...Peer pressure may force teenagers to drink and ditch school. I think the author of “Speak”, Laurie Halse Anderson is saying that teenagers tend to get in trouble when they are pressured to undertake tasks they do not want to execute. Melinda was forced to ditch school because she was being bullied by her friends and other people who are also pressured to bully her. (Halse).I was pressured to drink at my friends house because he would release out my personal secret. When I am having trouble with bullying, I just want to conceal myself from the outside world just like Melinda did when she was hiding in the old janitor's closet because she was being bullied. (Halse).Melinda handled the pressure by confronting towards her friends and art teacher...
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...traumatizing event in someone’s life that takes time and patience to get over. The victim may need a lot of help to cope with their rape. The books “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson and “You Against Me” by Jenny Downham are both examples of what occurs before and after a rape. They explain how someone would feel if it really did happen, and they explain the importance of providing an ear for the victim so they can cope with their situation. They are good examples because on shows it from the victim’s point of view and the other from a family member’s point of view, so you can get both people’s perspectives on the state that person is in. They give you an idea on the actions you should take if something like this occurs to either you...
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...Lost One’s Weeping Turned to a Found One’s Smile “When people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time.”- Laurie Halse Anderson, Speak. This statement is especially true for Melinda in Speak, because the longer she keeps her past to herself, the more she destroys herself. Her problem roots from her trust issues, and while in good reason, it clearly blocks her progress in moving on. Melinda is a girl of few words, but she does try to communicate through her art, body language or posture, and speech, even if it is rare. One of the first methods Melinda used to express her thoughts and feelings to other people was through her art. This method was considered ‘safe’ for Melinda because she didn’t have to spell anything out to anyone, so anyone could interpret it they way they saw her art. That...
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...Imagine a high schooler has everyone against them, but they haven’t done anything wrong. Deep inside they’re burning. Their best friend is now their worst enemy. Their parents don't even take time out of their day to ask them how they’re doing. All the teachers, always harassing them. The counselor tells them that they need help, but never taking the next steps of actually helping the student themselves. They have a secret sunk deep into their heart and mind. They have been raped by their ex-best friends new senior-boyfriend. Why bother even saying anything, no one will listen anyways. In the book Speak by author Laurie Halse Anderson, Melinda Sordino goes through exactly this. She experiences many turning points along her eventful 9th grade...
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...Isolation can be both physical and /or emotional. Physical isolation is defined as being alone and away from society, with no social contact, but isolation can also be emotional, such as happens when a person just cannot seem to bond with other people. One of the major themes in the novel “speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson is isolation. In this book Melinda starts of the year with no friends. Everyone hates Melinda because she calls the cops at a party last year. But Melinda hides the truth that she got raped at the party from everyone and that’s why she called the cops. Melinda faces isolation many times throughout the book. For example she doesn’t even have anyone to eat lunch with. Melinda feels isolated because she has no friends, she has no one to express her feelings with and...
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...Literary Analysis: Speak Imagine not having a voice to speak out for yourself, your thoughts, and your opinions. In the book “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson, the main character Melinda tries to do what she believes is the right thing for herself, but eventually looses everything that's important to her all because she spoke out. Though her high school experience wasn't the best, the one thing that was valuable is the fact she found a voice to speak out about what happened to her. Though it may seem impossible to do, try your very hardest to find that voice, speak out for yourself. The author of “Speak”, Laurie Halse Anderson, was born on October 23rd, 1961 in Potsdam New York. She is most know for young adult and children's novels. Laurie’s...
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...Speak by: Laurie Halse Anderson Laurie Halse Anderson is an author that I'm slightly familiar with because of her book Fever 1793 that I read in 7th grade. I considerably enjoyed her writing, so I checked out another great novel of hers, Speak. Laurie Halse Anderson was born on October 23, 1961, in Potsdam, New York. She was a well-behaved student and considered writing as a hobby for some time. She is now a well-known author for children and young adult books. To continue, Speak describes the conflict of the high school freshman, Melinda, and her behavior for much of the novel. This book obligates the reader to think about their actions and effects on people's feelings. Speak is set in Syracuse, New York. Exact dates aren't listened in the book. However, because the book was first published in 1999, it probably takes place in the late 1990’s. Most of Speak happens in Merewether High School where Melinda is facing her conflicts. Melinda is a freshman striving depression who entered high school with the wrong hair, clothes, and...
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...In life there would be many people who are going to be intolerant to you just because how you look and how you act. In the book Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, the characters experience intolerance when they can't find friends. The story talks about 14 year old girl who is named Melinda and she is considered to be different. Ultimately, Melinda, narrator, develops throughout the book by speaking up what happened to her. People are intolerant to her because they understand too little about Melinda. Eventually, when Melinda speaks up people start understanding and accepting her. In the beginning, Melinda had no friends because most people isolated her from them because they understand too little about her. For example, Melinda states, ''I don't have anyone to sit with. I am Outcast.''(page #4) This shows that at...
