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Discussion Questions And Answers On Melinda By Laurie Halse Anderson

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1) Why might have Laurie Halse Anderson picked the bus to set the mood of the novel?
I think she picked the bus to set the mood of the novel to foreshadow Melinda's high school life. She is alone and bullied on the bus and that's exactly how it turns out in the story.

2) What are two different places where Melinda is happy?
In my opinion the 3 places where Melinda is happy is one, the art room because she can freely express herself without anyone bothering her. Two, her closet (at first) because she spends time cleaning and polishing it up which takes her mind off things and she goes there to be alone and not be bothered.

3) How does Melinda's home atmosphere change after the summer party?
Well, before the summer party Melinda is thinking about how good her life in high school will be and she is all cheery and happy, she interacts with her parents and isn't locked up in her room all the time. After the summer party Melinda's mood drops she suddenly feels all depressed and try's avoiding her parents as much as possible barely ever talking to them.

4) What makes art class such a positive place for Melinda?
Mr. Freeman is one of the few people Melinda trusts. He is also the first person she tells about her rape. …show more content…

Although the trip is spontaneous, she's spent her freshman year preparing for it. It takes courage to face the fears and the loss the spot symbolizes. Her "heart thuds" and her "hands shake" as she approaches the place. At the same time, she realizes that the spot itself is innocent and "normal,"even pleasant. When she touches the tree, the silent witness to the crime against her, she tries to read it like "a braille code". The tree is important to the setting because it shows how Melinda is turning to the natural world to help her solve her human problems. This identification with nature helps her see herself as natural and capable of growth, rather than an alien and

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In the book Speak by, Laurie Halse Anderson, the main character Melinda, tries to find her voice all throughout the book. Then she meets her art teacher Mr. Freeman. He helps her all throughout her school year express her and stand up for herself at the end of the year, when she has another problem with the same guy that hurt her before school started. Mr. Freeman helps Melinda express herself by getting better at speaking, expressing herself, and also standing up for herself. Melinda was finding her voice all throughout the school year.

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Consequently, Melinda was running away from Mr. Neck and stumbled across and old janitor’s closet, this helped in her transformation of who she is at the end of the novel. When Melinda ran into the closet, she felt safe. Moreover, the closet helped Melinda in many ways, such as a way to exit from drama. Her closet was her safe haven, she made many decisions that bettered her and people she cares about. For example, in the closet she conflicted about what to tell Rachel or to say nothing at all.

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