Speak
School year: Lower 6th, Upper 6th, Year 10, Year 11, Year 5, Year 6, Year 7, Year 8, Year 9
No. of pages 240
Published: 2008
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This book is the winner of numerous awards
This book features in the following series: Platinum Edition, Thorndike Young Adult .
This book has been graded for interest at 12-15 years.
There are 240 pages in this book. This book was published in 2008 by Hachette Children's Group .
Laurie Halse Anderson is a New York Times -bestselling author, known for tackling tough subjects with humor and sensitivity. Her work has earned numerous awards and accolades.
Coming Of Age in literature
Mental Illness in literature
Depression in literature
Sexual Abuse in literature
Physical And Emotional Abuse in literature
Friendship in literature
Bullying in literature
This book has been nominated for the following awards:
New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association Award - Fiction
This book was recognised in the Fiction category by the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association Award.
Sequoyah Book Award - YA
This book was recognised in the YA category by the Sequoyah Book Award.
Nevada Young Readers' Award - YA
This book was recognised in the YA category by the Nevada Young Readers' Award.
Carolyn W Field Award
This book was recognised by the Carolyn W Field Award.
Booksellers' Choice Award - YA
This book was recognised in the YA category by the Booksellers' Choice Award.
Volunteer State Book Award - Grades 4-6
This book was recognised in the Grades 4-6 category by the Volunteer State Book Award.
Garden State Award - Fiction
This book was recognised in the Fiction category by the Garden State Award.
Michael L Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature - YA
This book was recognised in the YA category by the Michael L Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature.
Garden State Award - Fiction - Grades 9-12
This book was recognised in the Fiction - Grades 9-12 category by the Garden State Award.
Edgar Allan Poe Award - YA
This book was recognised in the YA category by the Edgar Allan Poe Award.
South Carolina Childrens Junior and Young Adult Book Award
This book was recognised by the South Carolina Childrens Junior and Young Adult Book Award.
Kentucky Blue Grass Award - Grades 9-12
This book was recognised in the Grades 9-12 category by the Kentucky Blue Grass Award.
Heartland Award
This book was recognised by the Heartland Award.
An uncannily funny book even as it plumbs the darkness, Speak will hold readers from first word to last. * The Horn Book, Starred Review *
The plot is gripping and the characters are powerfully drawn... a novel that will be hard for readers to forget. * Kirkus Reviews *
Highly recommended. * The Scotsman *
Melinda's sarcastic wit, honesty, and courage make her a memorable character whose ultimate triumph will inspire and empower readers. * Booklist *
An outstanding book which invites the reader's admiration and empathy rather than pity. * Books For Keeps *
A dark but ultimately uplifting story. * Writers News *
Anderson holds the reader's sympathy with impressive skill in this classic 'outsider' story. * The Herald *
A stunning first novel... Anderson infuses the narrative with a wit that sustains the heroine through her pain and holds readers' empathy. The book's overall gritty realism and Melinda's hard-won metamorphosis will leave readers touched and inspired. * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *
Nails the high school experience cold. An uncannily funny book even as it plumbs the darkness, Speak will hold readers from first word to last. * THE HORN BOOK *
The plot is gripping and the characters are powerfully drawn, but it is its raw and unvarnished look at the dynamics of the high school experience that makes this a novel that will be hard for readers to forget. * KIRKUS REVIEWS *
Strong and searching novels that cover very difficult scenarios...The humanity of the protagonist really shines through in the expert characterisation and writing, making these novels really challenge the reader's empathy. I would strongly recommend these stark and thought provoking titles. * The Bookseller, 13th April 2001 *
Anderson has produced an outstanding book which invites the reader's admiration and empathy ... The power of Speak to evoke a positive response in spite of harrowing realism lies in Anderson's poetic prose and witty first person narration. * BfK, July 2001 *
Highly recommended. * THE SCOTSMAN *
