Speak

Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak. NY: Penguin. Melinda is a Freshman who starts high school being shunned for calling the cops on the hottest party of the summer. Alienated from all her friends, she stops speaking and starts hiding. As she shuts out the world, her art teacher pries with thought provoking assignment.  As Melinda comes to terms with the real reason why she called the cops, she was raped at the party, she finds that she needs to warn her old friend about the same boy. Eventually all secrets come out of the closet and Melinda finds her voice.  I was really surprised by this book because there was never mention of involving the authorities. I wonder what students would think about this as well.  I wanted Andy to be arrested and hauled off when the lacrosse team discovered them in the closet.  Even though it is a tough topic, Speak would be a good book for a higher-grade level to discuss about morality and justice.