The main setting of "Speak" is a high school in a suburb of New York City. The book follows Melinda Sordino, a freshman, as she navigates the challenges of high school and the aftermath of a traumatic event. The setting of the school plays a significant role in the story, as it represents the oppressive environment that Melinda feels trapped in.
While Laurie Halse Anderson has written many other books, "Speak" is the most prominent and the one often associated with a high school setting.