Speak By Laurie Halse Arizona

Bella Marinaccio
Mr. Chomin & Mrs. Gunsauls
English 9
25 January 2023

Book Recommendation

Sexual assault refers to sexual behavior of any kind that happens without the consent of both individuals. “On average, there are 463,634 victims (age 12 or older) of rape sexual assault each year in the United States’’(fairfaxcounty.gov.). The Mental Health Organization of America found that has lasting impact on the victim for years to come, both physically and emotionally. In the novel, Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, the author describes the struggles of thirteen-year-old Melinda Sordino after she was sexually assaulted at a party in the summer before her freshman year of high school. Melinda tells her story in events within the framework

As any other freshman in high school, Melina isn’t sure who she is or where she fits in. Throughout first markin period Melinda provides the reader with clues about her insecurity. In one instance Melina states “ I am an outcast”(Anderson 4). These words are significant in the because they explain how Melinda feels about her identity and what she is doing to hide her identity. A mirror is brought up many times in the story. It is very significant. Later in the novel Melinda states, “The first thing to go is the mirror.’’ I cover it with a Maya Angelou poster” (Anderson 50). Melinda has a few sanctuaries in the story and one of them is the janitor's closet. She is making the closet her own space and removing things and adding things and making it feel like a place she can go to. One thing she does not want in the closet is a mirror. Unfortunately, it can not be removed so she puts a poster on it. It is by Maya Angelou. Maya Angelou is also symbolic of the story. Without a doubt, a mirror is not just the only thing that shows Melinda is struggling with her identity in the story. There are a lot more things that you will find out that show Melinda is really

These will be the years you look back on fondly”(Anderson 5-6).
Everyone in high school knows this lists of lies Melinda comes up with are one hundred percent true. Melinda's high school experiences are those that we can all relate to. From the first day of school, to transitinoning and making new friends, Melinda struggles constantly. Consequently, Melinda’s character is one which most teens relate to.

Friendship is very important aspect of high school. In high school friendships start to change and so do people. People feel like they have to be cool and popular in high school and that's when everything starts to change for Melinda. In the text it states, “There is no point looking for my ex-friends. Our clan, the Plain Janes, has splintered and the pieces are being absorbed by rival factions’’ (Anderson 4). This shows that Melinda had a group of friends who called each other the “Plain Janes” in eighth grade, but now in high school ever since the incident they no longer want to be friends with Melinda. Later in the novel, Melinda continues to struggle with friendships. This is evident when a new girl that came to Merryweather High School, named Heather. In the beginning, Heather followed Melinda around everywhere. Then Heather turned on Melinda because she did not think Melinda was not cool and popular. Melinda says, “Heather, you mean we're not friends