Bibliography 

Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak. Penguin Group. ISBN 0142407321 

Plot Summary 

Melinda Sordino’s freshman year at Merryweather High is not going as she would wish. At an end-of-summer party she made a phone call that made every one of her friends hate her and now she is paying for it by being ignored at school. She retreats inside of herself and does not interact with any of her past friends beyond what is expected of her at school. Something must give though because what happened at the party, the thoughts in her head, will not go away. She must stand up for herself and speak so that everyone knows the truth.  

Critical Analysis 

When you are introduced to Melinda’s character at the beginning of the book, you really feel sorry for her. She is being shunned by everyone at school for something she did at the end of summer. The reader learns about Melinda and her willingness to make life as normal as possible after what happened at the party. Anderson takes us day by day through Melinda’s days at school, meeting new friends, and her interactions with her parents. Interspersed throughout the story are her innermost thoughts about that horrific night. Her character develops into someone who is strong and courageous. She stands up for what must be done. Speak is a wonderful story of courageousness and perseverance.  

Review Excerpts 

“In a stunning first novel, Anderson uses keen observations and vivid imagery to pull readers into the head of an isolated teenager. . . . Yet Anderson infuses the narrative with a wit that sustains the heroine through her pain and holds readers’ empathy. . . . But the book’s overall gritty realism and Melinda’s hard-won metamorphosis will leave readers touched and inspired.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review 

 
“An uncannily funny book even as it plumbs the darkness, Speak will hold readers from first word to last.”—The Horn Book, Starred Review 

 
“A frightening and sobering look at the cruelty and viciousness that pervade much of contemporary high school life, as real as today’s headlines. . . . The plot is gripping and the characters are powerfully drawn . . . a novel that will be hard for readers to forget.”—Kirkus Reviews, Pointer Review 

 
“Melinda’s pain is palpable, and readers will totally empathize with her. This is a compelling book, with sharp, crisp writing that draws readers in, engulfing them in the story.”—School Library Journal 

 
“A story told with acute insight, acid wit, and affecting prose.”—Library Journal 

 
“Melinda’s voice is distinct, unusual, and very real as she recounts her past and present experiences in bitterly ironic, occasionally even amusing vignettes. . . . Melinda’s sarcastic wit, honesty, and courage make her a memorable character whose ultimate triumph will inspire and empower readers.”—Booklist 

  • A Michal L. Printz Honor Book 
  • A National Book Award Finalist 
  • An Edgar Allan Poe Award Finalist  
  • An ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults 

Connections 

Major Themes in Speak 

Isolation — One of the main themes in the novel involves Melinda’s silence and her inability to talk to others about what happened to her. 

Related Works: 

The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway 

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez 

Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett 

Grief — This novel exemplifies the immobility that derives from grief and depicts the true dangers of depression. 

Related Works: 

The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold 

Out of the Dust, by Karen Hesse 

Wintergirls, by Laurie Halse Anderson 

Hope — It is relieving to see Melinda finally tell someone about her attack and undergo a transformation from the sullen, quiet girl she was at the beginning, to a person with a renewed sense of self. 

Related Works: 

The Five People You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom 

The Miracle Worker, by William Gibson 

Sold, by Patricia McCormick 

Natbony, R. (2020, July 28). How to teach speak. Prestwick House.  

https://www.prestwickhouse.com/blog/post/2020/07/how-to-teach-speak

Bibliography 

Johnson, A. (2003). The first part last. Simon & Schuster. eISBN 9781439106587 

Plot Summary 

Bobby is a typical New York City teenager who likes hanging out with his friends. On his 16th birthday while out for pizza with his buddies, Bobby learns from his girlfriend, Nia, that he is going to be a dad. His life changes drastically after hearing this news. He is supportive of Nia and matures quite a bit when he must attend doctor appointments and then pediatrician visits for his new daughter, Feather. Bobby’s life changes even more when Nia slips into a coma. Bobby is now a single, teenage father learning to cope.  

