The first part of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson was cool, but this second part I part I read is even better! As Melinda listens to her parents argue, she convinces herself that she was a huge disappointment to them. She blames herself for the damage in her parents’ relationship. But it isn’t her fault. Melinda thinks that because everybody at school hates her now her parents are going to do the same, she’s basically paranoid. All her parents see is a teenager who is just looking for attention, but they don’t know the half of it. If they never bother to offer their daughter help in school and life, how can they expect everything to alright? I think they have to put their differences aside and focus on what’s best for Melinda, because what she’s going through is far more complicated.
Later in the book, Heather, Melinda’s disposable friend tried to reason with her that they are very different. Heather basically told Melinda that they can’t be friends anymore, in a friendly way. She explained that she is just no fun to be around, and that she has a reputation. Melinda is just so depressed, she doesn’t care about anything, including school, and now because of that she lost the only “friend” she had. If Melinda talked to anyone, she would eventually gain somebody’s trust. Then she could just talk to that person about her problems and get help. She can avoid having these types of things happened to her, she can change her life by speaking out.
Another issue in the story is the moments when Melinda falls into shock when she reminded herself of her tragic past. She tries to forget about it, but she tries too hard. The effort she uses to blur out the painful memories is causing her more pain. For example, she has no friends because she doesn’t talk to anyone. She doesn’t talk because everyone hates her and nobody understands her, and so the safest place for her to be is alone, inside her own head. That’s when the pain begins, and problems start.
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