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An Analysis Of Melinda's Tree Project In Speak

285 Words2 Pages

Throughout Speak, it is clearly shown that Melinda’s tree project has a direct correlation with how her identity progresses throughout the book. At first, Melinda is in a bad place and struggling with the pressures of going into high school after losing all of her friends and having a traumatic experience that past summer. Melinda describes her first tree attempt, “It looks like a dead tree, toothpicks, a child’s drawing. I can’t bring it to life.” (Anderson 78). Her first tree is just like her at this point: emotionless, numb, boring. She is still in shock of the horrible thing that happened to her that she cannot open up to anyone or anything. Next, Melinda starts to put more effort into her trees. “I wait until he isn’t watching, then

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