Themes from Speak

Warning if you haven't finished the book don't read this yet.

I thought I would start a post of the themes of the book so that we can analyze theme.

Isolation-Melinda is outcasted by her friends and the school.  She is also self isolated by her emotions and her ability to deal with what happened.  She withdraws from the world around her but is still in the world and it gives her a unique view of high school.


Violence-  The school turned on her for calling the police the summer before freshman year.  She was pushed down the stairs at the pep rally and shoved in the hall.  Students were also verbally violent to her.  She has the memory of the rape doing irreparable damage to her.  Andy Evan also abuses her through out the year.


Friendship- Melinda lost all her close friends in the summer prior to school.  This would be extremely damaging for a girl her age.  She was broken down again and again every time she saw her friends at school.  She gains a half friend in Heather and then Heather turns her back n her for the Marthas.  She starts to develop a friendship/ relationship with David.  But she states that she won't let David touch her.

Transformation- Melinda went through a drastic change over the summer.  The rape left her scared and silent.  She is untrusting, quiet, distrustful and secretive.  Through out the school year she uses her art class to help her deal with what happened.

I know there are a lot more themes I may add some more later on.

Speaking Early

So I was trying to get a little ahead and started reading this book. Well, I couldn't put it down, as you can see. I really enjoyed reading the first half of this book. Last semester I read graphic novels for this class and reading this type of book is so much different. Even though Speak doesn't have any pictures it is still very visual. For example, Anderson writes on page 28 paragraph 2, "My throat squeezes shut, as if two hands of black fingernails are clamped on my windpipe." I love the imagery, metaphors, and similes that she uses.

Another great thing that Anderson has is this book is a nice readable structure. She sections it by period in school, then by classes or important moments, into short paragraphs, journal style with flashbacks interlaced. It is very logical and spaces the book in a way that the eye can easily run along. Not only does this style make the book more accessible but it also allows the reader to feel more connected and empathetic to the main character.

There were a lot of moments in the first half of this book that I can really relate to. This story in general is very relatable to me and one of the reasons I was drawn to it. Her relationship with her parents is very similar to my relationship with mine. When you are in that situation you feel so alone. It is hard to realize that there are so many other people with a similar experience as you out there, just no one talks about it.

I love, love, love the suspense that Anderson is creating within the readers mind. This book already seems like a book that would be enlightening to read twice for all the nuances and connections. I cannot wait to find out what happened to her and why she is the way she is. Why are her lips so scabbed? What happened with "IT"/Andy?! I am dying to read on with so many burning questions in my head. It is a great writer who can make such extreme suspense so subtly and elegantly. Do I really have to wait?!?!?