Why Speak Shouldn’t be Banned Why Speak Shouldn’t Be Banned Aero Ankle South Umpqua High School Why Speak Shouldn’t be Banned Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson teaches a valuable lesson. The book is about a young girl just entering high school. It shows all her struggles and achievements as a girl recovering from being raped at a party before entering high school. Because of the strength of the lesson Speak teaches, it should not be banned. Speak starts with a young lady, named Melinda, attending her first day of school scoping out the school and staff without any friends. Melinda, being the quiet girl she is in the beginning of the school year, gains new friends, a new girl from out of town, and her art teacher. As the story progress, background on Melinda is revealed. She had lost her friends after calling the cops on the party because she was scared after being raped by a boy named Andy Evans. Melinda’s grades and relationship begins to dwindle down as the year goes on for Melinda forcing her to see the guidance counselor with her parents. She starts to talk a little more to her old friends as her new friend Heather has …show more content…
left her for a group of girls named the Heathers. The bond between herself and her art teacher grows and towards the ending Melinda tells one of her old friends about her being raped. Melinda then writes anonymously on the stall wall in the bathroom that he raped her and a list of things that she doesn’t like about him. More girls add onto the list in the bathroom. The story ends with Melinda finally opening up and starting to recover by turning in her art project to her art teacher. This book was reviewed in council of teachers and the school’s principal to be wrongfully banned to eighth graders as a start (Swier). It was banned because it “promotes group rate abortions”, and also promotes behaviors such as “theft”, “promiscuity”, “child suicide” and “group sex” (Swier). This book is critical for kids to read because it teaches the reader that even in rough times, such as the situation presented in the book, that they are never alone. Speak gives an insight of what it is like in the life of a person who has gone through such a traumatic experience. Victims of rape can read Speak and feel a little less alone because said people had gone through something that others have as well. The novel teaches the importance of reaching out for help even if they feel helpless. This book is important to discuss for those reasons alone especially in grades starting to transition into older ages. Kids shouldn’t be coddled from real problems like rape or sexual assault because then they won’t know what to do or expect in those situations. Un-consensual sex is such a problem in today’s society that the importance of the topic discussion is dire. Discussing that topic and teaching children and teenagers about it can prevent rape and sexual assault in the first place. Sexual Assault happens in every one in four woman in their lifetimes. One in six American women has been the victim of attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. Twenty-nine percent of sexual assault victims are of ages twelve through seventeen. Sexual assault survivors are; three times more likely to experience depression; six times more likely to also experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; and survivors are four times more likely to contemplate suicide (Get). Looking at the statistics there is no doubt that rape and sexual assault should be talked about and taught to the youth. Speak educates the children and teenagers about rape and sexual assault and for a survivor of rape or sexual assault can even help cope. By being a medium for understanding that they aren’t alone and that there is still hope, Speak communicates that it wasn’t the survivors fault. Reading Speak can really educate and connect with the readers. Even if the people haven’t experienced any of the situations addressed in the book, it still can be relevant to the readers because they may know someone who has experienced the situations in the book. Readers can easily connect with Speak because of it is based in modern technology and society. The connection to the modern times makes the book highly interesting and entertaining to read. The mature content of the book isn’t even close to how much learning experience one can gain from reading it. Not only is Speak and interesting and an entertaining book it is also a book that reaches deep into the hearts of the readers and tell the story from a perspective of a survivor. Speak is a book that is highly difficult to put down. Speak shouldn’t be banned because of the highly important and incredibly strong lesson it teaches to the reader.
Due to the mains character Melinda’s story about her journey of recovery from rape and sexual assault, it was wrongly banned for small parts of the book that was taken out of context. Speak teaches the reader about rape and sexual assault and helps any survivors reading Speak. Rape and sexual assault is something that should be discussed because of how much of a problem it has become. Rape and sexual assault needs be taught in school and everyone should push hard towards educating the youth about important situations such as these so the children can grow up with safer lives then they have now. Speak should be read by many because of the extremely strong lessons. Everyone and anyone needs to be educated on these dire
problems. (No one is ever alone. Stay Alive)
The book Speak by Laurie Anderson is about how Melinda Sordino--- an “outcast” girl overcome the trouble in her life, her growth in mind and how she learned to speak up for herself.
