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Speak- The Graphic Novel

 

(Picture from Goodreads.com)

1.      1.       Bibliography

 

Anderson, Laurie Halse & Carroll, Emily. 2018. SPEAK. New York, NY: Farrar Straus Giroux.

              ISBN978-0-7804-0059-7

2.       Plot Summary

Melinda starts her freshman year at Merryweather High friendless, actually an outcast, because she busted an end-of-the summer party by calling the cops. The only thing is nobody thought to ask why. Now she is alone, friendless, and only has her art to help her cope with what happened that night.

 

A victim of rape, Melinda starts high school friendless. She also starts speaking less and less to the point she is hardly ever speaking at all. Her former friends constantly harass her, as does the boy who raped her. Her parents have no idea what is going on with her, teachers find her frustrating, and being alone has Melinda struggling with why she exists.

 

When her art teacher recognizes her creativity, Melinda finally has an outlet for her pent-up emotions. When she finally speaks out, it makes sense to everyone, and other start to come forward about their own stories.

3.       Critical Analysis

This adaptation of the powerful novel by Laurie Halse Anderson is brought to life through the illustrations created by Emily Carroll.

Anderson’s original novel was originally published in 1999 but this version feels current as time period references are left out. Melinda could be any high school student. The visuals in this book allow the reader to see the art Melinda is creating and see what she is trying to express. The black-and-white illustrations capture the mood of the story.

Melinda was raped at a party and nobody knew. When they start calling her names and refusing to listen to her story, she goes into her shell, refusing to speak to anyone, changing her hair and appearance, and becomes the outcast they all want her to be. In these pictures, you can see her expression of feeling alone, feeling unworthy, and being unhappy. The pain is clear on her face and the terror is evident in the scenes with her rapist.

This powerful novel is an uncomfortable, disturbing, and essential read about a young woman’s sexual assault and aftermath as the main character feels self-blame, victim shaming, and repercussions.

4.       Awards/ Reviews
*A School Library Journal Best Book of 2018*
*2018 Booklist Youth Editors' Choice*
*A YALSA Great Graphic Novel Reading List Selection*
*A YALSA Teens' Top Ten List Selection*
*A 2019 Amelia Bloomer Best Feminist Book for Young Readers*
*A 2019 Amelia Bloomer Top Ten Book*
*A Quill & Quire Best Kids' Book of 2018*
*A 2019 Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List Selection*
*The EBSCO See-It Award Winner!*
*An ILA Young Adult Reading List Selection*
*A Kids' Comics Award Nominee*
*Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award Winner*

"Carroll, well-known for her horror comics, does an excellent job of bringing the vignettes of Anderson’s novel to the graphic format. With spellbinding artwork, this exceptional adaptation masterfully does justice to its source material while adding new depth and nuance." ―Booklist starred review

"This potent retelling of the modern classic Speak blends words and images to create magic: a new representation of a teen whose voice is ripped from her, the battles she must wage to find it again, and the triumph of finally being able to speak out. Carroll’s grayscale artwork perfectly depicts the starkness of Melinda’s depression through strong ink lines and striking panels that rely on pencil and charcoal textural effects for the backgrounds. The characters are distinct and the action flows naturally; it is amazing how closely this version evokes the style and feeling of the original." ―School Library Journal starred review

5.       Connections

For high school students looking for books on tough topics, Speak covers the topic of rape.

 

Students who like books in graphic novel form would enjoy the adaptation of Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel. The pictures are in black and white and offer a lens into the lives of the characters. Many high school students enjoy books with pictures, and not much of the original version is cut for the graphic novel. 

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