Speak

Speak is a young-adult realistic fiction novel by Laurie Halse Anderson, first published in 1999. It follows the plight of a teenager, Melinda, who was raped at age 13 and struggles to put her life back together and find her voice. Anderson has written several young adult novels, all of which address pressing issues for teens honestly and empathetically. She was honored with the Margaret A. Edwards award for her important and relevant contributions to the young adult genre. Speak was a National Book Award finalist, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, and an Edgar Allan Poe Award finalist, among many other awards and nominations. Anderson continues to receive letters from readers about how Speak has impacted their lives and helped them through difficult times and similar experiences, and she speaks to as many youths as possible about her book. At the novel's end, Anderson includes resources for survivors of sexual assault, which serves as one last reminder of her desire to help those who feel voiceless be heard.

This guide utilizes the 2011 publication of the novel.

Content Warning: This novel deals with topics such as sexual assault of a minor, child abuse, and verbal abuse.

Plot Summary

Speak is divided into four parts, each one being a marking period for the school year. It starts as school and the first marking period begin, and it is Melinda’s first year of high school. She attends Merryweather High School and starts her first day with nobody to talk to or sit with. Melinda is insecure and shy, as anyone would be in a new place; she also has a secret that she keeps deep within herself: She was raped at a summer party that she attended with her then-best friend, Rachel, by a senior named Andy Evans. The shock and terror from the experience clouded Melinda’s mind at the time, but she was able to call the police. In a moment of panic, she left the house before they arrived and never told anyone her story. On top of this, she has not spoken about the rape to any of her old friends or her parents. Instead, she keeps it to herself, which eats away at her self-esteem and ability to enjoy her life.

Melinda has several teachers with unique personalities: Mr. Neck is the social studies teacher who always seems to be angry and is eventually revealed to be racist; Ms. Keen is the biology teacher who makes biology fun for Melinda; Hairwoman is the old English teacher who gives out tough assignments but whose class Melinda still enjoys; Melinda’s Spanish teacher refuses to speak English, which creates several humorous moments; Mr. Freeman is the art teacher and the teacher who influences Melinda the most throughout the novel. At the beginning of the year, Mr. Freeman announces a year-long project in which students will pick the name of a random object out of a broken globe and spend the year trying to turn that object into vibrant, living art. Melinda picks the word “tree,” and trees become symbols for her and her personal growth out and above her trauma.

Melinda’s home life is not much more welcoming than her school life. Her mother is always stressed and working, and her father often seems on edge. Melinda does not speak to her parents at all, remaining totally silent for several months. She often hears them arguing at top volume. Melinda often has trouble completing her homework at home, as she is often a victim of verbal abuse. At school, Melinda steals several late passes and discovers an abandoned closet, which she makes her new hiding place, decorating it with a Maya Angelou poster and eventually her art creations.

Melinda becomes friends with a new girl named Heather. Heather is desperate to fit into the school cliques. Melinda does not care about that but needs a friend, so she spends much of her time with Heather anyway. It slowly becomes clear that Heather is only using Melinda until she becomes popular; she does not defend Melinda when people talk poorly about her. Heather finds a clan of girls to hang out with called the Marthas. They help with school fundraisers, volunteer outside school, coordinate outfits, and expect perfection. Heather asks Melinda to help her with her first Martha project, and Melinda agrees. She creates posters for a fundraiser, but the Marthas hate them, and Heather blames Melinda. Meanwhile, Melinda continues to have difficulty speaking, communicating largely in nods and hand gestures.

During the second marking period (autumn), Melinda has a breakthrough in her artwork when she takes the old turkey bones from Thanksgiving dinner and pieces them back together. She adds a Barbie doll head and some twigs for legs and decides that the piece is meant to represent her. Mr. Freeman tells her she is onto something.

Christmas arrives, and Melinda puts up the tree alone. She and her parents sleep in on Christmas day, hand out presents in silence, and then go their separate ways. Melinda wishes she could tell her parents what happened over the summer and why she cannot speak. In biology class, Melinda faints when she has to dissect a dead frog, and it reminds her of how she felt when she was assaulted.

Melinda decides to name Andy Evans “IT.” Until now, she did not call him anything and does not reveal the events that took place until the end of the third marking period. Melinda starts skipping school and thinks more seriously about telling someone what happened to her. Melinda develops a crush on her classmate and lab partner, David Petrakis, who is outspoken and confident and seems not to care about her reputation.

Melinda’s parents and principal hold a meeting with a guidance counselor and determine that Melinda will have an in-school suspension. She must also abide by strict rules and attend all of her classes. Andy Evans begins harassing and taunting Melinda in school, causing her to relive her abuse. In art class, Melinda looks at Picasso’s cubism paintings and feels inspired to create a tree drawing made of tiny, cracked lines. Mr. Freeman approves and advises her to stop thinking about trees when she draws and to think about her emotions instead.

Melinda’s struggle to become an artist unfolds alongside her healing process after being traumatized, thus illustrating the novel’s theme, The Importance of Art as a Form of Self-Expression and Healing. Melinda attends all her classes for a week and is rewarded with new clothes. At the store, she stares at herself in the mirror and does not recognize who she sees; she is changed by her traumatic experience, developing the theme How Personality and Perception Change as a Result of Trauma. At the end of the third marking period, Melinda describes the rape in detail.

As the world begins to thaw outside Melinda’s window, she does too. She slowly starts to speak again and resolves to nurture herself like a seed and grow into who she was before being assaulted. Melinda also starts talking to one of her former friends again. To Melinda’s chagrin, Rachel begins dating Andy, and Melinda realizes she has to tell Rachel about him. In social studies class, Melinda stands up for her right to remain silent when Mr. Neck demands that she deliver her report to the class. She cites the suffragette movement and its fight for freedom. Afterward, David criticizes her, reminding her that suffragettes fought for the right to speak, not to be silent. Melinda considers this carefully.

When Melinda stays home sick from school one day, she watches talk shows and calls her experience “rape” for the first time. Melinda’s relationship with her parents also slowly begins to soften again; she speaks a short phrase to her father, and they spend a relaxing afternoon eating pizza together. Ivy is in Melinda’s art class, and they bond over their struggles to represent their objects. Ivy reveals that she has heard rumors about Andy, which eventually inspires Melinda to write a warning on the bathroom stall, telling other girls to stay away from him.

Days later, Ivy shows Melinda that many other girls have added to the message, writing similar warnings and documenting their experiences. Melinda feels elated to know that she has done something to help. Melinda also finally stands up to Heather. Melinda works up the courage to tell Rachel what happened to her, but Rachel accuses her of lying out of jealousy. It is not until prom that Rachel finally realizes Andy’s true character and dumps him.

In the novel’s final moments, Melinda is attacked in her hideaway closet by Andy. When she screams for help and threatens him with broken glass, he backs off, and the girls on the lacrosse team rescue her. In art class, Melinda finishes her tree illustration. It is not perfect, but she now realizes that is exactly how it should be. She understands what happened to her and that it was not her fault; in the end, she resolves to be a survivor and grow from it. Melinda’s journey is one of Finding One’s Voice After It Has Been Lost.