Welcome to Litsy!

Oof. This one packs a punch - this was recommended to me by a colleague who was upfront about the subject matter (it‘s about the aftermath of a rape) after I‘d said I was in a reading slump - took me a month to read this - so not a slump buster but an important read, that is both heartbreaking and hopeful. The graphic novel format works so well since art is a central theme but it‘s actually adapted from a book by the same name published in the 90s

This book was very serious about it mental health and what teenagers have to go through. Many adults don‘t understand what teenagers go through and how bad their mental health can be, with anxiety, OCD many more disorders but I think that this book describes it perfectly.

I just got this book from a fellow classmate and I absolutely love it so far. It looks so deep into high school, which is coming up around the corner. This book has so many real life sentences about literally a teenage girls life.

I'm not even half way done the book but I just relate to all of the feeling Mel is talking about, and how I can just read i sentence I relate to it completely. It's already a great read.

This adaptation was just as powerful as the original 🌳

Out of free spaces. I think I am going to try to read The Cousins next and finish the month with one bingo. #BookSpinBingo

Hoping to finish this one today

I didn‘t think it was possible, but this one hits even harder as an adult. I read the original in high school, & when I saw that it had been adapted to a graphic novel I knew I had to reread it. Definitely heavy, & a serious TW/CW as it‘s about surviving sexual assault, but an amazing and inspiring story nonetheless.

This book was BREATHTAKING!

I‘ve heard much about the original, but never got a chance to read it. I may someday, but the graphic novel is so very gripping I feel like the text-only version might be a letdown — full props to Emily Carroll for the artwork: so inventive and invoking.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The graphic novel adaptation of Laurie Halse Anderson‘s debut is a freaking force. The powerful gray-toned images thoughtfully enhance the original novel. Reading the two versions simultaneously was a gut-wrenching, yet moving experience.

This was a great adaption of the original book! I love that the illustrations are black-and-white, which adds to the overall tone of the novel. This would be a fantastic read for any classes who are reading the original. Students could compare & contrast the graphic novel to prose, & study how the messages are conveyed differently within each.
*Warning: Conveys the act & the trauma of sexual assault, which may be difficult for some readers.*

I like the artistic interpretation of the novel, it‘s a great combination of artwork and prose. It‘s able to portray the hurt, fear, loneliness, and healing effectively. A very good book about a teenage girl‘s struggle in finding her voice after an act of violence. I‘m sure the novel has more depth and details, which I plan to read when I can get my hands on a copy.

#YAApril

Read Speak the graphic novel edition and it‘s so powerful and empowering and also heartwrenching 🥺 The illustrations perfectly captures the moods and trauma

3 ⭐️ I love the message. The original is on my TBR, but when I passed this version at the library I couldn‘t resist picking it up. Topics covered are tough but realistic for the teenage experience. I wasn‘t in love w/the flow &thought some character arcs weren‘t fully flushed out (art teacher & Mel‘s parents)I wanted more. From other reviews, I think the novel itself may go deeper so I‘m still going to read it. Have u read any version of Speak?

#1 I like the book because it‘s entertaining and i like the different teachers and all there different personalities. Melinda is the main character and she is a big fat liar and lost all of her friends and now she has no friends to hangout with anymore and people like to pick on her all the time in school and then she goes home and talks bad about herself.

4/5
I haven‘t read the book but finished the graphic novel and now I definitely want to read the book. Heartbreaking and powerful, the illustrations added an extra layer of emotion for me. Perfect little read for my camping trip.

Pictured: Dazzy and the awesome wine tumbler I got from @guinsgirlreads for #SSGP! 😘

#DogsofLitsy

My husband and I went camping to celebrate our 1st wedding anniversary. He said I‘m the only person he knows that packs 4 books while going away for 2 nights. I said I can show him hundreds of others! 🤣 I did only end up taking 3, which I thought showed great self-restraint! This photo pretty much sums up my perfect vacation: woods, wine and books!

Wow, what a powerful book depicted in illustrations. Reading this reminded me a lot of reading “Thirteen Reasons Why.” It also serves to be a book that I need to read vs. just reading the graphic novel. I am so glad that Melinda stood up to her attacker and was able to make the perfect tree for her art class. Finding her voice was hard to do, but she found it and is a force to reckon with. A must-read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 /5 stars Fantastic graphic novel and Link agrees! I haven't read the actual novel version, but this was quite a powerful read. Everyone should read this, especially young people when talking about consent. I wish there was a little more detail but maybe that is in the book.
#catsoflitsy

Just announced: Laurie Halse Anderson & Emily Carroll have won the SEE-IT award. (Sorry for the crappy screenshot above. I haven‘t figured out how to include a link to the full press release with comments from one of the jurors.) I‘m very pleased to see the recognition for this wonderful adaptation of an important novel. #graphicnovel

I read the original Speak many years ago when I too was also a teenager. Melinda‘s journey from quiet scared kid to empowered young woman is still as heartbreaking now as it was 15 years ago. Speak is one of my all time favorite YA novels and the updated graphic novel breathes new life into it.

