Sexual Assault In Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson

Speak Final Essay Data indicates that fewer than 2% of reported incidents of sexual assault lead to the successful prosecution of the perpetrator (NCTSN). Sexual assault is a significant crime that unfortunately affects teens and adults worldwide. Laurie Halse Anderson's award-winning book, Speak is about a 14-year-old named Melinda Sordino, an ostracized high school freshman with a terrible secret. Anderson’s book contains relatable and sarcastic tones throughout the book. Its unsteady, roundabout narrative gradually reveals that shortly before the first day of school, Melinda went to a party, where she was raped by a handsome, popular senior, (Interview with Author). Anderson wrote this book because she woke up from a dream and could hear

In the novel Speak, Melinda thinks no one will believe her and thinks no one will care. Melinda says, “It is easier not to say anything. Shut your trap, button your lip, can it. All that crap you hear on TV about communication and expressing feelings is a lie. Nobody really wants to hear what you have to say,” (Anderson 9). Melinda doesn’t believe that you should express feelings or communicate. Teens can feel isolated and distant, causing them to fall into depression. Later on in the story, Melinda passes out while dissecting a frog because she remembers being pinned down and says, “The whole point of not talking about it, of silencing the memory, is to make it go away. It won't. I'll need brain surgery to cut it out of my head,” (Anderson 82). Melinda tries her hardest not to remember what happened but can’t silence the pain or get rid of the memory because of how much it impacted her life. Melinda becomes sleep-deprived and experiences anxiety throughout the book. Besides feeling shame, PTSD and depression can also be major side effects for teens going through stressful

Melinda feels a lot of emotions from the incident and has a little too much on her shoulders. While Melinda is trapped inside her thoughts, she confesses, “I want to confess everything, hand over the guilt and mistake and anger to someone else,” (Anderson 51). Melinda has a lot of stress and this quote reflects the notion that teens become stagnant. Melinda started to become distant from school and her relationships which led to Melinda failing her classes, she went from being an A+ student to failing her classes, “MY REPORT CARD: Social Life F Social Studies F Spanish D Art A Lunch D Biology D+ Algebra F Clothes F English D+ Gym D,” (Anderson 137). Her report card proves that teens' performance declines as their mental health does. Melinda was once a good student and liked school. Nowadays, Melinda is less interested in doing things. This leads teens to decline into