Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have to preface my review by saying that I never read the original text so I don’t have that experience to compare this graphic novel edition to. My daughter read this when she was in high school and warned me that I might not be ready. She was right. Melinda’s story crushed me someplace deep in a somber place. It is heartbreaking and empowering at the same time. The illustrations are painstakingly beautiful in every haunting detail; in both the spoken and silent moments. Emily Carroll made me feel every sort of raw, gut-wrenching emotion through her brilliant visual manifestation of Laurie Halse Anderson’s poignant and powerful voice. It was dark but it was also a beautiful balm for the soul.
A resource list is provided at the end of the book of organizations that offer support and services to victims of sexual assault. Districts, educators, parents, don’t ban this important book. It’s honest. It’s real. And it might help in the journey to healing.
Shout-Outs
Laurie Halse Anderson | http://madwomanintheforest.com/
Farrar, Straus and Giroux | https://us.macmillan.com/fsg/
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