Select language, opens an overlay

Comment

Speak

the Graphic Novel
Apr 18, 2018samcmar rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Speak is one of my all-time favourite young adult novels. It's a book that has stuck with me for so many years, offering a raw and open look at what it means to be a victim of sexual assault and the challenges of speaking up. This graphic novel version by Laurie Halse Anderson and Emily Carroll transplants this powerful story using a whole new medium. This graphic novel version of Speak has such breathtaking artwork throughout, and I feel like Emily Carroll did an amazing job capturing Melinda's story through her art, showcasing the torture and sadness in a way that readers will easily be able to relate to. I loved the way the art captures the sections where Melinda is working on her trees for Mr. Freeman's class. The artistic layering is woven perfectly with the story, and you can feel the passion of both the writing and the art working together. I also appreciate how well the story translated into a graphic novel. I loved how well condensed the story was from the original. The writing was constantly on point, never missing a beat, and for such a large graphic novel, it's not bloated in any way. You can sense all of Melinda's emotions, you feel her pain, and that is why Speak is still relevant years later. If you've never read Speak before, I implore you to do it. Read the original, watch the movie, read this version. Speak is such an important story that has continued to stay relevant, and I love that this graphic novel exists, if only to add a new layer to this already powerful story. Definitely check this out.