Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - Speak

Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

96 reviews

beccacondon's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

aly_lourim's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I first read this book in high school and it helped me through so much. I got the chance to re-read it for an elective class I’m taking in college focusing on YA novels and it def hit harder in a different way this time. It’s such an important for anyone going through depression, trauma or for anyone trying to understand someone who might be shutting down due to these things 🤍

Content Warnings

wanderlust618's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I read this in high school and it’s been sitting on my mind for the past few months.
Speak dives into the story of Melinda, a young girl who is an outcast after calling the cops at her first high school party.
The story dives into the darkness of depression and the cliches of high school, all while trying to understand the bad things that happen to you.
It’s an open ending, leaving you to decide how or if she grows.
This story isn’t for the weak of heart and focuses on topics like rape and anxiety (of course, depression too).
While uncovering who she is, she bonds with a teacher who helps her through and a lab partner who reminds her that women suffered until they used their voices to: speak.

Content Warnings

whitneypuppy's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional inspiring sad 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

Content Warnings

rosie_08's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

diothyst's review against another edition

3.0

challenging emotional reflective 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: Complicated

The way the topic of sexual assault, especially among the high school setting, is handled wonderfully in the book. It addresses just how isolating of an experience it can be and the subsequent mental health decline that comes along with it until you finally come to terms with what happened and reach for help.

Content Warnings

mediabymoon's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Read the book like most people my age, (millennial), around middle school. It was actually required reading by my school which was pretty progressive for the time/area I grew up in. The main character touched my heart so devastatingly, because I too had gone through the sort of trauma she ensures, and had little support of friends and community. Even in my mid 30s, this book still resonates. The movie adaption was phenomenal too, and an early peek into the falseness of Kristen Stewart. Would absolutely recommend this book this all teenagers.

Content Warnings

windrosesystem's review against another edition

5.0

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

ejreads's review against another edition

5.0

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

callmemommaorgma's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

This story is almost a mirror to my freshman year of High School. Different cast of characters, not the same situation and her resolution began much sooner than mine. This book is a must read for woman, especially women that were SA in their youth. We felt so alone at the time, little did we realize we were one of many. I am almost 46yrs old and just reading this now has helped that 14yr girl I once was.

Content Warnings

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