Overview: The groundbreaking novel, Speak, is a National Book Award Finalist and Michael L. Printz Honor Book, captivating readers with its poignant narrative about consent, the journey of healing, and the power of self-expression. With more than 3.5 million copies sold, it has become a modern classic that speaks profoundly to the human experience.
From the moment Melinda steps into her freshman year at Merryweather High, she faces an agonizing truth: high school is fraught with lies and isolation. After calling the police to report a summer party gone awry, she finds herself ostracized, her voice silenced by the weight of shame and trauma. Struggling with her feelings of alienation, Melinda retreats into silence, her internal battle intensifying by the day.
Art becomes her refuge. With each brushstroke in her art class, she begins to confront the nightmare that haunts her — the sexual assault committed by an upperclassman. In the graphic novel adaptation, the stunning artwork, crafted by Eisner-Award winner E.M. Carroll, vividly conveys Melinda's journey of self-discovery and empowerment as she gradually learns to fight back against her past.
Awards and Accolades:
- New York Times Bestseller
- National Book Award Finalist for Young People’s Literature
- Michael L. Printz Honor Book
- Edgar Allan Poe Award Finalist
- Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist
- TIME Magazine's Best YA Book of All Time
- Cosmopolitan Magazine's Best YA Books Everyone Should Read, Regardless of Age
Join countless readers who have been moved by Melinda’s story. Speak is not just a novel but a powerful call to action — a reminder that your voice matters and that healing is possible.
