Laurie Thompson

we can slowly dwindle into a mere shadow of ourselves. In the novel Speak, Melinda Sordino declines to use her words, thereby declining the very thing that sets her apart from others, coming close to being one of these shadows. Throughout Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson associates a tree with Melinda to symbolize her foundations, pain, and healing. Throughout the book, readers follow the events of Melinda’s life, as well as occasional glimpses at her past. We view her roots, in…

their life time where they will look for something to fulfill them while in that stage. Some stages are sad, some happy, some confused and sometimes even dead but they most always are able to heal and find their true selves. In the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Melinda finds herself through her art. As a freshman in high school…

Speak Essay (rough draft) After being sexualy assulted by Andy Evens, Malinda Sordino had a hard time communicating with anyone and had a rough start to high school. Malinda lost all of her friends and the hope of finding future friends because she called the police while at the party. She spends most of her time alone because her parents don’t notice that she is depressed and in need of help. Many people who go through such a traumatic event often cannot talk to anyone about what happened. In…

The book Chains By Laurie Halse Anderson, is about a slave, Isabel. Throughout the whole story she was “...chained between two nations,” as she often said. ‘Chains’ describes her circumstances best because she was always stuck between the Loyalist and the Patriots. Isabel was often told pros and cons about the Loyalist and the Patriots so she was always weavering sides. But finally, at the end of the story she chose her side, the patriots. Isabel used the word ‘chains’ to describe her…

Undeniably, the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is an interesting yet enlightening read about a girl named Melinda Sordino who faces depression after a traumatic incident. There are multiple settings, but there are two major ones. The story mostly takes place at the MerryWeather High School. This is a place where Melinda fears to be at because she can run into Andy Evans, the boy who raped her at the summer party that left her devastated. The next setting is at Kyle Rodger’s party, this is…

Laurie Halse Anderson’s historical fiction book, Fever 1793, takes place in the city of Philadelphia. Mattie is surrounded by people infected with yellow fever and must find a way to survive. When Mattie is left by herself, she begins to take responsibility and mature as a character. By Anderson using description and character development, it helps to develop the theme of Mattie maturing and stepping up to take care of her family. Throughout the book, Fever 1793, Mattie develops into a more…

“Summer Reading Essay: Prompt 1“ In Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, a teenage girl, Melinda, is starting out her freshmen year in high school but unlike everyone else, she has no friends at the beginning of the school. Melinda does not have any friends at the beginning because Melinda called the cops at the back to school year party and everyone was busted. Melinda is deemed the outcast at school. No one asks Melinda what happened at the back to school party and Melinda is terrorized at school…

the world around us, death can be thought about in many ways. People today have many different views on the topic of death. Some see it as an afterlife, some fear it, however all are affected by its presence. After reading the book yellow fever by Laurie Halse Anderson, the book shows that death can be looked upon in many different ways, and how we see death in today’s world. In the story, not only do the main character’s opinions on death become apparent, but as you go further in the story you…

Fever 1793, a historical fiction novel written by Laurie Halse Anderson, takes place in the city of Philadelphia during the year 1793 as an epidemic races through the area. Fourteen year-old Mattie Cook is caught right in the middle of it and has to struggle to survive as fever and panic take over the city. This disease causes many changes and challenges in her life that she must overcome. By using certain instances of description and inner thoughts, Anderson effectively develops the theme…

A Fearful Existence Tullian Tchividjian once said, “The deepest fear we have, 'the fear beneath all fears,' is the fear of not measuring up, the fear of judgment. It's this fear that creates the stress and depression of everyday life.” The fear of the physical pain that things such as sexual harassment and violence can cause the surface fear, but beneath that is the fright of judgment caused by these events. Sexual harassment and violence can cause psychological effects of fear and insecurity in…