SPEAK

u003cpu003eu003cbu003e"Speak up for yourself—we want to know what you have to say." u003c/bu003eu003cbru003eu003cbu003eu003c/bu003eu003cbru003eA timeless novel about consent and finding the courage to speak up for yourself, the twentieth anniversary edition of the classic novel that has spoken to so many young adults now includes a new introduction by acclaimed writer, host, speaker, and cultural commentator Ashley C. Ford as well as an afterword by u003ciu003eNew York Times-u003c/iu003ebestselling author of u003ciu003eAll American Boys u003c/iu003eand u003ciu003eLong Way Down, u003c/iu003eJason Reynolds. This edition will also feature an updated Q&A, resource list, and essay and poem from Laurie Halse Anderson.u003c/pu003eu003cpu003eFrom the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless, outcast, because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her. As time passes, she becomes increasingly isolated and practically stops talking altogether. u003c/pu003eu003cpu003eOnly her art class offers any solace, and it is through her work on an art project that she is finally able to face what really happened at that terrible party: she was raped by an upperclassman, a guy who still attends Merryweather and is still a threat to her. Her healing process has just begun when she has another violent encounter with him. But this time Melinda fights back, refuses to be silent, and thereby achieves a measure of vindication. u003c/pu003eu003cpu003eu003cbu003ePraise for u003ciu003eSpeaku003c/iu003e:u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003eu003cpu003e“In a stunning first novel, Anderson uses keen observations and vivid imagery to pull readers into the head of an isolated teenager. . . . u003cbu003eWill leave readers touched and inspiredu003c/bu003e.”u003cbru003e—u003ciu003ePublishers Weeklyu003c/iu003e, u003cbu003estarred reviewu003c/bu003eu003c/pu003eu003cpu003e“An uncannily funny book even as it plumbs the darkness, u003ciu003eSpeaku003c/iu003e will hold readers from first word to last.”u003cbru003e—u003ciu003eThe Horn Booku003c/iu003e, u003cbu003estarred reviewu003c/bu003eu003c/pu003eu003cpu003eu003cbu003eAccolades for u003ciu003eSpeaku003c/iu003e:u003c/bu003eu003c/pu003eu003cpu003eu003ciu003eNew York Times u003c/iu003eBestselleru003cbru003eu003ciu003ePublishers Weekly u003c/iu003eBestselleru003cbru003eMichael L. Printz Honor Booku003cbru003eNational Book Award Finalistu003cbru003eEdgar Allan Poe Award Finalistu003cbru003eu003ciu003eLos Angeles Times u003c/iu003eBook Prize Finalistu003cbru003eALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adultsu003cbru003eALA Quick Picku003cbru003eu003ciu003ePublishers Weekly u003c/iu003eBest Book of the Yearu003cbru003eu003ciu003eBooklist u003c/iu003eTop Ten First Novelu003cbru003eu003ciu003eBCCB u003c/iu003eBlue Ribbon Booku003cbru003eu003ciu003eSchool Library Journal u003c/iu003eBest Book of the Yearu003c/pu003e