Speak 1
The natural world • Melinda has to do an art proj
ect on trees. Her struggle to find a way to express herself artistically runs through the whole book. How does her work with her art reflect her work of dealing with the aftereffects of the sexual assault? • Besides Melinda’s work on trees, several events in the novel are linked to growth and the natural world. In what ways might these events reflect Melinda’s work with herself? Family • In the Sordino household (the surname is worth reflecting on!), daily life doesn’t seem that easy. When does the family have its best times together? On these occasions, what helps create a sense of cohesion and community? Banned books • After finding the janitor’s closet, the first thing Melinda does is put up a poster of Maya Angelou, who is described by the librarian as one of the greatest American authors. Because Angelou wrote a book that was banned by the school board, the poster was taken down – but apparently the librarian didn’t throw it away and has given it to Melinda instead. What does this say about the librarian? What does it say about the school board? • Speak has been one of the most frequently banned books in the United States, where school boards have prohibited its use in many schools and school libraries. What do people try to prevent by banning books, and specifically by banning Speak?
