SPEAK (Laurie Halse Anderson) - June 18/13

I'm a little conflicted about this one. On the one hand, I found it impossible not to embrace the relatable story of a high school student who feels completely isolated and alone. Unlike most high school stories, Speak features a protagonist who really is friendless, which I found refreshing. But Anderson's choppy style prevented me from wholeheartedly embracing the narrative for large chunks of the book, although, of course, I really found myself getting involved as the book drew to a close. I suspect it's the sort of book that might improve on a second read. At any rate, Speak is certainly a grim, authentic look at the high school experience. *** out of ****