Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak: A Powerful Graphic Novel Adaptation

Águeda: .

Spain on Feb 23, 2024

Ella: De svarta på sidorna färgar dock av sig på fingrarna men det är inte allt för mycket 🙂

Sweden on Jan 22, 2024

Mitzi: Realistic, graspable and heartbreaking to read. I will definitely read again!

United States on May 26, 2023

Ashima Bawa: Love how it’s written and illustrations do it justice.

India on Oct 11, 2022

Bibliophile without Borders: The heartbreaking pain of the MC speaks for everyone who has experienced sexual assault . A brilliant and even necessary book, Ms Anderson takes the reader inside the head and heart of the victim who is too scared and ashamed to speak up about her rape. Fortunately, she becomes stronger and refuses to remain silent and is able to move forward with her life. And we rejoice in her victory, especially when she understands that she’s a strong young woman and a survivor.

Unfortunately, there are thousands who do not get to this point. Most survivors of sexual assault remain silent but their lives are forever changed. If you or someone you know has been a victim, the book lists places to get help. The MC was failed by her school, her teachers, her parents, and so-called friends because no one took the time to find out why her behavior changed. The warning signs were there and were ignored but it didn’t have to be like this — if only one person would have cared enough to ask her why her life was falling apart, she would have talked sooner. She was crying for help and kindness if only someone would have listened

United States on May 18, 2022

E. J. Carter-Dunn: ncredibly powerful and moving. This really shows the impact graphic novels can have, particularly with hard-hitting and sensitive topics such as this.

We meet Melinda at the start of high school where she has been shunned by pretty much everyone after she called the cops on a party in August. No one knows the real reason she called; she was raped. Melinda is unable to tell anyone the pain she is going through or about the incident and so slowly sinks into herself, starts to truant and fails in almost all subjects. No one bothers to find out why.

The imagery in this book is fantastic and the black and white images really ties in with the emotional state of Melinda. I have not read the original novel, but I am sure this is a really good adaptation.

My only gripe is that sometimes the images were so dark that it was difficult to read the text and I had to squint or shine a torch to see what it said!

United Kingdom on Jul 26, 2021

Jerusha: I bought this book for my daughter because she told me it's her favorite book, and wanted me to read it. She had a copy from the library, so perfect Christmas gift.

I read this book within a few hours. It's a great story for anyone who has ever been sexually assaulted. It's also a great story about dealing with pain through artwork. And I love that the last two pages are filled with resources for women and girls who have been sexually assaulted.

My daughter hasn't been sexually assaulted, but I was as a child, and she loves expressing herself through art, so I can see why she loves it, and why she wanted me to read it.

They also made a movie from this book, which I also ordered, and am really looking forward to watching it with her.

United States on Dec 22, 2020

Marie: Livre neuf reçu abimé et humide (tout gondolé). Aucun soin, c'est lamentable !!!

France on Nov 22, 2020

Melissa Hoopman: A much needed book for the times. Melinda's struggle to speak about the abuse she's suffered is an accurate and powerful depiction of the emotions connected to being raped. The author shows just how much one horrifying experience can damage a life and soul. The title is also a play on words and a subtle but clever statement describing the book. Not only is the book written as a graphic novel but it is also a graphic story in a violent sense. Definitely meant for older teens and adults but a powerful message for us all. There is hope after abuse. There is recovery.

United States on May 03, 2019

Destiny B.: “When people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time.”

I first picked up a copy of Speak at the library some time in the very early 2000s, when I wish I’d been too young to know how the world worked, the ways in which it chewed children up and spat them back out. Sadly, I was one of many children who learned these things early, and Speak made me feel acknowledged. I remember thinking, for the first time, that someone understood me, and I will never, ever let go of the special place that feeling carved out in my heart for this famous little story. When I found out that one of my favorite graphic novel artists was taking it on for a new spin, I had to have it, and I literally sat down to devour it the moment I opened the package.

“I wonder how long it would take for anyone to notice if I just stopped talking.”

Unfortunately, Laurie Halse Anderson speaks from a place of understanding and experience on this topic, but it shines through in how authentic the events of Speak feel. The story not only discusses the ramifications of rape and how Melinda views her attacker now – especially in a scenario when a victim is forced to continue...

United States on Feb 12, 2018