Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson | Teen Ink

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

January 7, 2011
By RozaB SILVER, Milpitas, California
RozaB SILVER, Milpitas, California
8 articles 0 photos 39 comments

Speak. Speak because you have a voice. Speak because you have the right to. Speak because if you don't, then who will?
There are so many problems nowadays--most of them involving teens. It is so sad how children cannot grow up CLEAN. Instead, we grow up with things on our minds that should not be there until we are in our thirties, and maybe not even then. Stress and opression. Impossible choices and peer pressure. We grow up with problems that no human being should live with.
We grow, just as any living thing does. Just as a tree or a flower or a plant does. We have scars, dents, guilt all over us, just as that tree that is still growing, still prospering because it has the right to--because you have the right to. But we have to let ourselves do so. And that is not what the protagonist of Speak--Melinda--does. She has to face something so tough--something that nobody should ever go through. And it must have been even harder because she was barely even a teenager when IT happened to her. When IT hurt her. When IT destroyed everything about her, including her voice. But what she does not do is speak about what happened to her. She does not tell someone.
Your most powerful weapon is, indeed, your voice. And when you don't use that, then what do you actually have in your possession to use?
Children and teens and even adults need to know what happened to Melinda Sordino. And luckily, millions do. Speak celebrates a good ten years of changing millions of lives all around the world. So don't hesitate to pick up this book. Please just tell someone. It cannot be stressed enough--please tell someone. And better yet, please say STOP. Do not let somebody hurt you because you did not have the courage to speak up and tell them that you've had enough. Learn to speak. Learn to not be trapped behind barbed wire. Learn to use your voice.
Speak.



Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 9 comments.


Lilies BRONZE said...
on Mar. 14 2011 at 2:54 pm
Lilies BRONZE, Columbus, New Jersey
2 articles 0 photos 18 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Reach for the stars, even if you have to stand on a cactus.&quot;<br /> - Susan Longacre

Very well-written.You've inspired me to read this!

RozaB SILVER said...
on Jan. 23 2011 at 9:42 pm
RozaB SILVER, Milpitas, California
8 articles 0 photos 39 comments
OF COURSE!!!!

on Jan. 23 2011 at 9:39 pm
you do know who i am right?

RozaB SILVER said...
on Jan. 23 2011 at 6:03 pm
RozaB SILVER, Milpitas, California
8 articles 0 photos 39 comments
Yeah, I'm cool like that :) 

on Jan. 23 2011 at 11:20 am

Ok thanks RozaB. That was really helpful. Sometimes, when i'm too scared, i just keep feelings to myself. But u really taught me how to open up and that usually, it's better that way.

 


RozaB SILVER said...
on Jan. 23 2011 at 9:59 am
RozaB SILVER, Milpitas, California
8 articles 0 photos 39 comments
P.S. Even though nobody hurt you, you spoke about what you felt. And I guess Speak teaches you that, too. To speak about anything and everything. 

RozaB SILVER said...
on Jan. 23 2011 at 9:57 am
RozaB SILVER, Milpitas, California
8 articles 0 photos 39 comments
Yeah, you should read it--it was really good. I haven't been through anything that she's been through at all. But it taught me that no matter what you're doing, even if it's not hurting anybody, you need to stop. Anyway, it wasn't really about that. Now that I think of it, I'm happy you told me something. You spoke. Good job, Maysilee

Mr. Butler said...
on Jan. 23 2011 at 4:42 am
Your non-fiction is as beautifully written as your fiction. Few achieve this; you have. Bravo!

on Jan. 22 2011 at 12:24 am
wow, that really intrigued me to read the book. and that last part, did it have something to do with...? :P very well written