From her first moment at Merryweather High, Melinda Sordino knows she's an outcast. She busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops - a major infraction in high-school society - so her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't know glare at her. She retreats into her head, where the lies and hypocrisies of high school stand in stark relief to her own silence, making her all the more mute.

But it's not so comfortable in her head, either - there's something banging around in there that she doesn't want to think about. Try as she might to avoid it, it won't go away, until there is a painful confrontation. Once that happens, she can't be silent - she must speak the truth.

In this powerful audiobook, an utterly believable, bitterly ironic heroine speaks for many a disenfranchised teenager while learning that, although it's hard to speak up for yourself, keeping your mouth shut is worse.

Listening Length

5 hours and 48 minutes
Author

Laurie Halse Anderson
Narrator

Mandy Siegfried, see all
Audible release date

December 7, 2006
Language

English
Publisher

Listening Library
ASIN

B000LR7EXS
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
See all details

Read & Listen

between reading the Kindle book and listening to Audible audiobook.
Add the audiobook for a reduced price of $7.49 after you get the Kindle book as part of your Kindle Unlimited subscription.

Audible Special Offer

One credit a month to pick any title from our entire premium selection to keep (you’ll use your first credit now).
Unlimited listening on select audiobooks, Audible Originals, and podcasts.
Upgrade for just $7.00 for your first month. After that, Audible Premium Plus continues until cancelled at $14.95 per month. Cancel anytime

Learn more about Membership

Special invitation from Audible!

One credit a month to pick any title from our entire premium selection to keep (you’ll use your first credit now).
Unlimited listening on select audiobooks, Audible Originals, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel online anytime.

Learn more about Membership

List Price: ~~$14.95~~

You Save: $1.87 (13%)

By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible’s Conditions Of Use

Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company

People who viewed this also viewed

Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1

Wintergirls
Laurie Halse Anderson
1,419
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
Twisted
Laurie Halse Anderson
459
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
Melissa
Alex Gino
1,089
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
All American Boys
Jason Reynolds
4,286
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (10th Anniversary Edition)
Sherman Alexie
6,490
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial

People who bought this also bought

Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1

King and the Dragonflies
Kacen Callender
284
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
They Both Die at the End
Adam Silvera
24,751
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
Eleanor & Park
Rainbow Rowell
9,597
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
The Giver
Lois Lowry
24,362
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
The Poet X
Elizabeth Acevedo
4,483
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial

Related to this topic

Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1

Merci Suárez Changes Gears
Meg Medina
675
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
Flying Lessons & Other Stories
Ellen Oh - editor
719
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
Zen and the Art of Faking It
Jordan Sonnenblick
115
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
Guys Read: Funny Business
Jon Scieszka
154
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
Forget Me Not
Ellie Terry
403
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial

Product details

Listening Length	5 hours and 48 minutes
Author	Laurie Halse Anderson
Narrator	Laurie Halse Anderson, Mandy Siegfried, Ashley C. Ford, Jason Reynolds
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	December 07, 2006
Publisher	Listening Library
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B000LR7EXS
Best Sellers Rank	#8,872 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #18 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction about Being a Teen (Books) #33 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction on Physical & Emotional Abuse (Books) #296 in Audiobooks for Children

Customer reviews

5 star		80%
4 star		12%
3 star		5%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Reviews with images

See all customer images

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

jamie

Rape cutting drinking cursing and bullying

Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2018

Verified Purchase

This book was assigned to mandatory reading for my 14 year old at school. I read the book first as I always monitor my kids stuff and found it inappropriate for her age group. But that is just my opinion you have to read to form your own for what fits your child. There is no life lesson to be taught in this book that I can see. Does give a negative out look on some parts of life in high school. If the book ended differently I would consider having her read it at this age but it didn’t. Again you have to form your own opinions. There is drinking rape bullying and some curse words but nothing major on the words part. A lot say there is drugs in this book, just shows they did not read it there is NO DRUGS IN THE BOOK! Hope this some what helps.

100 people found this helpful

Helpful

LibraryBenni

Complicated feelings, but worth reading

Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2018

Verified Purchase

This book has content warnings for bullying, rape and assault.

This book is tricky for me to review because I understand the importance of it and agree with its importance, and yet I have really complicated feelings about the execution. It’s not really designed to be an enjoyable read, so it’s tricky to measure why things are working for me and why things aren’t. Here’s my attempt at getting my thoughts down.