Critical Analysis 

Johnson tells story of a young man who must grow up quickly when his choices he makes put him in the category of teenage father. In this fast-paced story of a young dad and his baby daughter we hear of what Bobby is going through in trying to raise Feather and continue his education. We learn of his relationship with the baby’s mother through some chapters entitled “then.” Bobby is the storyteller, and we get a glimpse of what it is like to have to make grown up choices at 16 years old. It is a quick read and heartwarming. 

Review Excerpts 

It’s the tale of one young man and his choices, which many young readers will appreciate and enjoy. Kirkus Reviews 

Readers will only clamor for more about this memorable father-daughter duo—and an author who so skillfully relates the hope in the midst of pain. Publishers Weekly  

  • A Michael L. Printz Award Book 2003 

Connections 

Coming of Age 

Bobby must make some mature decisions after his girlfriend slips into a coma. He decides to raise his daughter by himself. What are the ramifications of this decision? In what ways has Bobby grown up by the end of the novel? In what ways is he still a kid? 

Love 

Discuss genuine love that Bobby has for Nia and then his daughter, Feather. What is genuine love? Supply text evidence of Bobby’s love for Nia and Feather. How do Bobby’s parents show him love? What are some of the sacrifices that many of the characters make in order to show love?  

Men and Masculinity 

Bobby is trying to figure out what it means to be a man. He has good role models: his father, his brother, and yes, even his mother. But he is only 16 years old. Why should he have to grow up now and take on the responsibilities of a man? How do characters in the novel define being a man? Consider Bobby, Just Frank, Fred, Bobby’s friends, and Paul.  

Study guide: The first part last. Shmoop. https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/ 

Bibliography 

Nayeri, D. (2020). Everything sad is untrue (a true story). Levine Querido. eISBN 9781646140022 

Plot Summary 

Khosrou, aka Daniel, is not like the other children in his middle-school classroom. He not only looks different, but he smells different, too, well, his lunch smells different. Daniel is an outstanding storyteller and his classmates are intrigued by his tales that span generations of family members. He tells stories of how his family lived in Iran and had to flee and his life in a refugee camp in Italy. He tells the reader his struggles of being bullied as he comes to live in the United States.  

Critical Analysis 

Nayeri does a phenomenal job of telling a fictionalized version of his early life in Iran and then being moved to a refugee camp in Italy. We get an insight into what it truly means to be an outcast from one’s country and struggle to make a life somewhere else. Nayeri’s character, Daniel, is a strong, mature character who manages to persevere in challenging times. He uses beautiful language to describe his ancestral Persian history. Nayeri gives us a first-hand insight into Daniel’s world by telling the story from Daniel’s point of view. 

Review Excerpts 

At its most basic level, Nayeri’s offering is a fictionalized refugee’s memoir, an adult looking back at his childhood and the forced adoption of a new and infinitely more difficult life. The language is evocative: simple yet precise, rife with the idiosyncratic and abjectly honest imagery characteristic of a child’s imagination. Kirkus 

Nayeri weaves stories within stories in this fictionalized account of his formative years. He shares layers of rich information about life in Iran, refugee camps, and his experiences as an immigrant in the United States during the late 20th century. The themes of family, love, and truth are as strong as those of faith, endurance, memory, and storytelling as Khosrou (also known as Daniel) tries to tell the tales of his beautiful, complicated life and family. School Library Journal  

Connections 

Discuss what it means to be a refugee. Research refugee camps. What is the refugee situation in the US today?   https://education.blogs.archives.gov/2020/06/15/refugees-in-us-wwii/ 

Other books by Daniel Nayeri- https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/daniel-nayeri/473865/ 

Learn more about Daniel Nayeri here.  

For a list of books about refugees visit: https://www.hornbookguide.com/site/www.hornbookguide.com/site/?reviewList=ya-books-for-world-refugee-day