Laurie Halse Anderson

A really wonderful YA Wonder Woman story that steers a teenage Diana away from Themyscira and onto a path of social activism and getting a look at the world of immigration and refugees. I loved the themes in this and thought they were very well written; it was serious and thoughtful and didn’t seem like the writers were pandering to the teen audience. Diana seems wholly realized, full of heart and compassion but also strength, and it was especially gratifying that she wasn’t written as being a blindly patriotic super soldier but rather a young woman building a healthy community and friendships.… (more)

Wow. This was stunning, in regards to both the story and the artwork. This is the first time I've read "Speak" in any form, but am definitely going to be picking up the novel to read it again. Mel's story is written so well in Anderson's writing and captured perfectly in Carroll's haunting style. The sense of being a rabbit with shortened breath was just felt so deeply within "Speak" that it was impossible to not feel what Mel was feeling and be get completely caught up in her life. This book is outstanding. // Content warnings: rape, self-harm, physical abuse, severe anxiety & depression,… (more)