Apr 08, 2014 its fifteen years since laurie halse andersons young adult novel speak was first published. Speak anderson novel, a 1999 novel by laurie halse. Sep 23, 20 this past july, laurie halse anderson posted a blog entry titled ever wonder how the mind of a book banner works. It is most frequently challenged for what is considered to be explicit sexual content. I chose speak in honor of banned books week and am appalled to hear that this book is being challenged again. Banned or challenged books, grades 58 teachervision. Oct 23, 2018 today is laurie halse andersons 57 th birthday. In this text to text we feature an excerpt from speak, a 1999 national book award finalist that is regularly taught, and regularly challenged, in schools across the country. Geoffrey speak 19242000, a british teacher in hong kong. This past july, laurie halse anderson posted a blog entry titled ever wonder how the mind of a book banner works. The novel speak, by laurie halse anderson, should be a mustread book because it addresses a controversial issue, teaches an important lesson, and shows people how bad the real world can be.
Speak by laurie halse anderson is a young adult novel that was published in 1999. Speak was a national book award finalist, a michael l. The novel was a new york times bestseller the year it was released and it was a national book award finalist as well as the winner of the 2000 ala best book for young. According to the american library association, speak was one of the top 100 banned challenged books between 2000 and 2009. When i spoke to anderson in the wake of scroggins piece, shes surprisingly calm about the matter. Every year several books are challenged and banned across the nation by individuals and organizations who believe the content of the books is inappropriate.
I have seven new note books, a skirt i hate, and a stomachache. Anderson is the bestselling author of several novels, including speak, twisted, chains, wintergirls, the impossible knife of memory, fever 1793, and more. Background information speak was challenged many times in many different areas, for many different reasons. Ultimately the school board voted to keep speak on the gifted language arts class reading list. Sep 02, 2018 banned book club is a meme i host where we read one historically challenged book a month. Anyone who has actually read the book could never say that its presenting melindas rape in a positive or titillating light. Laurie halse anderson on speak, censorship, and the. This piece was first published on laurie halse andersons blog. In laurie halse andersons powerful novel, an utterly believable heroine with a bitterly ironic voice delivers a blow to the hypocritical world of high school. Speak hungarian rapper born 1976, a hungarian rap artist and internet phenomenon famous for his antiwar video speak. The novel tells the story of melinda sordino, a syracuse ninth grader who must overcome her depression and silence after being raped at a summer party. Laurie halse anderson has no problem speaking up for her novel and expressing why it is so important for books like this to be read in schools. Jan 06, 2014 shortly after the release of her first novel, speak, in 1999, laurie halse anderson was traveling around the country, promoting the book, when she met a girl shell never forget.
Yet, laurie halse anderson is afraid too little has changed in the 18 years since speaks release. It was published in 1999, and is taught in many schools. Oct 22, 1999 in laurie halse andersons powerful novel, an utterly believable heroine with a bitterly ironic voice delivers a blow to the hypocritical world of high school. Jul 08, 20 laurie, i am a huge fan of your writing. The novel is written in the first person, and features a. Printz award honor book for excellence in young adult literature, and was named a best. The book speak by laurie halse anderson had its ups and downs. In honor of this anniversary, and in conjunction with april being sexual assault awareness. Melinda seems to feel a mixture of pity and admiration for hairwoman. Negrete, a ghostwriter of kreayshawn single gucci gucci. In florida, the novel has been called child pornography. Speak, published in 1999, is laurie halse andersons young adult novel that tells the story of melinda sordinos rape, recovery, and confession. Hairwoman is melindas english teacher, so named for the crazy hairdo that covers her face. Speak was a 1999 national book award finalist for young peoples literature.
Laurie halse andersons national book awardnominated ya book speak is about a teenage girl who retreats into isolation after she is raped. Some of andersons books have been challenged based on their content. Weve paired it with a 20 oped essay by a woman who was raped by a classmate when she was 16. I would recommend this book to the age group of 1216, because the theme, to my surprise is a little bit more mature, yet its at an easier reading level. Rape is a sensitive content to the author since it also happened to her when she was a teenager, and. She also succeeded with the moral of the story, it served a great importance. Shortly after the release of her first novel, speak, in 1999, laurie halse anderson was traveling around the country, promoting the book, when she met a girl shell never forget. The book speak is listed by the american library association as one of the top 100 books challenged between the years 20002009 and has been banned from some middle and high schools for sexuality, situations of suicidal thoughts in teens, and gritty teenage situations. Speak by laurie halse anderson is multiple awardwinning books, but it is also listed by the american library association as one of the top 100 books challenged between 20002009. It was among the 100 most frequently challenged books of the 2000s.
Speak by laurie halse anderson banned books week book journey. Speak band, a synthpop band from austin, texas speak bachelor girl song, a 2018 single by australian pop band bachelor girl speak godsmack song, a 2006 song by the band godsmack. Challenged sarasota, florida 20 parents at laurel nokomis middle school in sarasota, florida became outraged when they equated the book speak about a yearold girl being raped as pornographic. Jun 11, 2018 laurie halse anderson shocked readers with a book about rape. Oct 27, 2017 yet, laurie halse anderson is afraid too little has changed in the 18 years since speak s release. Speak is laurie halse andersons first young adult novel. Though ive read and loved many of her books, today i want to talk about the first book of hers i ever read. Speak anderson novel, a 1999 novel by laurie halse anderson speak, the film based on andersons book. Judy blume has led protests against a call to censor laurie halse andersons novel speak alison flood wed 29 sep 2010 08. Speak is an enduring novel that has a significant place in ya fictions history, and anderson herself has been a champion of ya lit, as well as a champion of those who advocate on behalf of ya readers. Feb 19, 2009 speak was a national book award finalist, a michael l. Melindas pain and ultimate hope for healing is described honestly and compassionately. Speak, published in 1999, is a young adult novel by laurie halse anderson that tells the story of high school freshman melinda sordino. Laurie halse anderson shocked readers with a book about rape.
