Speak: the graphic novel, written by Laurie Halse Anderson and illustrated by Eisner Award-winning artist Emily Carroll, takes a probing look at sexual assault and its consequences for adolescents. Melinda Sordino, a freshman at Merryweather High, is raped at a party and unable to speak out against her attacker. Instead, she expresses her feelings in the haven of art class, where her teacher challenges her to dig deep and voice her feelings artistically. Her struggle to cope with and communicate her depression is echoed in the stark, unforgiving greyscale of Carroll’s artwork. Melinda finds comfort in creating a space all her own, regains her confidence with the help of new found friends and is ultimately able to speak up against her attacker. This emotional novel challenges the reader to understand the reality and repercussions of sexual assault and the difficulty of seeking justice. –Recommended by Angel Stone, WOW Intern, University of Arizona

(Admin note: This book is also featured in WOW Currents.)

ISBN: 9780374300289
Publisher: FSG Books for Young Readers
PubDate: February 6, 2018

Each month a committee of Worlds of Words advisors recommends a book published within the last year. Our hope is to spark conversations on our website and on social media about the book that expand global understandings and perceptions. Please join us by leaving a comment. You can also share your thoughts with us by using the hashtag #WOWRecommends on social media.

array(10) {
  ["_edit_lock"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(12) "1516311884:2"
  }
  ["_edit_last"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(1) "2"
  }
  ["_yoast_wpseo_content_score"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(2) "30"
  }
  ["_yoast_wpseo_primary_category"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(4) "3405"
  }
  ["_thumbnail_id"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(5) "28879"
  }
  ["_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(13) "Emily Carroll"
  }
  ["_yoast_wpseo_focuskw"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(13) "Emily Carroll"
  }
  ["_yoast_wpseo_metadesc"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(148) "WOW Recommends Emily Carroll's graphic novelization of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson as a book that will resonate with a new generation of readers."
  }
  ["_yoast_wpseo_linkdex"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(2) "84"
  }
  ["_wp_old_slug"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(5) "30784"
  }
}

• Themes: Angel Stone, Emily Carroll, Laurie Halse Anderson, Speak
• Descriptors: WOW Recommends