Speak

Prom by Laura Halse Anderson

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos

I felt the way that this book was expressed through a singular viewpoint, similar to a journal format, was refreshing and brought the reader a closer connection to the main protagonist. I was also slightly surprised by how Anderson’s dark view of high school and her teenage years was explicitly shown in the opening letter to the reader.

Laura Halse Anderson decided not to tell the reader why Melinda called the police during the party initially. Is this to get the reader to guess, or presume what kind of situation unfolded that evening? Did it impact how the reader retained interest within the book? How would each reader’s opinion of Melinda’s character differ in the beginning of the book?