Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Ever since, I really wanted to read this book. Yet another gripping novel from Ms. Anderson. I can hear the voices in her novels so clearly, it kind of scares me.

Melinda Sordino, the main character and the narrator goes to her first day of high school. She enters it with a big burden, having the one who called the cops at a party last August, it seemed that everyone hated her.

But what they did not know is... she was raped.

 You almost could not even guess that the book is about rape, you only see a light at the end of the tunnel getting closer and closer as you keep reading.

I hate to be a spoiler but there it is, it's a book about a girl who got raped!

It's basically a novel about moving-on and speaking up (hence, the title) and sharing your story. It's about not being scared to say what you have to say and taking bold steps. 

I liked the art teacher Mr. Freeman very much! He has that kind of encouraging powerful release of emotion through art that helped Melinda on the way. He wasn't scared to paint his frustration towards the school faculty, I know it's not big of a deal in the storyline but it tells a lot of things to me and somehow, it empowers.

I just hated the weakness, I could not wait for it to be done. I had to read it all at once. I can't take how Melinda handled the rape. In the end, the right thing was done and I was eternally relieved. I learned a lot and I definitely commend this book.