From: Vanston <jvanston>
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 13:16:54 -0500 (EST)

Speak" paints a powerful picture of the high school social scene. As adults, we can sometimes (or prefer to!) forget how isolated and devasting the social pecking order can be in high school. The lack of power, the inability to change a terrible situation is vivid in this book. Things that an adult would say, "Just ignore them and they'll stop" like being hit with balls of paper, or being cursed at, are portrayed with a minimum or words, but have a strong impact, even as the main character tries to downplay the abuse. I thought it was a very strong book, not didactic, and a must read for anyone who works with teenagers, has teenage children, or was an outcast when they were in high school.

Jen Vanston jvanston at suffolk.lib.ny.us South Country Library, Children's Librarian Bellport, NY

"People say that life is the thing, but I prefer reading"
                                   -Logan Pearsall Smith
Received on Mon 28 Feb 2000 12:16:54 PM CST