Diving into Speak

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After reading Speak, I had a chance to reflect on my own life and how my experience in grade school was. Some of Melinda's habits and behavioral changes resemble my fourteen-year-old self. A few days I felt invincible while most days I could not even comprehend why I didn't feel like doing certain activities anymore. I began to put the pieces together on why some days I did not like to look in the mirror, or why I would never talk to my parents unless it was asking them to go somewhere. I was not ostracized and ridiculed how Melinda was but, the home life and depression is familiar. I believe that this novel is powerful enough that not only high schoolers but, some kids preparing for high school should read it. They may or may not can relate to Melinda's sexual assault yet, more of them can recognize that their habits are changing. That could either be in relation to depression or anxiety.
In addition to Melinda clearly expressing that she is depressed to her family and teachers, Laurie Halse Anderson structures the text in a way that is giving the readers hints as well. Whenever Melinda is having a symptom of her depression or she is having rambling thoughts and overthinking, Anderson differentiates it. One way she does this is by writing obvious run on sentences. These are the times that Melinda is trying to debate a decision or question why someone is treating her a certain way. The other technique that Anderson uses is writing extremely short and choppy sentences. Some only one or two words. The short sentences are often filled with pain and even hopelessness. I admire how the author shows these signs by incorporating subtle metafiction. She is pleading to us as Melinda is pleading to her parents that she hurts and wants someone to listen and understand.

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