Speak was written in 1999 by Laurie Halse Anderson. The book is about Melinda, a freshman just starting high school. Melinda starts school off with no friends, she lost the ones she had over the summer. A traumatic event causes Melinda to shut everyone out, and not speak to anyone. Growing up usually takes time, but Melinda is rushed into maturity too soon and must help others do the same.
The family owned a telephone, a large wireless radio, and a record phonograph that connected her mother to the world, but they had parted with many valuables in recent years to pay for her mother’s doctors’ bills. Feeling like the cat’s meow, Nell crossed the room to her mother, who was in her wheelchair listening to the wireless. Her mother put her hand to her throat when she saw her daughter. “Oh, Nell how lovely you look. You look like you just stepped out of Vogue magazine.”
The main character of the book, Allison Mackenzie, came from a middle-class family that owned a home off Chestnut Street. Her mother, Constance, owned a shop in town called the Thrifty Corner Apparel Shoppe. Allison was born out of wedlock and her father was out of the picture. Constance was ashamed of this fact and hide her secret past from society. The situation surrounding Allison was an example of the time period’s denial of family dysfunction.
Imagine you and your family living under a gruesome dictator and having no freedom . Julia alvarez “ a genetics of justice “ is a novel about a young girl and her family living under a dictator with a totalitarian government in the dominican government. In this novel you learn about her journey and how she becomes to be the women she is today . “No flies fly into a closed mouth “is a quote used by her mother through the text. In the novel it also talks about the dictator and is unusual daily life .
In Peg Kehret’s book Stolen Children the story starts when Amy forgets to walk and feed the neighbor’s dog and it has an accident. The neighbor asked Amy’s father if she had remembered come over. Amy’s father decided to talk to Amy but the talk soon turned into a fight, causing Amy’s dad to be late for work. That was the last time Amy saw her dad because he died in a car crash on his way. Amy felt like it was her fault and wanted to prove to her dad that she could be responsible and started taking a babysitting class.
In addition, Lori once had to be paddled because “she had to punish someone” (75), this event pointed to Mom’s logic surrounding punishment, and proves that she would rather paddle her own child than paddle another
" Speak also states on page 161 " I am a deer in headlights of a tractor, is he going to hurt me again? He couldn't in school... why am I so afraid. " These examples from the text show all the problems Melinda had, for instance what Andy did to her,
At the end of the story she finally found her voice and was able to stand up for herself. In the beginning, Melinda didn't talk to anyone, barely even to her parents. She says, “I have tried so hard to forget every second of that stupid party and here I am in the middle of a hostile crowd that hates me for what I had to do. I can't tell them what really happened” (Anderson, 28).
When her only son was going to school , she said; “ I never though a son of mine would choose useless books over the parents that have you life”(Macleod 18). It shows how the mother was putting so much pressure and guilt
A ten year old Sara bears a heavy heart because she constantly envisions this becoming a reality. “I already saw all of our things kicked out on sidewalk like a pile of junk” (1). The elements present within the Smolinski home leave the daughters destined for failure. The dynamic that Reb Smolinski has created within the family is one where he dictates the future of his offspring. He refuses to work
Bob persuades people to pack up their families and come to the Inn to watch the Christmas show. Bob follows Betty to New York and tries to get her to come back, but she doesn’t budge. Instead she talks to the Ed Sullivan Show about her next move in her career. Betty wasn’t satisfied though, and she went back to Vermont to Bob and the rest of her “family.” Well it comes time for the big Christmas show therefore Bob and Phil surprise the general with all of the audience members that consisted of many people he knew from the army accompanied by their families.
And I knew she felt that I didn’t do anything wrong. It was me who wasn’t sure. It was me who lay on the cot wondering if I was fooling myself.” Steve’s mother’s encouraging words made him rethink his guilt. He feels bad for making his family go throw this, as he feels her pain.
In The Color Purple written by Alice Walker dynamic characters shape the storyline. A dynamic character is a character who changes throughout a story as a result of the conflicts they encounter during their journey. A perfect example of a dynamic character is Miss Celie. Throughout her life Celie faces challenges that she conquers by standing up despite her fears. Regardless of her oppression she takes a stand and changes her fate.
In the film, Miss Evers' Boys, Eunice Evers demonstrates some unethical behavior when her and a fellow colleague begin a study on a group of African American men who suffer from syphilis. Prior to their study on the men, there had been a similar study conducted on white men. Doctor Brodus and Miss Evers were trying to prove to the people that syphilis can affect anyone. They began the study by testing the African American men for the disease, then provided them with treatment. Miss Evers provided them with minimal information about the disease, in order to get them to participate in the study.
Jeanette’s mother then tells her that her values are all wrong. Jeanette opens up to her mother about being embarrassed and passing her up in the streets. When her mother asks her why, Jeannette says, “I was too ashamed, Mom. I hid”(5). This quote also relates to her childhood.
