speak, Laurie Halse Anderson, Penguin Putnam, 1999. Genre: Young Adult. 197 pages. Finished 5/3/2010.
LesOpinion: If you were one of those people who loved high school, never worried about where to sit in the cafeteria, and could tell your parents anything, well, bully for you. For the rest of us more interesting people, there are books like this one. Anderson's brief novel is funny, heartbreaking, and spot on in its description of misfit angst.
Sure, it gets a little lesson-y and heavy handed at the end, but it's written for "young adults" (which really means "teenagers") so the lack of subtlety comes with the territory.
Best Quote: "I stand in the center aisle of the auditorium, a wounded zebra in a National Geographic special, looking for someone, anyone to sit next to. A predator approaches: gray jock buzz cut, whistle around a neck thicker than his head. Probably a social studies teacher hired to coach a blood sport."
If you despised those "teachers" as much as I did, you'll love this book. If high school was the pinnacle of your existence, move along. There's nothing to see here.
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4 comments:
I love this book and so do my kids at school, girls and boys! You're right though, the cool kids don't like it and generally say that it is "boring" and put it back on the shelf after about 20 - 30 pages.
Did I every tell you that from 7th grade through 12th grade I used to feel sick to my stomach as I walked into school every morning? It never once went away. And somedays I couldn't even make myself go at all.
Yes, babs, you did tell me that about feeling sick about going to school. I thought of that as I read this book. I also thought of every miserable marginalized feeling I ever had in school. That's why I think books like this matter--even to grown ups like me who have come to appreciate and even celebrate our eccentricities. Normal is boring. It's also a myth. Hugs to you from the entire LesBlog Editorial Board.
Ah, I liked this book, too. I'm seriously (and now no longer secretly)addicted to young adult fiction, mostly because in order to be good, it needs to be really clear and focused and well-written. Yes, I was one of the "interesting" ones, and that quote you cited brought back a humiliating incident in gym class in which our coach, who actually liked me and thought he was making a joke, said "Quit picking your nose, Dracker!" when he was explaining something and I was not quite paying attention. Of course everyone turned around to look at me. BUT NO, I WAS NOT PICKING MY NOSE! Thanks for letting me clear it up once and for all. And I love this blog, btw.
Hello, ssspune! Welcome to the LesBlog. I hope you are finding everything you need.
While I was never personally humiliated by one of those "teachers," I watched them humiliate more vulnerable kids and hated myself for being powerless to intervene. Or I thought I was powerless. I now know that I wasn't and that just makes me write snotty things about mean adults while vowing never to be one.
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