Speak
by: Laurie Halse Anderson
Summary
Character Analysis
Conflict/Resolution
Character vs. Society- Melinda's conflict was also character versus society because she fell into depression because of someone else's actions. Because she was raped, that caused her to fall into depression.
Resolution- When she came into contact with the person who had raped her (Andy) again, she happened to be in the art room with him and only him. He closed and locked the door. They started physically fighting which lead to her yelling out. "A sound explodes from me. 'NNNOOO!!!'" (Anderson 194). Her speaking out got the attention of the lacrosse team. Eventually after the word got around, she was feeling better that she could speak out.
Theme
Textual Evidence
"I follow the sound, pushing off the wall, pushing Andy Evans off-balance, stumbling into the broken sink." (Anderson 194)
This quote means something to the book because this is the first time Melinda speaks out against Andy.
This quote is powerful because it is the end of the book when Melinda has the realization that the past is the past.
Book Review
I would rate Speak four stars because what the story shows is something that can happen to people in real life. This is a hard topic to talk about sometimes and the author conveys the story in a good way. I wouldn't give it a full five stars because the beginning is slow and sometimes it gets boring. Eventually the story picks up and then it gets better.
Mulit-Media Sources
Citations
website: RAINN. "Statistics | RAINN | Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network."Statistics | RAINN | Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. RAINN, 2009. Web. 12 May 2016.
website: "Teen Dating Abuse Awareness Month." Joyful Heart Foundation. Joyful Heart Foundation, 2016. Web. 12 May 2016.
picture: Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak Book Cover. Digital image. Young Adult Literature. N.p., 2009. Web. 12 May 2016. <http://www.bellasbookshelves.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/speak.jpg>.
picture: Kight, Ken. Speak Quote. Digital image. Hub Pages. Hub Pages Inc., 2006. Web. 12 May 2016. <https://usercontent1.hubstatic.com/12414118_f520.jpg>.
picture: Speak tree. Digital image. Never Judge a Book... Never Judge a Book..., 14 Oct. 2014. Web. 12 May 2016. <http://neverjudgeabook.weebly.com/common-core-prompts/symbolism-in-laurie-halse-andersons-speak>.
video: Movie Trailers & Commercial, Http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcO9wi9ThtjuXvBLvh_fG0w. "Speak Movie Trailer 2004 HD Kristen Stewart." YouTube. YouTube, 14 Dec. 2014. Web. 12 May 2016.
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