Melinda Sordino's first day of high school was nothing like she thought it would be. No one would talk to her or even look her way, including her ex-best friend, Rachel. Just before school started something happened that caused Melinda to become a social pariah but no one knew the truth. She just couldn't speak of the matter. Slowly, it swallowed her voice.

When I read this book as it first came out, some 20 years ago, I didn't like it. Maybe it just wasn't where I was emotionally at the time. Maybe I wasn't ready. I am so glad I revisited it. It is one of the most significant books of our time, in my opinion. One of the first (I believe) to address the touchy topic of date rape and the social implications of the victims. The same is true even 20 years later. While the #metoo movement has helped we still have a long way to go to educate society about the way women who are victims are treated. I don't know what was wrong with me 20 years ago, but today, I loved this book and highly recommend not only this one but Laurie Halse Anderson's new poetic memoir, Shout. Which tells her own personal story. I also highly recommend the graphic novel of Speak, also recently published. It was after reading the last two that I realized I was originally mistaken about Speak and thought I should read it again. I am so glad I did.