Speak Melinda Sordino Quotes

Heather and Melinda's relationship is rocky, but this thought shows that Melinda is actually more comfortable with her than she admits in her snarkier moments. We can also see that some of Melinda's speech problems are involuntary, beyond her control.

Silence isn't all bad for Melinda. It's one of the things she's learning about her freshman year. She admires it a little <em>too</em> much at times, and David gives her lessons about that too. David knows when to use silence and when to speak up.

People become artists for lots of different reasons. Art is a way to explore emotions and experience. Art shares ideas and opens conversations. Why do you think Melinda wants to be an artist?

Melinda never really stops <em>wanting</em> to talk. Half the time, she's not completely sure though. We aren't told exactly what she's afraid of. What are some negative repercussions she might be afraid of? What's the worst that could happen if she tells?

We like this moment, because Melinda and Mom are trying to communicate and are being considerate of one another.

This is the first time Melinda tells anybody anything about Andy. It's dawning on her that she's not Andy's only victim. It takes Andy hanging out with Rachel for Melinda to imagine this. Why do you think Melinda writes an anonymous note?  Is it because she feels safer being anonymous, or because she thinks Rachel would disregard the warning if she knew who it was from?

What Melinda says when Andy tries to rape her the second time. We can see how much she has grown because she refuses to be a silent victim anymore.

This sets the tone for Melinda's freshman year. She sits alone a lot. If the end of the novel is any indication, she'll be much less isolated next year.

Kids at Merryweather sure know how to hold grudges. Of course, not <em>all</em> the kids know that Melinda called the cops and got drunken partiers in trouble. Some of them have bigger things on their minds. But, Melinda sees it as everybody.

It seems kind of symbolic that Melinda doesn't like pink anymore. Pink is an innocent, girlish color, and she doesn't feel innocent and girlish anymore. At first, she's totally isolated from the Melinda she was <em>before</em> the rape.

Melinda's parents' fighting isolates her from them. Part of why they are fighting is because they can see Melinda has a problem, but they have no clue what it is or how to help her.

Having a secret can feel really lonely. Have you ever felt like this? If so, what did you do? Were you able to find a way or not? Do you feel good about your choice? Why, or why not?

When Heather breaks off their friendship, Melinda feels a thousand times more isolated. Her thought here also shows that she sees the Marthas as carnivorous monsters who don't care about Heather.

This thought reveals how much the rape is threatening to isolate Melinda from potentially excellent relationships and experiences. Since Melinda thought Andy was nice at first, and trusted him enough to be alone with him, she no longer trusts her ability to judge character.

Translation: Mean kids at the pep rally push Melinda down the bleachers. This is after one girl pokes and knees her throughout the rally. This is an assault. Heather and others who watch contribute by not helping.

Smiling and winking can be forms of violence as this moment vividly illustrates.

In biology class, Melinda is reminded of her own experience when she starts to dissect a frog. This won't be the last time Melinda sees reflections of herself in the world of plants and animals. Melinda is now hyper-aware of violence.

<em>Speak</em> doesn't answer the questions Melinda poses. How would you go about finding information on people who cut their bodies? Why does pain make Melinda stop feeling pain, as that last sentence suggests?

Like winks and smiles, touching somebody else's hair can be a form of violence, or at least an invasion of some people's personal boundaries. A rapist touching his victim's hair is definitely violence. Notice the very physical reaction Melinda has to this attack.