Summary
The reading starts off in art class with Melinda trying to set up her art project with turkey bones and random objects. When her art teacher Mr. Freeman asks, "'What does this say to you?' Melinda can't get any words out. She fixes up her project by tossing the palm tree aside, moving the knife and fork to look like legs, and setting the barbie head on top of the bony carcass with a piece of tape over its mouth. Mr. Freeman thinks that Melinda's art project symbolizes pain" (Anderson 64). In biology, Melinda and her lab partner David Petrakis conduct a lab with apples. David brings a tape recorder to record Mr. Neck in history class. Before winter break, it is announced that wombats are the new school mascot. During Christmas, Melinda thinks about how broken her family is and believes that if not for her, her parents would be divorced. "I bet they'd be divorced by now if I hadn't been born. I'm sure I was a huge disappointment...I can't believe we have to keep playacting until I graduate. It's a shame we can't just admit that we have failed family living, sell the house, split the money, and get on with our lives" (Anderson 70). On winter break, Melinda spends some time at both her mom and dad's workplace. Once school starts again Ms. Connors, the gym teacher, discovers Melinda has a talent for playing basketball and wants to recruit her on the team.
Review
Although there were not many exciting nor interesting events in the pages I read, I still enjoyed it. In the section I read, Melinda began to express her feelings and emotions through her art. She also started to let the reader (me) know more about the thoughts inside her head. While reading through the pages, I learned more about Melinda and her personality. Melinda actually has a hidden talent for playing basketball! I also noticed that Melinda agrees to everything Heather or anyone else asks her to do because she is unable to say no to anybody.
Focus Questions
1. Can you recall who Melinda's only "friend" is since the incident?
Melinda's only "friend" since the incident is Heather.
2. Can you explain how the people in Melinda's life affects the way she expresses her feelings?
David Petrakis, a student in Melinda's history class, stands up to the teacher Mr. Neck. David is unafraid to speak up and express his opinion. This act of bravery really inspires Melinda into thinking of speaking up for herself as well. On the contrary, Melinda's parents have the opposite effect on her. The relationship between Melinda and her parents is not close. Melinda does not feel comfortable enough to open up to her parents about what is going on. Melinda's parents are not close with one another either. In fact, they argue often which weakens the connection between every person within the family.
David Petrakis, a student in Melinda's history class, stands up to the teacher Mr. Neck. David is unafraid to speak up and express his opinion. This act of bravery really inspires Melinda into thinking of speaking up for herself as well. On the contrary, Melinda's parents have the opposite effect on her. The relationship between Melinda and her parents is not close. Melinda does not feel comfortable enough to open up to her parents about what is going on. Melinda's parents are not close with one another either. In fact, they argue often which weakens the connection between every person within the family.
3. What is your interpretation of this text?
"While Ivy and Mr. Freeman watch, I reach in and pluck out the Barbie head. I set it on top of the bony carcass. There is no place for the palm tree-I toss that aside. I move the knife and fork so they look like legs. I place a piece of tape over Barbie's mouth...Mr. Freeman studies my homely project. Mr. Freeman: 'This has meaning. Pain" (Anderson 64).
Melinda's art projects are starting to symbolize her own emotions inside. Although Melinda may not be speaking verbally, she still speaks through other ways. The art work she shows to Mr. Freeman, the art teacher, does exactly that. It is a metaphor for Melinda's situation at the moment. I think that the Barbie with the tape over the mouth represents Melinda and her incapability to talk about what happened to her at the summer party. The tape is stopping her from speaking just like how her fear is holding her back in real life. Melinda is trapped by her silence and she still cannot escape. The bony carcass is like Melinda, dying and slowly "decaying away" as time moves on. The more time that passes by, the more Melinda's pain increases because she has not spoken about the event.
Melinda's art projects are starting to symbolize her own emotions inside. Although Melinda may not be speaking verbally, she still speaks through other ways. The art work she shows to Mr. Freeman, the art teacher, does exactly that. It is a metaphor for Melinda's situation at the moment. I think that the Barbie with the tape over the mouth represents Melinda and her incapability to talk about what happened to her at the summer party. The tape is stopping her from speaking just like how her fear is holding her back in real life. Melinda is trapped by her silence and she still cannot escape. The bony carcass is like Melinda, dying and slowly "decaying away" as time moves on. The more time that passes by, the more Melinda's pain increases because she has not spoken about the event.
Pictures
Sources
- Shmoop Editorial Team. "Speak." Shmoop.com . Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 2 Oct. 2014.
- "Speak." Cliffnotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Oct. 2014. <http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/s/speak/book-summary>.
*These two sources are really useful in giving valid, unbiased information on the book. Each website explains and helps readers understand confusing chapters of the book.
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