What Happens When You Speak Book Report

Plot: I believe that the plot in this book is a very true to life plot, and I actually very much enjoyed the way that it was told and laid out, because the book’s whole theme was very realistic and believable. I cannot even imagine being Melinda and having to deal with something as horrible and disturbing as being raped, and on top of that having to come back to school with everyone hating you and treating you like an outcast. Overall I think that the plot progresses at a decent pace throughout the book, and you can really see throughout the book that Melinda starts to come out of her shell a little bit, and really bonds with Mr. Freeman, the art Teacher. I like the way the book is laid out, by marking period, because it really helps you really
keep track of the time and events in this book. Overall I think that the plot in this book is a very strong one, and I did enjoy the progression and speed of the plot as well.

Characters (main and minor)

Melinda Sordino - She is the protagonist of this book, a thirteen year old who suffers a terrible rape and is deeply affected by it, and is afraid to tell people of it, and she is treated as a social outcast
Melinda’s Parents - Melinda’s mother is the manager of a clothing store and her father is a insurance salesman.
Both are caught up in their careers and are usually too busy to give Melinda the time of day.
Mr. Freeman – Melinda’s art teacher and one of the few people that she is fond of and opens up to her, he is the one who initially gets her to come out of her shell. He is a good man who wants the best for his students.
David Petrakis - He is Melinda’s biology lab partner and one of her only friends. He is very patient with her and when she is able to speak, it is often to him. He is also one of the few people Melinda actually respects
Andy Evans – The horrible kid who raped Melinda, he often preys on girls who like him only for his good looks.
Heather from Ohio - This young girl is new to Merryweather High when Melinda begins her ninth-grade year. Because she is unaware of what happened at the party, she befriends Melinda. However, Melinda realized that she is only a self-centered social
climber.
Rachel - This is Melinda’s best friend since elementary school. But because of the incident at the party, she drops Melinda as a friend, but once she starts dating Andy Evans, Melinda opens up to her about what happened at the party.

Ivy - She shares Art class with Melinda all year long and once was her friend as well, but at least she is nice to Melinda as opposed to many of her other former friends.

Theme: I believe there are a couple main themes in this book, one of which is teenage alienation, and another is post traumatic stress, and the way people deal with it. Melinda deals with it in a very private conceded way, not telling others, until it has been bottled up inside for too long, and if she doesn’t tell someone, it could hurt someone she likes. Melinda is also alienated from everyone because she called the police at a party where alchohol was being consumed, but what people didn’t know was that she was raped and that was the reason for her calling the police

Writing Style: Melinda's first person narration empowers Speak's literary strength. The use of monologue invites readers to become involved in the story and feel empathy for Melinda. Other than Mr. Freeman and David, readers seem to be the only people who will listen to her and what she is saying. Melinda's private narration encourages her to speak without fear of being humiliated or further outcast. Melinda's monologue is presented in short passages with headers like journal entries, school newspaper bulletins, or phone calls.