Speak
By: Laurie Halse Anderson
About the Author
“Laurie Halse Anderson masterfully gives voice to teen characters
undergoing transformations in their lives through their
honesty and perseverance while finding the courage to be true
to themselves.”

Laurie Halse Anderson was born on October 23, 1961
in Potsdam, NY.

She is the New York Times-bestselling author who
writes for kids of all ages. Known for tackling tough
subjects with humor and sensitivity, her work has
earned numerous national and state awards, as well as
international recognition.
•
•
The inspiration for
Speak
Anderson thought up the
main character of this
novel through a
nightmare. She woke up
one night panicked
because she thought she
heard a girl sobbing.
This main character
somewhat resembles
Anderson during her own
freshman year of high
school. She had just
moved into a new town
and her own family was
experiencing difficulties.
•
“The crying girl was in my
head, a bad dream. I sat
down at the computer and
wrote out what I was
hearing. The next morning I
listened to that voice again
and the character of Melinda
Sordino unfolded.”
The Novel

Intro:
Speak is about a young girl entering her first year of high school.

Setting:
Syracuse, NY- present day, the novel is meant to be modern and
relatable to young teens.
Most of the novel takes place in her high school, Merryweather High,
her home, or in the town in which she lives.

Point of view:
First person- our main character, Melinda Sordino
The Plot
Melinda Sordino is an
outcast. She is entering
high school on what most
would consider “the
wrong foot.”
A serious event over the
summer changes her life
and her social status as
well.
We see her struggle with
many conflicts, thoughts,
and personal issues as she
navigates this first year of
high school.
Additional information
about the novel:
Melinda presents and separates her struggles to the audience
through marking periods.
There are four marking periods throughout this novel, and we
will see Melinda’s character develop and transform
throughout these four sections.
Each marking period ends with an overview of her report cardsymbolize/summarize the significance of the events in that
marking period.
The novel is also presented to us in several different tones: the
underlying tone of the novel is serious, but Melinda adds a
sarcastic vibe to the reading.
Melinda presents her story to us as a journal entry.
Characters
 Melinda Sordino- our narrator and protagonist.
 Melinda’s parents.
 Rachel Bruin- also known as Rachelle, is Melinda's ex-
best friend.
 Heather- Melinda's first friend in freshman year.
 David Petrakis- Melinda's lab partner.
 Andy Evans- also known as Andy Beast or IT, is a senior
and the subject of Melinda’s hatred.
 Mr. Freeman- Melinda’s art teacher.
Themes
 Strength of character
 Conformity
 Self-identity/self-reflection
 Stereotypes
 Family influence
 Growing up
Conflicts present within the
novel
Internal conflicts: occur when a character is in
disagreement with him or herself.
-Character vs. Himself/Herself
External conflicts: arise from obstacles located
outside the protagonist including nature, the
supernatural, or society.
-Character vs. Character, Character vs. Society, and Character
vs. Nature.
Symbols

This novel is filled with symbolic references.

Be aware of these symbols as they occur because
they continue to grow throughout the course of
the novel in meaning.

Pay specific attention the the tree and the number
four.
Speak up about Speak
The book is not just about what happened to Melinda or the
anger, hurt, frustration that she feels due to the incident
that changed her life. It is also about not feeling confident in
oneself or being able to speak out about what is happening in
ones own life, regardless of the situation.