Chris Anderson

Michael Morpurgo once said, “Encouraging young people to believe in themselves and find their own voice whether it’s through writing, drama, or art is so important in giving young people a sense of self worth.” In the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Melinda Sordino feels that her voice is taken away after being raped by Andy Evans which he is referred to as IT, and Andy Beast. She goes into high school as a young teen, depressed and silenced. Melinda grows stronger throughout her freshman…

Many people in the world experience very arduous situations in life, whether from failure, a loss of a loved one, or even being disabled. For teenagers, it may have to deal with strenuous amounts of work from school or with peer pressure. Though the pain may seem unbearable, Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel Speak indicates the purpose of surviving through rough times. Melinda Sordino, the main character in Speak, is not having a great life. She has ruined an end-of-summer party for calling the…

Escaping the Grips of One’s Emotional Abyss “Every 107 seconds, another American is sexually assaulted.” (RAINN). Sadly, the statistic holds true for Melinda Sordino, a pessimistic ninth grader from the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Through Melinda’s battle with depression and acceptance, the author of Speak demonstrates a universal truth that breaking free from emotional bondage requires one to speak up. Melinda’s journey, from depression to self-confidence, allows her to reconnect…

Imagine going to school and getting looks of hate from everyone you used to know. In the novel, Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, the main character, Melinda must find her voice after a terrible situation changes her life. The author shows the reader how Melinda grows and changes throughout the novel using the tree motif. By examining the use of the tree motif at the beginning, middle, and end of the book, we’ll see how it symbolized Melinda’s character and her growth. In the beginning of the…

No one knows. No one listens. No one cares. Melinda Sordino is an “outcast”. In the novel, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Melinda is unfortunately a young victim of rape who silently possesses a hidden, screaming message. Ever since the incident occurred at the summer party, Melinda has certainly discovered a few positive, defining characteristics of herself. She has definitely grown from being temporarily defined as timorous and fearful of speaking up into a courageous, passionate teenager.…

The Outlaw Josey Wales, produced by Robert Daley and starring Clint Eastwood, portrays the life of Josey Wales as he runs from the notorious Union Captain Terrell and his horde of ruthless Redlegs and bounty hunters. Josey Wales’ exodus from Missouri is caused by his refusal to surrender to the Union. In the film, The Outlaw Josey Wales, shadows are used to illustrate the state of Josey Wales’ soul. The film begins in Missouri on the Wales family farm as Josey and his son plow the field. The…

Fever 1793 In the summer of 1793 a deadly sickness called Yellow fever spreads everywhere and affects almost everyone, including a young fourteen year old girl, named Matilda, but goes by Mattie. Mattie lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where her family owns a coffee shop in a small wooden building. When Mattie hears about the yellow fever that is caused by a female mosquito bite she becomes so worried. Almost the whole city gets infection with this fever, including Mattie's mother. Her mother…

Laurie Halse Anderson the author of the book Speak speaks through a young girl who has no friends and suffers through desperation as a freshman in high school. Anderson is well known for children and young adult books and has even earned the Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 2009 and was recognized after writing the book Speak in 1999. “Laurie Halse Anderson was born on October 23, 1961 in Potsdam, New York where she loved the fact that they lived near Canada.”…

That summer, everything had changed for Melinda Sordino. Her peers would not view her the same consequently her freshman year would be off to a rocky start, but when the past is uncovered things will change.Through the book Speak by Laurie Halsey Anderson we live through the sad story of a depressed teen who enters high school with no friends and is hated by her peers. We are able to understand the difficulty high school teenagers face, specifically when faced with something so big.There is no…

The novel Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, mainly describes about Melinda's trial in her high school. Before Melinda's first year of her high school, she went to the party with her friends. At the party, she drinks three beers because of her excitement even though she barely had any experience with alcohol. Andy Evans who is a senior boy approaches to Melinda and rape her. After the rape, Melinda quickly calls the police, but she cannot tell what happen to her. Other students think Melinda is…