Speak

These Books Made Me

These Books Made Me
Speak
Aug 28, 2025 Season 5 Episode 8
Prince George's County Memorial Library System

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Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson follows Melinda Sordino as she navigates the aftermath of her sexual assault at a high school party. Unable to speak about what happened to her, Melinda also has to deal with losing her friends, being ostracized by her peers, and having parents who can't seem to parent. Some small beacons of light in her life are her newfound friend, David, who stands up for his beliefs and encourages Melinda to do the same and her art teacher Mr. Freeman, who definitely knows something is up with Melinda and encourages her to speak through her art. In this episode, we discuss the concept of problem novels ("misery porn"), the portrayal of teachers in YA novels and Maria drops some Fairmount High School lore. 

These Books Made Me is a podcast about the literary heroines who shaped us and is a product of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System podcast network. Stay in touch with us via Twitter @PGCMLS with #TheseBooksMadeMe, on Instagram @TheseBooksMadeMe or by email at TheseBooksMadeMe@pgcmls.info. For recommended readalikes and deep dives into topics related to each episode, visit our blog at https://pgcmls.medium.com/.

Episode Artwork Speak 1:10:50 Episode Artwork Baby-sitters Club: Mary Anne Part 2 47:42 Episode Artwork Baby-Sitters Club: Mary Anne Part 1 1:03:23 Episode Artwork The Summer I Turned Pretty 1:28:03 Episode Artwork Sweet Valley High: Double Love and Teacher Crush 1:15:42 Episode Artwork The Birchbark House 1:11:46 Episode Artwork Little House on the Prairie Series 1:14:39 Episode Artwork The Hate U Give 1:16:11 Episode Artwork Survivor: These Books Made Me Part 2 45:04 Episode Artwork Survivor: These Books Made Me Part 1 1:06:54 Episode Artwork Gabi, a Girl in Pieces Part 2 49:45 Episode Artwork Gabi, a Girl in Pieces Part 1 1:00:02 Episode Artwork Akata Witch 1:18:13 Episode Artwork Anastasia Krupnik 1:12:40 Episode Artwork The Baby-sitters Club: Claudia, Part 2 56:17 Episode Artwork The Baby-Sitters Club: Claudia Part 1 1:02:09 Episode Artwork Front Desk 1:04:48 Episode Artwork Jacob Have I Loved 1:13:34 Episode Artwork Bonus Episode: a Peer Health Educator discusses Forever 33:45 Episode Artwork Forever 1:03:11 Episode Artwork The Bluest Eye 1:06:26 Episode Artwork Bonus Episode: Interview with an archer 46:37 Episode Artwork The Hunger Games 1:02:16 Episode Artwork Hispanic Heritage Month: How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents Rerelease 1:07:18 Episode Artwork Hispanic Heritage Month: The House on Mango Street Rerelease 1:09:45