*This event was originally scheduled for Febraury 6th, but was moved to the 27th due to weather.

Participate in free and open discussions of important civil matters the first Tuesday of each month. In February, we're celebrating the freedom to read by discussing the banned book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. We will discuss not only the book itself, but also the concepts of free speech and censorship as we encounter them in the modern world.

Pick up a copy from the Downtown Library Information Desk. This title is also available as an ebook.

Synopsis

From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless, outcast, because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her. As time passes, she becomes increasingly isolated and practically stops talking altogether. Only her art class offers any solace, and it is through her work on an art project that she is finally able to face what really happened at that terrible party: she was raped by an upperclassman, a guy who still attends Merryweather and is still a threat to her.

She can’t just go on like this forever. Eventually, she’s going to have to confront what happened at the party. She’s going to have to speak the truth.

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