The novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson tells the reader about the girl Melinda who entered high school. People begin to understand why the story has such a name. This is a story about a girl who, due to certain circumstances, became very close and stopped trusting people. The book reveals why, even after a trauma, it is important for a person to remain open to other people.
The story tells about the transformation of the main character and how she grows up. The author takes the reader through all the most important moments in the life of a fictional character so that it feels like this person is alive. This is one of the reasons why people believe what is written and worry about the fate of the girl they learn more about. Melinda became a reclusive outcast for no reason because she called the police after she was raped at a summer party. The fact that one day she wanted to tell the truth and punish the guilty unexpectedly affected her life, and since then, she has become a more closed person who did not communicate with anyone.
Despite the events that happened to Melinda throughout her history, she does not try to rethink or share anything with someone. On the one hand, she does not have close people who can listen to her and understand her feelings. On the other hand, closing herself off from the whole society further depresses her morale, which is seen throughout the book. This may partly be why the book is written in the first person and in the present tense. Thanks to this style, the reader feels they are reading a girl’s diary, not a fiction novel. Thus, Melinda’s story draws even more towards itself by emotionally connecting the character with the reader.
The process of Melinda’s rebirth stretches and begins when she engages in artistic activities. This immersion in creativity helped her realize what happened then and why it was not she who should be an outcast but the one who hurt her. This understanding does not come to the girl instantly, unlike the reader. She gradually transforms from a defenseless victim into one who can confront and speak.