Reviews with content warning for Ableism - Speak

Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

19 reviews

meggyeggy's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

Strong character development: Yes

Content Warnings

sunshineking4's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Some writing is definitely dated, and it’s not the most challenging read by any means, but rereading this book as an adult when I first read it in middle school, which in a small but impactful way helped me come to terms with and understand my own sexual trauma, it will always have a special place in my heart.

Content Warnings

drraytay's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

This book is certainly a product of its time. There were a lot of instances of body shaming and slut shaming and even an instance of the well known ableist slur everyone was using in the 90s and 2000s. None of these instances added to the story in any meaningful way. This story is still an important one though for teens and adults alike. Any form of sexual assault feels incredibly alienating and silencing and Laurie Halse Anderson did a phenomenal job at showing that.

Trigger warnings for rape, toxic friendships, toxic parents, bullying, slut shaming, body shaming, fatphobia, with brief ableism and minor self harm.

Content Warnings

te_ss_i's review against another edition

2.0

dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

brieflyblue's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

chelseeaa's review against another edition

3.5

emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

maurice_greenware's review against another edition

2.5

dark emotional informative sad tense

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

I would be a pretty good book if the main character wasn't so misogynistic throughout the book! I can see how this book would have helped people who've been sexually assaulted, and I applaud the author for creating a book that has helped people with their trauma. I feel like if I had read this book a couple years ago, when I was just getting out of an abusive relationship, it would've really helped me understand what I had been through. so props to the author for sure, I just personally didn't like the writing a lot .

Content Warnings