Almost got my mom to read this book today!! Almost!! Lol, we were in a doctor‘s waiting room and it seemed like everyone had service but us!! Don‘t you hate it when that happens!!! 🙄🤬Lol I want her to read it and tell me about it because I‘m afraid it will be too triggering for me 😞 Here‘s #Stormy #catsoflitsy she actually turned around and kind of snuggled up to the book!! Lol. Have a nice day!! ✌🏽❤️

A graphic adaptation of Laurie‘s YA novel, this book took my heart and squeezed it dry. Once I started I literally could not put this book down, I absolutely had to finish the journey. It is a story about pain, fear, violation and depression. It is a story about reclaiming your power and your voice. It is a story about healing and finding your strength. It is powerful and heartbreaking and uplifting. It is a book every teen should read.

Nicely done adaption of a heart wrenching story.

This was a powerful book!

It is really good so far.

Powerful and beautifully poetic. The words "undersnow dormancy" used on this page took my breath away. For any survivor that's struggled to heal after an act of violence, this book will resonate and feel a little like balm to your soul. Halse Anderson did a wonderful job writing it and Emily Carrol did an equally amazing job illustrating it. 5 stars.
#Booked2019 @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage

The first sign of depressiom or trauma in teens is very commonly anger 💔

FINALLY! I've been begging my favorite podcast, Pop Psych 101, on all forms of social media to do an epsiode on this graphic novel and they announced today it will be their next podcast episode so I'm officially considering this my #podcastpick for #Booked2019 🙌 ❤ Excited to read this this weekend 😊 @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage

Originally published 20 years ago, this #graphicnovel adaptation with art by #Canadian cartoonist Emily Carroll brings this YA classic into the 21st century by including the internet & cell phones. A girl is raped at a party the summer before Grade 9, then ostracized because she called the police. She doesn‘t talk about what happened to her, becomes withdrawn & barely speaks at all. It‘s a moving story, based on the author‘s own experience.💔

“The student council started a counter-petition, describing the psychological harm we have all suffered from this year‘s lack of identity.”

The repeatedly changing school mascot is a welcome running gag, adding levity to the serious content.

Getting ready to start this. Cannot wait!

“April is a warm, moldy washcloth of a month.”
Maybe in some places, but it‘s still pretty chilly in Edmonton. Snow today.

Gut-wrenching. I did not read the original #ya novel prior to reading this #graphicnovel. The illustrations were powerful.
5⭐️

Book 110/165 4/1/19

The betrayal of silence

❤️❤️

“Wombats! …because no one knows what they are.” Ha! Wombats recently came up in conversation and it‘s true that not everyone knew what they are.

(Oops. I‘m reposting this under the correct title.)

I love the part in this book where a brave student takes action to protest a bigoted history teacher.

💔

I've been meaning to reread Speak, so when I saw this graphic novel at the library, it was the kick in the pants I needed to come back to this story. I hate how relevant and timely this book still feels twenty years later.

I loved the illustrations, even though they often ventured into body horror (it works with the plot, but it's a huge squick of mine 😕). Melinda's art was so much more present in this edition. Overall super great book.

I haven't read Speak in a while. Wow. The graphic novel interpretation is brilliant, with the art reinforcing Melinda's turmoil in the year after her rape. Anderson's story is powerful in its restraint in portraying Melinda's isolation and eventual strength. Brilliant.⠀

I haven't read Speak in a while. Wow. The graphic novel interpretation is brilliant, with the art reinforcing Melinda's turmoil in the year after her rape. Anderson's story is powerful in its restraint in portraying Melinda's isolation and eventual strength. Brilliant.

Read this one while the little one was resting.

I read this novel back in high school and it was intense. But seeing it in images was more intense. I loved that the images were black and white. It added to feeling of silence and shame. An amazing new way to get people to speak.

I appreciated both what the author and illustrator created. The simple sparse sentence structure framed by the black & white drawings were highly effective. There was a lot of bravery and compassion on these pages. That being said, I don‘t think I‘m a fan of this medium. While I respect & applaud the creativity , I don‘t necessarily enjoy the product. Definitely #ItsMeNotYou
#Booked2019 #GNorComic
TW: Rape

Book number 3 done for #24in48. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I read Speak in college 15 years ago. The graphic version brings even more power to Melinda‘s story and her story is more relevant and urgent than ever in this era of #metoo.