Everyone in life has their crosses to bear. For some, those crosses are heavier than others. For others, those crosses are borderline unbearable. Melinda, the primary character in Speak, falls into that category. All of her classmates detest her, since she interrupted a summer party by calling the authorities. She has no friends, no one to speak with. Her life is awful. What Melinda doesn’t realize, though, is that this situation could be easily changed, if only she took the first gesture. Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, is a novel that makes you think about issues that teenagers have in their lives, and ways to change the situation.
In the beginning of Speak, we discover that Melinda is an outcast. She has no friends, no one to head into high school with. This girl was alone. Melinda had called the police on a party at the end of eighth grade, so no one would want to be associated with her. What she didn’t realize, though, was that if only Melinda had spoken about the terrible event that was inflicted on her during this gathering, all of her classmates would have understood the reasoning behind busting them all. Surprising to her, Melinda would more than likely would have been forgiven. Her life would have been much more enjoyable. The largest problem in her life could have been solved by her own action.
High school is a struggle for all teenagers. Feeling lost in the world, not knowing what you wanted to become. Feeling lost in the crowd, not knowing where you fit in. Sometimes, like Melinda, you must deal with fitting in nowhere, and having no one want to be around you. What most characters, especially the primary character in Speak, don’t know, though, is that you can change your life, as long as you try. Speak, written by Laurie Halse Anderson, is a thought provoking novel that shows how people can fix their situations, yet won’t take the crucial steps.
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