Every single person in this book is insufferable to some level. Every single time one of them shows up you know they’re not going to do anything helpful, and I just wanted them all to go away and leave Melinda alone. While there was so much talk about getting her to speak there was none about why she wasn’t speaking. Assumptions were made, threats would occur, but no one thought to ask why. While this works to show the ignorance people have around the subject of sexual assault — as annoying as it was, it was unfortunately realistic — it really made the book drag, and that’s really hard when the book is already less than 200 pages long to begin with.

Additionally, not a lot happened in the book. There wasn’t much of an actual plot; it was describing Melinda’s year at school without providing much of a through storyline outside of the rape, and that didn’t really work to hold all of the book together because it was more of a covert storyline. I went along with Melinda’s day-to-day business, and eventually I didn’t care anymore because nothing was happening and there was no emotion whatsoever. While it didn’t make for fun reading, I do think that this was actually pretty clever; I didn’t care because Melinda didn’t care. By giving me a lack of emotions, Anderson was making me feel like Melinda was really feeling. It’s a subtle touch, but once I realized that was happening I felt a little better about my reaction to the book.

This isn’t really supposed to be a book that you’re supposed to enjoy. It exists to make you think about sexual assault and rape culture and how those who aren’t directly participating in sexual assault are still a part of the problem. This book isn’t my favorite by any means, but I do appreciate it and what it has done.

Final rating: 4 of 5 stars

43 people found this helpful

Helpful

Dustin Faurote

A true masterpiece that is witty and emotionally powerful

Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2017

Verified Purchase

I could not put this book down. This book is an amazing reflection of the effects of trauma and depression on youth. While this story is mainly taking place inside Melinda's mind it is heart wrenchingly beautiful and tragic as she explores her world in a new way with a new perspective. Her wit and unique personality really shine as observes her world. This is an emotionally charged story that explores how a girl reclaims her identity and sense of self worth after enduring a traumatic event that essentially breaks her but luckily we join her on her journey of healing and growth. Melinda as the protagonist is perfect and amazing. I did not want the book to end, I want sequels just to read more of her thoughts and to learn more about how she views the world. She is the most unique and clever character I've ever read and you feel her pain, you feel her stress, you feel her happiness, you feel a connection to her even when you aren't reading, she stays with you because she is inspiring and clever. This book captures emotional highs and lows beautifully and you feel for Melinda not just because of her beautiful characterization but also because the author captures the emotionally complex aspects that leave you feeling as if you were there.

26 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Sami-Mae

Outstanding

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 24, 2020

Verified Purchase

Everyone who wants to understand the perspective of a young abuse victim should read this book. I would have it on school reading lists if I could, it is an OUTSTANDING work that gets right in the head of someone suffering the after-effects of trauma and helps you understand the choices they make. Melinda is a normal, flawed girl and makes for an excellent narrator. Truly a book that has stuck with me for years.

7 people found this helpful

Kat

A realistic look at high school in the 90s

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 28, 2013

Verified Purchase

Laurie Halse Anderson is an author that I hadn't really heard of until I started book blogging, but once I started noticing her name on lists of teen favourites and favourite issue books, I knew I had to try at least one of her books, and Speak was by far the one most often mentioned. What better place to start with an author than their most beloved book.

Melinda as a character is very relatable, although not hugely memorable. She finds herself ostracised by her classmates, and they are realistically high-school-cruel. Written in 1999, Speak is actually very close in time to my own high school experience, back before mobile phones and Facebook, in a time when gossip was spread by lunchtime whispers and bathroom graffiti, and Halse Anderson nailed it perfectly. What makes Speak so very readable is the realistic portrayal of high school life - cliques and bitchiness, cold-shoulders and indifferent parents and teachers and more of a focus on Melinda's school performance than her radical personality change.

For the vast majority of the book, Melinda is isolated from other students, teachers and her parents, and being inside her head for the majority of the book really makes it an intense read - her pain, disappointment and confusion are all very real, raw emotions that come through the pages.

I could have very easily read this book in one sitting - it was compelling, saddening, maddening and at times even frustrating - I wanted to literally reach through the pages and hug Melinda or punch one of her fickle, shallow former friends.

Despite being 14 years old, this book doesn't feel dated and the emotions, reactions and sitatuations feel incredibly realistic. The only downside for me was that some of the deeper issues felt like they were a little glossed over, and although Melinda obviously felt the impact of her actions very deeply, it did feel a little too 'neat' of an ending.

Speak is a book that I would recommend to any Young Adult reader, and in fact to any young adult, as it does examine some serious issues and how jumping to conclusions about people can cause some serious hurt.

