2023 PopSugar Challenge: a book that's been banned or challenged in any state in 2022

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars


Melinda is starting high school as a social outcast. She called the police while at an end-of summer party and the entire school blames her for ruining the fun. As time goes on, those who used to call her friend shun her and she find herself shutting down more and more. It reaches the point where she barely speaks to anyone. Even if she wanted to talk to anyone, who would listen to her? Who would believe her that she did not call the cops because the party was getting too much?

Over the course of the story we learn that she was given drinks at the party and once she was under the influence, she was was assaulted. It takes her almost an entire school year to understand that he didn't hurt her - he raped her. And she has to see him everyday at school and watch as her former best friend pursues him to be her boyfriend.

Melinda's grades suffer and her parents, whose marriage is basically a sham, just keep grounding her and punishing her. Her only solace is art class, where she finds the full-year assignment helps her start to work through her emotions and perhaps find the strength to speak up.

+++++

This was a VERY powerful and emotional book. Melinda is a relatable character and the author really got into the mind of not only a teenage girl traversing the pitfalls of starting high school but also a sexual assault survivor.

There is also an underlying theme of personal rights, identity and community.

Instead of being banned by schools, this is a book that should be required reading for all genders.




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