Speak your soul

Tamarah Riddick

Roar Notes

In the novel, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, the main character is named Melinda Sordino.  During the beginning of the novel, Melinda has no friends and is completely alienated by everyone in school because of what happened the previous summer incident.  Melinda and her friends were eighth graders soon to be ninth graders and they decided to go to a senior party.  There were alcoholic drinks there and because she wanted to fit in so badly, Melinda drank cups of beer.  She became so drunk that she was nearly completely unaware of her very own surroundings.  A senior came up to her and asked her to dance.

 After they were dancing, he took her to the woods and wanted to have sex.  Melinda was unaware of the situation that was occurring and she wanted it to stop.  She was so intoxicated that she was unaware to express her feelings and because she didn’t want it to happen, it became an incident of rape.  She didn’t tell anyone for a while and couldn’t sum up her courage to “Speak”.  Eventually she starts to resent her rapist, Andy Evans and tells someone. “The beast” hears about the fact that   was telling people about it and tried to attack her for a second time. This time Melinda fought back and got her revenge, letting everyone know that she was tired of not expressing her feelings and it was time for her to finally “Speak”.

Quote: “My English teacher has no face” (Anderson 4)

Reaction: When I read this quote it made me feel confused about what she meant by no face and how this expressed her emotions for the teacher.  The teacher must of done something bad to her.

My Notes

Tamarah Riddick

Roar Notes

English 10

Roar Notes

            In this book many things have gone on and Karrine Steffans, the narrator has encountered many conflicts and situations.  She has undergone severe abuse and beatings from her mother, previous boyfriends, and her husband, Kool G rap.  After undergoing years of abuse from her mother, she ends up living with her father and when she couldn’t live there any longer she ran away and got married, putting herself in yet another abusive relationship.

            Steffans has lost many of her closest friends.  One because of her friends boyfriend made a pass at her and Karrine not being a good fiend gave him her number and got caught and she tried to deny it. Her other friend was always there for her and stole things for her. When Karrine asked her friend to pick out an outfit for her to wear out that night her friend got caught. A good friend would’ve bailed her out because it was Karrine’s fault but she decided not to and mad yet another enemy.

Quote:  “It hadn’t been the first time I had been hit –from my mother, to my boyfriends in high school, and even a recent boyfriend before I met G.  As a matter of fact I had come to expect it.”

Reaction: When I read this quote, I was appalled because I could never imagine someone becoming used to being abuse and expecting it form people.  When someone is emotionally scarred like that, I can understand a person being emotionally scarred and insecure.  But this scarring security has made her make mistakes over and over again and if I were in her position I would use my past as a boost and learn from it .