Speak 

• Genre: Fiction; young adult contemporary 
• Originally Published: 1999 
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 690L; grades 8-12 
• Structure/Length: Approximately 224 pages; approximately 5 hours and 48 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The protagonist, Melinda Sordino, starts her freshman year at Merryweather High as an outcast after calling the police at a summer party. Throughout the novel, Melinda grapples with the trauma of her rape and the isolation it brings, struggling to find her voice and speak out about her experience.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Sexual assault; depression; bullying; themes of trauma and recovery

Laurie Halse Anderson, Author 

• Bio: Born in 1961; an American writer known for her children’s and young adult novels; Broaches tough subjects with sensitivity and realism, earning her critical acclaim and a place as a voice for young readers facing difficult issues
• Other Works: Fever 1793 (2000); Chains (Seeds of America, Book 1) (2008); Wintergirls (2009); Shout (2019), a memoir and call to action against sexual violence 
• Awards: Golden Kite Award for Fiction (2000)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Finding One’s Voice after It Has Been Lost
• The Importance of Art as a Form of Self-Expression
• How Personality and Perception Change as a Result of Trauma

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will: