START A CONVERSATION ABOUT . . . . . . finding your voice · PDF fileSTART A CONVERSATION...

START A CONVERSATION ABOUT . . .. . . finding your voice

Discussion Questions• Discussthetitleofthenovelanditssignificance.Whatrolesdosilenceand

truthplayinthestory?

• Istherearelationshipbetweenspeakingandlistening?Canoneexistwithouttheother?

• Whatisfriendship?DescribetheimportantelementsofMelinda’srelationshipswithHeather,Ivy,Nicole,andRachel.Issheeverreallyfriendswithanyofthem?Canfriendshipmeansomethingdifferenttodifferentpeople?Citedifferentpassagesinthenovelasevidenceofyouropinion.

• Melindasays:“Itiseasiernottosayanything.Shutyourtrap,buttonyourlip,canit.AllthatcrapyouhearonTVaboutcommunicationandexpressingfeelingsisalie.Nobodyreallywantstohearwhatyouhavetosay.”Doyouagreewithher?Whyorwhynot?Dotheeventsinthenovelsupportornegateherstatement?Doesheroutlookchangeatanypointinthenovel?Howso?

• WhatkeepsMelindasilent?Whatissheafraidof?

• DiscussthesocialhierarchyofMerryweatherHigh.Whatroledoestheconceptofidentityplayinthenovel?WhyisbelongingtooneofthemanyclanssoimportanttoHeatherandsounimportanttoMelinda?

• WhydoesMelindaisolateherselffromherfriends?Isshejustifiedindoingso?

• Melindanicknamesmanyoftheothercharactersthroughoutthenovel.Discussthesignificanceofthishabitandhowitcontributestothedevelopmentofthestoryandyourexperienceasareader.

• WhydoyouthinkMelindareferstoAndyEvansasITinthebeginningofthenovel?Atwhatpointdoesshestarttocallhimbyname?Why?

• InwhatplacesisMelindaabletofindsanctuaryatschool?Howdothecharacteristicsoftheseplacesprovideawindowintohercharacter?

• WhatdoesMelindalearninartclass?Whatdoesthetreeshespendstheyearcreatingfinallycometosymbolize?

• HowdoesDavidPetrakiscontributetoMelinda’squesttofindhervoice?HowdoesMr.Freemaninfluenceher?WhatroledoherparentsandtheotheradultsinthenovelplayinMelinda’sjourney?

• Despiteherinternalsenseofhumor,Melindaseemsdepressedtotheoutsideworld.Inwhatwaysisherdepressionevident?Howdothepeoplearoundherreacttoherbehavior?Doyouthinktheyrespondappropriately?Howwouldyourespond?

• Whatroledoesrumorplayinthestory?Discusshowrumorsandtruthcanbeconnected.Isonemorepowerfulthantheother?

• ReflectonMelindaandRachel’swrittenconversationtheyhaveinthelibrary.DiscussRachel’sreactiontowhatMelindatellsher.Whydoyouthinkshebehavesasshedoes?DoesshebelieveMelinda?

• Howdoesnaturemanifestitselfinthestorylineandcontributetomeaning?DiscusshowthechangingoftheseasonscouldbearguedtomirrorMelinda’sabilitytospeak.

• Isitpossibletospeakwithoutspokenwords?Whyorwhynot?Identifypassagesinthenoveltosupportyourposition.

• Discusstheendingofthebookandtherelevanceofthelastscene.

• WhatfinallyallowsMelindatospeak?

REALITYREADS.COM

A Discussion Guide for SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson

A note from the author

What makes your book real?“Iwasa lost teenager.Myparents struggledandIdidn’thaveanyonewhounderstood thebattlesI was fighting in my heart. Books kept me aliveandmore; theyhelpedmefindmypath andmypeople. I try towritebooks that canhelp today’sreaders. Not everyone is as messed up as I was(thank goodness!), so sometimes my books giveteens insight into people or situations that theyhaven’texperienced.Youknowwhat’sreal?Realistheneedweallhavetoconnectwitheachother.Sharingstories isthebestwayIknowtodothat.”—LAURIEHALSEANDERSON

Ages 12 and upPB: 9780312674397 • $9.99/$10.99 CAN

E-Book: 9781429997041 • $9.99

OVER 3 MILLION COPIES SOLDA NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALISTA MICHAEL L. PRINTZ HONOR BOOK

SPEAK tells the story of Melinda, a high school freshman who is increasingly isolated and outcast after being raped by an upperclassman at a party. Her healing process takes time, but eventually Melinda fights back, refuses to be silent, and thereby achieves a measure of vindication.