Book Review: Speak

I have been picking up books for a dollar at my favorite book store, Strand and Book-Off. It is a little hard because there are so many books to sift through and you never know what you are getting yourself into when you start a book you haven't heard about. I have started a few books and have stopped due to boredom and inappropriate subject matter.

I picked this one up a couple of weeks ago and was excited to find a book I had heard about. I knew it was a young adult novel and that was enough credibility for me.

Summary:
Something has happened that has traumatized Melinda and transformed her from a good student with close friends into a withdrawn selective mute- she speaks only when absolutely necessary. Melinda keeps everything inside and it eats her alive. Harassed and tormented by her classmates and mostly ignored by her busy parents, she falls deeper into a depression; cutting class, forgetting to wash her hair, spacing out, gnawing on her lips until they are cracked and bleeding. Even her one friend, a cheery transplant from another school who is desperate to fit in somewhere, finally gives up on her, saying she is always negative and calling her a freak. But no one knows the torment Melinda is going through. As her grades slip and her social status plummets, she finds solace in art class. Her year-long art project is something she can get lost in and ultimately something that helps her heal.

It was a typical teenager book that all junior high and high schoolers would just love. With that said, of course I really enjoyed it. It wasn't the best book ever but the character was quirky and the story kept me engaged. It brought me back to the uncivilized days of high school where everyone feels like an outcast regardless of who you are. Plus, it also had an art teacher that made a difference to her and who made her feel normal and accepted. This is what I used to dream of when I was studying to become an art teacher. I wanted to be that person for someone; however, we all know how that turned out...I still have nightmares of student teaching.

Anyways, it is a quick read, so if you ever see it for $1 or can borrow it from a friend...go for it!