Speak Essay

Imagine being at your first day of high school. Usually you would find your friends, talk with them, find what classes you’re in together etc. But for Melinda, all her friends have run away from their posse or just started to be Melinda’s friend. In the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, the author shows how three very different people become or don’t become friends with a sad, depressed high-schooler.

One of the three “friends” that Melinda has is Ivy. Ivy is not your normal buddy. She can be as cold as ice with you at the beginning and as warm as the sun once she really knows you. For example in the section “Wishbone”, Ivy at the beginning tries to outsmart Melinda by staying for one more class period. Even though she did that, Ivy complements Melinda nicely at the end of the section for her “creative” turkey bone artwork. How can such a character do such a thing like that? Hate you friends at first and accept them later. It is just not right in such a book. Therefore, I think Ivy doesn’t have or got kicked out of a group so she is acting nice around Melinda.

Rachelle on the other hand is nothing like Ivy; she pretty much hates Melinda from start to finish. Throughout the whole book both Rachelle and Melinda never really have a conversation until the section called “Communication 101”. Even though Melinda tells her the truth she can’t accept it. Adding to that she screams at Melinda, lies to librarian, and goes to the nurse’s room. Therefore, Rachelle never really was a “true” friend with Melinda, because she never really accepts Melinda for who she really is.

While Rachelle never is Melinda’s friend, Heather acts like one throughout some of the book. To most people there first impression on Heather is a nice, sweet girl to hang out with and both of you can have a jolly good time together. But Heather is probably #1 on the World’s Worst Friend’s List. All she does is use Melinda, get rid of her, and “hang out” with the biggest snobs a person could know. During the end of the book she tries to go back to Melinda, try to be a friend with her, and use her artistic talents. She never ever will have “true” friends unless she stops doing that. Therefore, Heather is probably a bigger loner than Melinda will ever be.

The author Laurie Halse Anderson shows how three very different “friends” can be or not be friends with a very unique high-schooler in the book Speak. In conclusion, Melinda Sordino is really a very nice kid who no one really accepts.