I reread this book for the umpteenth time because 1) last week was Banned Books Week and it's one of the most challenged young adult books of the past decade; and 2) I thought it was on "The List." It wasn't. But that doesn't matter, because this book is amazing.
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I read this book for the first time in 2000 and every time I've reread the book since then, I've folded down a page corner of a quote I liked. Almost every page has a crease now. I love this one because of my anti-cheerleader attitude (Sorry Mom!). After the school votes on a new mascot:
"Cheerleader on the way to my bus. They wrinkle their brows as they struggle to rhyme 'wombat.' Democracy is a wonderful institution."
This next one kills me, not in an Uncle Joey "cut it out" way, but in a 'that's so depressing' way. Melinda skips school and hides out in hospital waiting rooms:
"I put the gown back. There is nothing wrong with me. These are really sick people, sick that you can see."
Melinda learns by the novel's conclusion that the invisibility of her illness doesn't detract from its reality. What kills me is that there are so many people out there who don't realize this.
Melinda's art teacher, Mr. Freeman, understands that emotion is the core, or should be the core, to everything:
"When people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time. You'd be shocked at how many adults are really dead inside-walking through their days with no idea who they are, just waiting for a heart attack or cancer or a Mack truck to come along and finish the job. It's the saddest thing I know."
I love this partly because this quote reminds me of "Over the Moon" from Rent, but mostly because it's true. Not just that adults lose sight of what matters, but that they just become so accepting of it. For me, this ties into how victims start to accept what happened to them, but in the wrong way. Acceptance is healthy, but when victims put the blame on themselves, they're only hurting more. That's how I feel, at least.
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You have a nice review! Here's mine: http://lorxiebookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/07/speak-by-laurie-halse-anderson.html Have a nice day!
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