Hey! I recently (re)read the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and I do have some strong opinions on it that I would like to share.
To start off, this novel is about a girl named Melinda Sordino. Throughout this book, she fights to overcome her depression due to something aching that happened to her at a summer party. She goes back to school in September with no friends, along with multiple glares from strangers. She decides that speaking will only hurt her, slipping into a state of depression.
This book truly meant a lot to me. The first time I read this book was in 2018 and it taught me a lot about standing up for myself when times get hard. When we are told to stand up for ourselves, we agree and stop thinking about it the day after. When we have to take action and stand up for ourselves, we tend to become a coward. I know that not all of us can relate to this, but there has to be someone out there who’s too shy, or too afraid to go out and stand up to everyone who has hurt them in the past.
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This book seriously triggered some emotions-okay. A lot. It shows a girl’s life with an eating disorder that has been slowly eating (Hah. Eating) her up day by day. In addition, she has a voice in her head telling her what to do-put on makeup, don’t eat this meal, you’re so ugly, etc. This girl’s name is Elena. Told from her perspective, it shows her struggles to fit in and be skinny. At the end, when I read the author’s note, I was shocked to find that this book is actually a true story about herself. I should have realized this sooner-a main character named Elena and an author named Elena? That’s too much of a coincidence. So, to sum it all up, this book is technically a memoir of the author’s life. Her mother, Clare, actually helped her write this book (hence the two authors in the title) 😛 I loved this book so much! But here’s a tip: If you don’t like rape or self-harm, DON’T READ THIS BOOK!