Melanie Yoc

Advisory
Maria Silva
January 24, 2016
Book Summary 2: Speak

The book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson was one of the most intriguing books I have
read so far. In the book the main character Melinda Sordino faces a tragedy that she does not
reveal in the beginning of the book. She is hated by everyone and is avoided as well. Her friends
have now become strangers and talk behind her back. She has not been the same person since she
has called the cops at a party during the summer and since her friends have turned her back on
her. No, one knows the truth about that party, about that night. She doesnt speak.
The problem Melinda faces is rape. This affects the main character because she doesnt
speak at all. She kept the secret for most of the book and spills out her secret later. This affects
the characters because no one knows she has been raped. The night she got raped she was at a
party and afterwards called the police. No one at the party knew the reason for that call besides
her. Because of that, everyone hates and avoids her. It affects the main character because she
cannot tell anyone that she was raped because no one believes her.
In the book, I think the tree is symbolic. Not only does it appear on front cover but also i
part of the story. Melinda is part of an art class wear they have to work on an object, and hers is a
tree. The tree symbolizes her because most trees she has made are dark and sad. It symbolizes
how she felt inside and how shes slowly changing into a sad tree.