“‘Let me tell you about it’” (Anderson 198). These words spoken by a character who struggled to find her voice but once she did, she grew as a person. The author of the novel where these words originated, Speak, is Laurie Halse Anderson. Born in October of 1961, Anderson has published many notable works as a New York Times bestselling author. She writes many novels on difficult subjects in society (“Laurie Halse Anderson-Mad Woman in the Forest”). In the story, the main character, Melinda Sordino, was raped at the end the summer before her freshman year. The novel follows her hardships as an outcast in the jungle-like environment of high school and her struggles so speak up for herself when she needs to the most (Anderson 3-198). In the novel Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson uses characterization, and style (created by symbolism and tone) in order to convey her theme that emotionally painful events, though difficult, can often lead to personal growth (3-198).
Anderson conveys her theme through the use of characterization such as they way the characters act, how they are portrayed, described, and how they interact (or not). From the beginning of the story to the end, many of the characters change quite a lot; especially Melinda. At the beginning of the story, Melinda says, “I am Outcast” (4). She truly feels that she does not belong when certain people cause her to feel this way. A specific example of this is when the narrator says that “when the pep rally ends, I am