Speak appears on the american library associations list of top challenged books. Join our goodreads group and dm me on twitter to join our group chat. Its fifteen years since laurie halse andersons young adult novel speak was first published. You have to know what you stand for, not just what you stand against. Andersons did an excellent job with making the language simple, as most teenagers would like. Rebecca slocum today is laurie halse andersons 57 th birthday. This book was challenged a few years ago 20, by a parent in sarasota who did not feel it was appropriate for her. It was published in 1999 by penguin group and rereleased in 2006 as a platinum edition containing an interview with the author. Melindas only friend is heather, a new student, who tries to get melinda involved in her schemes to gain popularity. Nov 29, 20 when i was 14 years old, i read speak for the very first time in my freshman english class and it quickly became my favorite book that i read that entire year. At the same time, shes locked into one way of thinking about literature and gets all bent out of shape when challenged. Anderson expects that shout aimed at high school students and up will be challenged just as speak still is by.
The main character, melinda, cuts class, steals passes from teachers, and deliberately cuts herself. It became a best seller and an award winner while also making frequent appearances on the american library associations frequently challenged books list. In 2010, an associate professor at missouri state university challenged speak. Printz award honor book for excellence in young adult literature, and was named a best book of the year by publishers weekly, booklist. Laurie halse anderson and the enduring legacy of speak. Eye on the tigers check out laurie in mexico, at the library, of course. But the author offers real solutions to melindas pain. Watch this video of laurie halse anderson talking about her school experiences and how she came to be a writer. While most kids are dealing with acne, really bad crushes, mean teachers, and jammed lockers, melinda sordino has all of these problemsplus one more. Since its publication, speak has received both critical acclaim and censorship. Banned book club is a meme i host where we read one historically challenged book a month. The book has faced censorship for the sexual content of melindas rape. Melindas connection to a mentor, her artistic creations, and. Richard sweir, an activist who tried to get her novel, speak banned in florida, decided to participate in the comments section.
I fight censorship inside and outside of public libraries. I am many things a wife, mother, librarian, friend, former social worker, american history buff. The 1999 young adult novel speak, which chronicles a high school freshmans struggle with the aftermath of rape, was challenged by a missouri professor and father of three in june. When i was 14 years old, i read speak for the very first time in my freshman english class and it quickly became my favorite book that i read that entire year. Speak by laurie halse anderson is still painfully relevant. The 1999 young adult novel speak, which chronicles a high school freshmans struggle with the aftermath of rape, was challenged by a missouri professor and father of three in june wesley scroggins, an associate professor of management at missouri state university in springfield, made a public complaint to his local school board about speak and. She speaks for many a disenfranchised teenager while demonstrating the importance of speaking up for oneself.
Ive read speak, and as a teen librarian ive defended it to many parents, while promoting it to their children eager to read it. May 02, 2018 challenged sarasota, florida 20 parents at laurel nokomis middle school in sarasota, florida became outraged when they equated the book speak about a yearold girl being raped as pornographic. Mar 05, 2014 the novel speak, by laurie halse anderson, should be a mustread book because it addresses a controversial issue, teaches an important lesson, and shows people how bad the real world can be. After accidentally busting an end of summer party due to an unnamed incident, melinda is ostracized by her peers because she will not say why she called the police. Sep 19, 2010 i am participating in a blog event called ban thisa month long celebration of bannedchallenged books. I chose speak in honor of banned books week and am appalled to hear that this. Speak by laurie halse anderson banned books week book. My thoughts on this exceptional book are here ban this. Oct 06, 2015 laurie halse anderson speak poem duration. In shout, author laurie halse anderson tells the true. We support free speech and fight censorship every chance we get. This guy thinks speak is pornography laurie halse anderson. Speak by laurie halse anderson, is the story of a socially isolated teenage rape victim navigating her freshman year of high school. The book is about a girl, melinda, who stops speaking at school.
Wesley scroggins, an associate college professor at missouri state university wrote an opinion piece in the springfield newsleader and said that books like speak should be hidden from students. A perennial classic, laurie halse andersons speak 2000 printz honor book, a groundbreaking work about date rape in high school, has been challenged for being pornography numerous times. You will have time to get to your class before the bell rings. Sep 29, 2010 judy blume has led protests against a call to censor laurie halse andersons novel speak alison flood wed 29 sep 2010 08. Sep 25, 2014 a perennial classic, laurie halse andersons speak 2000 printz honor book, a groundbreaking work about date rape in high school, has been challenged for being pornography numerous times. Scroggins has taken the view on laurie halseandersons book, speak, that he has. The victims of sexual violence are still held responsible for their attacks, she says. Book summary over the summer, she and her friends went to a party and melinda ended up calling the police, causing her friends and everyone at the party to socially reject her.
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