Plot

The plot of a literary piece is basically the story line. "Speak" is a well written novel by Laurie Halse Anderson about a young girl named Melinda Sordino. She has gone through much in her life. Her parents could care less what takes place in her life. The story starts with Melinda's first day of high school. Nobody in Merryweather high likes her anymore, due to the fact that she called the cops during an end of the year party; but no one knows or really cares why, no one except Melinda. Whatever happened the night of the party, (which you find out towards the end of the book), has mentally scarred her for most of the time to come. Melinda lost all her friends, her spot on the social ladder, and most of all her pride. She is now quiet and rarely speaks to anyone, she lives inside her head, which she feels is the safest; far away from anyone else. She soon meets Heather, the peppy new girl in town. They develop some sort of a friendship, even though Melinda would rather be left alone. Even that quickly ends, when Heather abandons Melinda for a clique of girls titled "The Martha's." Melinda soon starts cutting class and failing almost every subject besides art. Mr. Freeman, who is the art teacher at Merryweather high, has Melinda draw a tree by the end of the year, which was symbolic to the growth that she was going through as a character. Over time Melinda reconnects with some old friends and gets back at what she describes as "IT", aka Andy Evans, who caused her all that pain and suffering over the months, and for the first time she is able to move on with the rest of her life. Melinda is finally able to speak again.

Discussion Questions:
1) Why do you think Melinda reffers to Andy Evans as "IT"?
2) How do you think you would react if you were in Melinda's shoes?

- Emma M.