Potomac Falls High School
46400 Algonkian Parkway
Potomac Falls, VA 20165
(571) 434-3200
Dear Parents of a Freshman in Mrs. Hawley’s class,
I wanted to make you aware that your student will be reading the novel Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson.
First off, I would like to encourage you to buy the book for your student. We will be working on annotation of text during this unit and learning to take notes in a book effectively is a skill that will serve your child through high school and college. If your student does not have his or her own copy, we will make do with post-it notes, but I would encourage you to buy the book.
The second reason I am writing this is more of a notification. Speak is a novel about a young woman entering high school who is isolated from her peers because she called 911 after she was raped at a party. The novel is not primarily about rape; it is about a scared and depressed young woman learning to speak out about what happened to her. Through positive outlets at school, she is able to overcome her depression and advocate for herself by speaking up. There has been some talk in our community about this book, and I would encourage you to read the book along with your student if you have any concerns.
I understand that upon learning the nature of the book, it may concern you. I assure you, however, that the novel’s intent is so much more than to shed light on this serious topic. The passage in question is on pages 135 to 136 of the book. It is in no way graphic, but it is uncomfortable. When your child reads it, if you have concerns, be sure to be available if he or she wants to talk about the reading.
I am simply making you aware of an uncomfortable scene your child will be reading in my class. If you are concerned, I would encourage you to read the book. If, after reading the book, you are still concerned, please contact me via email and we can discuss it. If there is no other option, an alternate reading will be assigned. No permission slip is necessary as the novel is supported by the county’s curriculum.
In order for you to be aware, Showtime did produce a movie based on the novel which is rated PG-13. The rating of the movie should give you a sense of the nature of the novel’s content, as well as a good guideline for rating this book.
I hope that you’ll take some time to read the novel and discuss it with your student. The novel is very close to my heart; former students continually tell me that Speak was by far their favorite novel we read.
Thank you,
Leah Hawley
English Teacher
Potomac Falls High School