. First Marking Period . Second Marking Period . Third Marking Period . Fourth Marking Period .
A Summary of the Novel
"It is my first morning of high school. I have seven new notebooks, a skirt I hate, and a stomachache."
- Chapter 1, Speak
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/8/4/12845842/4642428.jpg)
Before her freshman year, Melinda Sordino called the cops at a party. On the first day of school, no one forgot. Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak is told from the first-person point of view as the title character, Melinda Sordino, sees the world she's in.
The novel isn't broken down into chapters, but is instead marked by four large sessions titled "First Marking Period," "Second Marking Period," "Third Marking Period," and "Fourth Marking Period." Within these larger four sections, there are several smaller sections, each with its own title such as "Home. Work." "Closet Space," and "Cheerleaders." It is the purpose of this summary to summarize the entire novel, pointing out some of the most notable and important sections of the novel.
Entering her four years of Merryweather High, Melinda expresses what it's like to be living with depression, fear, and what it's like to be an outcast. Through her parents' seemingly futile attempts to connect with her, Melinda feels that they should just be disappointed in her. She feels the whole world ought to be disappointed in her. And she is disappointed with herself.
She has typical classes: Biology with Ms. Keen, Algebra with Mr. Stetman, English with Hairwoman, Gym with Ms. Connors, Social Studies with Mr. Neck, and Art with Mr. Freeman. She has a brand new, shiny, bright friend, Heather from Ohio.
Heather is determined to join every club, she is determined to bring herself and Melinda up from the sad, dreary world of nobodies, to the pretty, fluffy world of somebodies, but Melinda doesn't feel like tagging along for the journey. Melinda wants to disappear. And she gets pretty close when she discovers a seemingly abandoned janitor's closet before a Merryweather pep rally. This secret retreat becomes a safe place for Melinda:
My parents commanded me to stay after school every day for extra help from teachers. I agreed to stay
after school. I hang out in my refurbished closet. It is shaping up nicely.
-"Closet Space," page 50
As the school year progresses, the reader is introduced to Melinda Sordino's friends of yesteryear and their once BFF statuses which have now diminished to cold looks and behind-the-back gossip. The novel continues with a sort of fresh wit as the reader gets to know Melinda and begins to truly empathize with her and wonder what it is that she did so wrong. When the truth finally comes out, everyone realizes why Melinda Sordino had to call the cops at that summer party. They realize that she was hiding so much pain, fear, and a certain sense of pride. Melinda reveals that she had been sexually assaulted at the party and with that confession comes the freedom to not feel embarrassed or bound by the sullen sense of silence she kept for so long.
At the end of the novel, as she turns her Art Class assignment of "Tree" to Mr. Freeman, Melinda Sordino comes to terms with what has happened to her in her life and she begins to be okay:
IT happened. There is no avoiding it, no forgetting. No running away, or flying, or burying, or hiding. Andy
Evans raped me in August when I was drunk and too young to know what was happening. It wasn't my
fault. He hurt me. It wasn't my fault. And I'm not going to let it kill me. I can grow.
- "Final Cut," page 198
The novel isn't broken down into chapters, but is instead marked by four large sessions titled "First Marking Period," "Second Marking Period," "Third Marking Period," and "Fourth Marking Period." Within these larger four sections, there are several smaller sections, each with its own title such as "Home. Work." "Closet Space," and "Cheerleaders." It is the purpose of this summary to summarize the entire novel, pointing out some of the most notable and important sections of the novel.
Entering her four years of Merryweather High, Melinda expresses what it's like to be living with depression, fear, and what it's like to be an outcast. Through her parents' seemingly futile attempts to connect with her, Melinda feels that they should just be disappointed in her. She feels the whole world ought to be disappointed in her. And she is disappointed with herself.
She has typical classes: Biology with Ms. Keen, Algebra with Mr. Stetman, English with Hairwoman, Gym with Ms. Connors, Social Studies with Mr. Neck, and Art with Mr. Freeman. She has a brand new, shiny, bright friend, Heather from Ohio.
Heather is determined to join every club, she is determined to bring herself and Melinda up from the sad, dreary world of nobodies, to the pretty, fluffy world of somebodies, but Melinda doesn't feel like tagging along for the journey. Melinda wants to disappear. And she gets pretty close when she discovers a seemingly abandoned janitor's closet before a Merryweather pep rally. This secret retreat becomes a safe place for Melinda:
My parents commanded me to stay after school every day for extra help from teachers. I agreed to stay
after school. I hang out in my refurbished closet. It is shaping up nicely.
-"Closet Space," page 50
As the school year progresses, the reader is introduced to Melinda Sordino's friends of yesteryear and their once BFF statuses which have now diminished to cold looks and behind-the-back gossip. The novel continues with a sort of fresh wit as the reader gets to know Melinda and begins to truly empathize with her and wonder what it is that she did so wrong. When the truth finally comes out, everyone realizes why Melinda Sordino had to call the cops at that summer party. They realize that she was hiding so much pain, fear, and a certain sense of pride. Melinda reveals that she had been sexually assaulted at the party and with that confession comes the freedom to not feel embarrassed or bound by the sullen sense of silence she kept for so long.
At the end of the novel, as she turns her Art Class assignment of "Tree" to Mr. Freeman, Melinda Sordino comes to terms with what has happened to her in her life and she begins to be okay:
IT happened. There is no avoiding it, no forgetting. No running away, or flying, or burying, or hiding. Andy
Evans raped me in August when I was drunk and too young to know what was happening. It wasn't my
fault. He hurt me. It wasn't my fault. And I'm not going to let it kill me. I can grow.
- "Final Cut," page 198