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...clothes the wrong attitude. And I don't have anyone to sit with” (pg.4) “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson is about Melinda who is the main character in the book . The quote above mentioned that Melinda started school on the wrong foot and that was because she was sexually assaulted at a party. She did call the cops which was the right thing to do, but now everybody is mad at her. It is all because of Andy Evens it wasn't even her fault. First, Melinda starts High School as a freshmen with no friends. A group of people were laughing at her when she didn't do anything. Mels ex best friend Rachel was the reason why the group was making fun of her. “I turn around. Its Rachel surrounded by a bunch of kids” (pg.4) Rachel is really mean to Mellie and nobody knows why she called the cops, and she is too shy to talk about it or tell anyone. Melinda when she comes to the cafeteria for lunch she always runs out at lunch because she has nowhere else to go. That has a big effect on Melinda because she is so lonely and wishes she wishes she had just one friend. There is a girl who follows Mel around, and she doesn't really like her that much because she talks too much. “Heather from Ohio sits with me lunch” “She can talk for...
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...Peer pressure takes a big role in the modern life of teenagers and it can take a big part in drug and alcohol abuse.In my mind, what Laurie Halse Anderson, the author of “Speak”Laurie Halse Anderson is saying is that the world is a dangerous witch isn't true ,for not all the time it was Melinda's decision to drink and what happened in the story wasn't her fault, but no one forced...
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...Luther King once said, “ our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Laurie Halse Anderson an American novelist made sure to make this point true in her book Speak. Melinda Sordino (the main character) was conflicted between telling her story about being raped or not. The night that it happened she was at a party with her friends. After she was raped she called the cops out of fear and confusion, but no one knew the reason why she did it. The day after nobody liked or talked to her, not even her best friend Rachel. Throughout the book, she becomes more and more closed up and outcasted from her classmates Some try to reach out to her like Ivy, while others just make fun of her. The new girl Heather is oblivious to what happened over the summer and befriends her, but Melinda wasn’t really interested in being her friend. Her problem was that she was afraid that no one would believe the real reason why she called the cop and think that she was lying just so that she could get some attention. In Speak, Anderson teaches readers that speaking up doesn't always...
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...In the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Melinda gives a really good example of character development throughout the story. Melinda just starts her freshman year at high school. Over the summer her and her friends went to a party and Melinda gets raped by a boy named Andy Evans and ends up calling the police, she didn't tell anyone why she called the police, causing her friends and everyone at the party to reject her. Melinda’s only friend is a new girl named heather. Melinda gets depressed and starts expressing her pain through stuff like biting her lips and her nails, and not talking. At the end of the story she finally found her voice and was able to stand up for herself. In the beginning, Melinda didn't talk to anyone, barely even to her parents. She says, “I have tried so hard to forget every second of that stupid party and here I am in the middle of a hostile crowd that hates me for what I had to do. I can't tell them what really happened” (Anderson, 28). Everyone hates her for calling the police at a party during the summer, but nobody knows...
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...Peer pressure influences teenagers by friends convincing them that It is going to be ok or that nothing bad would happen. I think that Laurie Halse Anderson, the author of “Speak,” is saying it very easy convincing teenagers to do something they haven't done. Melinda Sordino was influenced to try to drink alcohol at a party (Halse).One way I think I have experienced peer pressure, It is when people start to telling me to take a drink ,and I think if we have a little in common. However Melinda handled the pressure was when she knew it was not right, and she called the cops with her friends house phone (Halse).One thing that she could have done differently was nothing because she did the right thing to call the cops(Halse).What I have done by handling peer pressure was just kept on saying no.Something that Melinda could have done differently was just ignored them and just said no to drinking. If Melinda could have told her parents,or friends they could've helped her by talking to her when she started to act differently (Halse). If I would ever experience peer pressure I would always talk to my friends or to one of my family members to ask what I could do....
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...The Odyssey by Homer, Speak and Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson, are books known for tackling tough subjects with humor and sensitivity to teach young people to learn. The Odyssey is Homer’s epic poem on Odysseus' 20-year struggle to return home. While Odysseus battled mysterious creatures and faces problems, which stops him from returning to his home in Ithaca, his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus fights off suitors, who are competing for Penelope's hand. In the book Speak, Melinda’s has to face people who are mad at Melinda because they hold her responsible for a summer party being busted. Melinda is physically and verbally assaulted at school, forcing her to keep to herself. She also has to deal with having no friends and has to deal...
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...Speak Personal Response Speak shows that the author, Laurie Halse Anderson, understands and remembers the crude emotions and unrest that makes up a teen’s world. This happens to be the most realistic fiction story on the battles of adolescence and harassment. Melinda does not turn into a racist activist Wonder Woman (even though she might when she is older) portrayed in some movies and her recovery is not sugar coated, it describes the true struggles. Even though this novel is based on sexual harassment it also focuses on the thoughts and feelings of a victim of the cruelties in high school. Rape and harassment are not issues I have dealt with but the shunning by friends, weird teachers, and oblivious teachers are problems that I and many others can relate to. For instance, the description of the Sordino family’s communication system on page 14 depicts how some teens get cut of from communication with their parents. The author of Speak portrays high school to be truly what it really is. “I am clanless.”(4) Melinda thinks just what practically all teens think. I am part of no clan; I don’t think FFCA has clans but you still fell “uncool” or not popular. Melinda also talks a lot about how no one cares what you have to say and in reality, that is the comprehension countless teens have about adults. Laurie Halse Anderson did a dead-on illustration of a ninth graders’ day to day life in the dog eat weaker dog world we call high school. Creativity and symbolism in writing are...
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