Let's Talk about Speak

As a future educator when I read books that are geared towards adolescents I find myself looking for certain things in the novel. First I want the novel to be socially relevant to kids. One thing I’ve learned so far in my student teaching is that most kids don’t like to read and won’t read a book or story that isn’t relevant to them. The second thing I search for is whether this book could be used within a multicultural classroom. In the world that we live in it’s important to make sure that the books we’re providing to children show characters that are from different cultures. It’s critical that our books show characters that children can identify with. Finally, and most importantly, I look for a book that I feel demonstrates well done literary techniques. If a book is showing students different examples of literary techniques that can be more exciting to kids than reading a definition from a textbook. Keeping these ideas in mind I’d like to talk about a book that I recently finished reading called Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.

In the novel Speak, a young girl, Melinda, has stopped talking following a traumatic experience. At first the reader can only guess what this experience is but throughout the novel it becomes clear that Melinda has been raped. While some people may find discussing an issue like rape in a classroom to be inappropriate, it is becoming a topic that teachers must address. Rape is becoming more and more common in society. One in six women and one in 33 men will become victims of sexual assaults (RAINN). These statistics are shocking and can’t be ignored. If we chose to not talk about this issue with our children it continues to keep a cloud of shame around the victim. This could prevent victims from coming forward and talking about their experiences. By discussing this issue it makes it okay for victims to come forward. Another reason why this novel is appropriate is because even though it focuses on a white female character it could be used in a multicultural classroom. Rape can happen to anyone regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs. Victims of rape could relate to Melinda’s feelings and experience. Even, as a young woman who hasn’t experienced a rape, I felt that this book allowed me to have better insight into what a rape victim experiences.

When looking at this book Anderson did a wonderful job utilizing different motifs within the story. A motif is a recurring item or element in a story that represents a larger theme or idea within the story. Throughout the book Anderson constantly mentions trees, mirrors, and mouths. In these different motifs they change and evolve throughout the story. In the beginning of the novel trees represent Melinda’s uncertainty regarding her emotions. By the end of the novel trees represent Melinda’s new found growth and connection to the emotions she experiences.

After looking at all of these aspects of the novel I found myself willing to add it to my classroom library and even teach it. When it comes to using this book in a lesson it would become important to inform parents, administrations, and even the students of the serious nature of this book. I think that this issue was handled in a responsible smart, sensitive way that allows for the reader to understand the experience of a rape victim or let a student know that they are not alone.

Works Cited:
RAINN. Statistics.2009. 8 October 2010.