Speak

“I can’t get a word out of her. She’s mute.” Melinda’s mom says this on page 114 during Speak when Melinda has to see the guidance counselor. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson perfectly captures the high-school cliques and one teen’s struggle to find acceptance.

Even though there are many great aspects of this book the theme is the key part in Speak. The main theme of this story was identity. For example the mascot in this book kept changing and that changes the identity of the student body. Another thing Melinda gives names only to the teachers she likes. For instance, Hair woman, Mr. Neck, and Principal principal. However, she gave the teacher for her favorite class a name, Mr. Freeman. He is the art teacher for her school and she loves him. And yet another display of identity is on page 6 Melinda says “My English teacher has no face.” Melinda said this because her English teacher has no emotion. She’s never angry yet never happy. Although there was one outstanding identity them in this book and her name is Heather. Heather came from a different school and she is starting to hang out with Melinda but what Heather and Melinda don’t know is that they are using each other. Heather is hanging out with Melinda so she can find the popular kids to hang with. Melinda is using Heather because on page 22 Melinda says “I need a new friend. I need a friend, period. Not a true friend, nothing close or share clothes with or sleepover giggle giggles yak yak. Just a pseudo friend a disposable friend.” That person is Heather.

It was the extremely excellent characters in this book that made it so great. Starting with Melinda’s ex best friend, Rachel. Rachel mouths something to Melinda saying “I hate you” on page 5. Now this is the same girl that Melinda grew up with. How can you suddenly hate your best friend this much? However, Rachel does mention that she’s not mad at her anymore. On page 183 when she says “No not really, I’m not mad at you anymore it was a long time ago.”

Another huge character in this story was Andy Evans. This boy can be explained in many words but the adjective that describes him the most would be insane. In this book Andy raped Melinda at a party. Also when Melinda wrote about Andy Evans in the girls bathroom stall and when she came back a day later there were a ton of other writings about him saying, stay away, call the cops, and he’s so ugly. So she was not the only girl that hated Andy Evans.
Laurie Anderson demonstrates the remarkable story of one teenager hoping for a new life. If you ever have problems in your life be sure to tell someone.