Have you ever had a recurring symbol in your life? Well Melinda Sordino has one and that is the tree.In Laurie Halse Anderson’s speak, she uses a tree to symbolize growth. The tree allows her to be creative. It represents her emotions and relationships. And connects to her self improvement and mental health. Like a tree's leaves grow so do her emotions.Her emotions fluctuate from highs to lows throughout the story. When Melinda is in her home, she is depressed because her family fights often about melinda's grades or work . But when she is in art class she is happy because drawing is what makes her happy and is the only good thing about school for her. And in the end she becomes a happy person because she opened up herself to other people.