2 people found this helpful

zenderfly

This book means a lot to me!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 3, 2011

Verified Purchase

The moment Melinda Sordino starts her first day at Merryweather High, she knows she is an outcast.
The story starts a few months after something traumatic happened to Melinda. But what happened to her is not revealed until later on as the story slowly unfolds.
All we know at first is that she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops and now her old friends won't talk to her and people she doesn't know glare at her. No one knows why she called the police, and she can't get out the words to explain. Her parents are too wrapped up in themselves to notice that something is wrong and her only so-called friend, Heather, is just with her until she finds someone cool to hang out with.
So Melinda retreats into her head and becomes silent on the outside. But it's not so comfortable in her head, either - there's something banging around in there that she doesn't want to think about. But, try as she might, it just won't go away...

What makes this novel unique is the inner dialogue of Melinda Sordino. It has been written in the first person narrative from her point of view. Melinda has a wonderfully sarcastic sense of humour and her thoughts really made me laugh. She is very opinionated and outspoken but she keeps these thoughts to herself and utters not one word out loud. She is also suffering inside and being tortured by a memory that she desperately wants to forget.

This book is very special to me. This is the only book that I have found that relates to me in every was possible. In a way I feel as if it has been written for me!

Melinda Sordino begins to suffer from Selective Mutism after a traumatic experience. This is a condition that means a person cannot talk in most social situations and to almost everyone except a handful of people. Selective Mutism is basically a fear of talking.
I have suffered from Selective Mutism for as long as I can remember and I found that I could totally relate to Melinda. I know what it is like to be unable to talk. I too have an opinionated, outspoken inner dialogue that no one but myself ever hears!
I know what it is like to have no friends, to be isolated and alone and completely misunderstood. Laurie Halse Anderson has really done a fantastically amazing job of describing what this is like. I tip my hat to her!

Laurie has also magnificently taken on the extremely upsetting subject of rape and the subsequent consequences and affects of such as traumatic experience. I too have had a very bad experience and so I could relate to Melinda. I totally understood how she was feeling and what it is like to be haunted by a memory that you wish would disappear.

SPEAK is a phenomenal book. Riveting and compassionately written, it is emotional and inspirational. It is ultimately as story of social acceptance and self acceptance with very clear messages to get across to the reader.
Although it has been written for the young adult market I personally think that it is a book adults would enjoy as well.
It is cleverly written and without a doubt one of the best books I have ever read.

Thank you Laurie. Words cannot describe how much this book means to me.

16 people found this helpful

whereiskfr

Emotionally gripping

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 13, 2011

Verified Purchase

The book is written in a monologue from Melinda Sordino's perspective, she is a freshman (13/14 years old) and it begins as she starts high school. The story is told mostly in short paragraphs, snippets of her life that read as though we too are trapped, voiceless, inside her head. This makes it particularly accessible to less confident readers, and for those who read a bit at a time. At first I found it hard to like or identify with Melinda, but having reflected on the story for a few days now I think that was the point. You get a good way through the book before you know why her life changed and what happened to her. This story hits on so many emotional levels - having nobody to talk to, being ostracised in school and bullied for something that wasn't her fault, and being constantly afraid... it's a visceral experience.

I read this immediately after finishing Just Listen by Sarah Dessen which was a gentler exploration of the themes explored in Speak. Both are excellent stories and deal with assault, each in a different way.

I recommend this book to teenage readers, as the central issues covered should not be shied away from and these things do happen. Reading about someone else's experience is surely educational.

4 people found this helpful

Ms. J. Clarke

Very well written

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 4, 2011

Verified Purchase

Speak is not a verly long book and I read it in one day. We meet Melinda who is going through
a very tough time, thats a bit of an understatement. She was raped at a party by an older guy from
her school and I think at first she thinks its her fault because she had been drinking. After what
happened she called the cops from the party and now everyone at school, including her best friend hate
her because she never told them what happened. The whole novel is set during the course of the school
year and centres around Melinda trying to find her voice. Trying to find a way to tell people what
happened to her and find the help she needs to overcome her ordeal. Its the first of Laurie Halse
Andersons books I have read and I will definately read more of her work in the future. This book is aimed
I think at people much younger than myself but I really enjoyed her writing. The story is tough to read
and although my experience at schools was nowhere near as bad, I could understand the feelings of not
fitting in and the emotions around having long term friends ditch you. Overall and very good book indeed.

2 people found this helpful

See all reviews

Speak: 20th Anniversary Edition Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Read & Listen

Upgrade to Audible Premium Plus $7.00

Free with Audible Trial $0.00

Buy with 1-Click $13.08

People who viewed this also viewed

People who bought this also bought

Related to this topic

Product details

Customer reviews

Reviews with images

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries

Upgrade to Audible Premium Plus

$7.00

Free with Audible Trial

$0.00

Buy with 1-Click

$13.08