books4yourkids

In 1999 Laurie Halse Anderson published the groundbreaking young adult novel about rape, Speak. Controversial, Speak is banned a often as it is part of high school curriculum. It was assigned reading for my older children when they were in high school and was the driving reason why I read it. I'm not proud of it, but I often shy away from books on difficult topics. And Speak: The GraphicNovel sat on my desk for months before I was able to read it, despite my appreciation for the work of Emily Carroll, who wrote and illustrated the creepy graphic novel Through the Woods and illustrated the superb graphic novel Baba Yaga's Assistant by Marika McCool. Of course, I am very glad I finally read it. For me, the story of freshman Melinda and how she copes with being raped at a party by a popular senior, particularly through art, was even more powerful in this format. And, reviewing now meant that I could also share this newsthat was revealed this week: Laurie Halse Anderson has writte…