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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.