALL THE COPS THAT NIGHT ??
UMM iiM NOT THAT FAR SO II HAVE NOT READ THAT PART HOPEFULLY ii FIND OUT [WHY}SHE
DID THAT……….iilL KEEP YALL UNDATED….