How does someone find their voice after it’s been stolen from them? In Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, we watch the main character Melinda Sordino regain her lost voice after getting raped at a summer party. The book discusses important topics regarding teenagers’ mental health and social dynamics. The story starts when Melinda calls the police at a summer party before the start of 9th grade. Melinda had been outcasted for calling the police amidst the party, but no one knew why. That seems to be everyone’s question. Why? Why did she call the police? Why are her grades dropping? Why has she become silent? Why does she not care anymore? It appears that staying quiet is better than answering these pushy questions. But the question is how far can one go without speaking? 

Throughout the storyline, Melinda’s character evolves as she begins to confront her emotions and reclaim her sense of self. At first, readers see a timid freshman scared and tired of everyone. With her old friends hating her and overbearing feelings of grief and shame, Melinda started to slowly let go of herself. She often skipped school, got low grades, and stopped talking to her parents. Following her downfall though, Melinda shifts to focus on self-reflection. Even if it may be as minimal as gardening or asking her mom to pack her lunch, Anderson uses these small details to portray steady growth. An essential part of portraying Melinda’s change was when she said no to Heather, a hypocritical ‘friend’ who only asked for favors. Previously, Melinda had said yes to Heather multiple times, but Heather had never returned the favors, instead ditching Melinda because she was “depressed.” So, when Melinda finally speaks up and says no to Heather, we see Melinda’s voice slowly coming back.

Similarly, social dynamics such as being isolated by her peers and labeled a social pariah added to her mental struggles and feelings of alienation. Social dynamics shaped her struggles as she was outcasted from clubs and cliques. What strikes me is that this theme correlates with the struggles of many current teenagers. In one way or another, we have all been a part of a clique, though it may not be as apparent and obvious as movies. Similarly, Merryweather High also had its cliques, all from which Melinda was excluded. Now imagine being a social outcast and the laughingstock of an entire school with no place of comfort, a life where school and home are equally torturing. Melinda suffered through her freshman year of high school as she wandered unable to find someone or somewhere to call her own.

Furthermore, the most essential part of this book is Melinda’s story of sexual assault. Her story isn’t only hers, it’s every female who has been brainwashed to think it was her fault. The root of all Melinda’s problems begins at a summer party held by older kids. Melinda was dragged to the party by her ex-best friend Rachelle. It all seemed normal until Senior Andy Evans started dancing with Melinda. As a rising freshman, she was happy that a senior boy had complimented her and chose to dance with her. What started as an innocent interaction became a traumatic experience. Andy Evans ended up forcing himself on a half-drunk and dazed Melinda. What haunted Melinda was that she thought it was her fault she couldn’t say no. Although she might have been drunk, her actions were proof enough that she didn’t give consent. What Melinda learns throughout the book is that it was never her fault in the first place. She was 13 and she had said no, yet Andy Evans covered her mouth with his hand, making him a rapist. 

Lastly, the turning point of the book is Melinda’s second encounter with Andy Evans. After prom, Andy corners Melinda in a janitor’s closet, intending to rape her once again, and Melinda freezes in fear. She’s unable to make any sound–similar to her state on the summer night. All of a sudden, she shouts no. She spoke, and she told Andy Evans no. She fought him until the girl’s lacrosse team heard her scream and came to save her. This scene is essential because it emphasizes Melinda’s growth from the summer party to her current self, a single ‘no’ held such significance in portraying Melinda’s regained voice. 

“It wasn’t my fault. And I’m not going to let it kill me. I can grow” (Anderson 198). This line sums up the message of this book: no matter the hardship, let yourself grow. The message was beautifully symbolized by Anderson through Melinda’s art project. Readers will notice that Melinda’s tree portrait grows and gets better with Melinda almost serving as a symbol for her mental health. Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak is a raw exploration of trauma, recovery,  and resilience. Through Melinda’s journey, readers are reminded of the power of finding one’s voice, even in the face of unimaginable pain. Her story is a call to action for anyone who has experienced sexual assault. Speak up, because your voice matters.  To conclude, Melinda’s journey in Speak serves as a powerful teaching of how to reclaim one’s lost voice to heal from trauma. Her story reminds readers that even in the hardest of times, resilience and self-expression lead to recovery. Melinda Sordino’s story is different in that it does not portray a great change overnight, it shows the steady progression of regaining oneself after suffering from trauma. So in the words of Melinda Sordino herself, “Tell someone about it.”