This can teach many teens what to do when situations like this arise. They will know the consequences and will know what to expect. How real this book portrays all the events teens can decide not to try anything because in a way they slightly experienced everything with Alice. Overall, the book should not be banned and teens should be allowed to read this anywhere without there being consequences. Works Cited Sparks, Beatrice.
Speak is an about the story of Melinda Sordino, a 13-year-old rape victim, and her high school experience in the 9th grade. When Melinda went to a party in the summer of 8th grade, she and her friends went to a party. Something happened at the party where Melinda had to call the cops. Later it is known that Andy Evans, a popular womanizer, sexually assaulted Melinda. Melinda was too embarrassed about what happened and did not tell anyone why she called the police. Now everyone hates her and Melinda becomes a loner. Melinda only has one friend, Heather from Ohio. Heather is a new girl at Merryweather High School in Syracuse and craves popularity. The only reason that she is friends with Melinda is because to her Melinda is a placeholder
Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, is a story written in the first person about a young girl named Melinda Sordino. The title of the book, Speak, is ironically based on the fact that Melinda chooses not to speak. The book is written in the form of a monologue in the mind of Melinda, a teenage introvert. This story depicts the story of a very miserable freshman year of high school. Although there are several people in her high school, Melinda secludes herself from them all. There are several people in her school that used to be her friend in middle school, but not anymore. Not after what she did over the summer. What she did was call the cops on an end of summer party on of her friends was throwing. Although all her classmates think there was no reason to call, only Melinda knows the real reason. Even if they cared to know the real reason, there is no way she could tell them. A personal rape story is not something that flows freely off the tongue. Throughout the story Melinda describes the pain she is going through every day as a result of her rape. The rape of a teenage girl often leads to depression. Melinda is convinced that nobody understands her, nor would they even if they knew what happened that summer. Once a happy girl, Melinda is now depressed and withdrawn from the world. She hardly ever speaks, nor does she do well in school. She bites her lips and her nails until they bleed. Her parents seem to think she is just going through a faze, but little do they know, their daughter has undergone a life changing trauma that will affect her life forever.
Speak is a cleaver and an ironic title for a story in which the main character chooses not to speak. The story is written in first-person narration from the point of view of protagonist, Melinda Sordino. Speak is written like an interior monologue in the mind of an introverted teenage girl, like excerpts from her personal diary during her miserable freshman year of high school. Instead of blending in and finding her way through high school. She withdraws and secludes herself from the other students. She calls herself an "outcast." Melinda is so desperate to hide from the world; she turns an old janitor's closet at the high school into her safe haven. She cuts classes to hide in her closet. How lonely could this teenage girl be? All of these characteristics are common in assault victims. Melinda has been seriously disturbed by something traumatic and doesn't feel comfortable talking about it, nor does she really trust anyone. Teenage depression is a common
This novel should be banned from the high school curriculum. This novel is too inappropriate for high school students. The novel may be too much for them to handle because of all the profanity and discrimination. This novel may be more suited for a college class were the students are much more mature and could handle all of the actions that take place in the
Both characters change after an event that takes place in their life. In Speak Melinda changes prior to the raping. A change is evident, because during the meeting with her parents the principal says, “Melinda. Last year you were a straight –B student, no behavioral problems, few absences. But the reports I’ve been getting…well, what can we say?” (Anderson, 114). She must have been a straight-B student in the eighth grade, since none of her progress reports for the ninth grade year have all B’s. Not only Melinda’s grades change, but also her social status. She states, “I have entered high school with the wrong hair, the wrong clothes, the wrong attitude. And I don’t have anyone to sit with. I am Outcast” (Anderson, 4). She doesn’t talk to any of her friends from middle school except for Ivy, who she occasionally talks to. Tyler changes physically and mentally after doing the
The things Hopkins have been through throughout her life have made her see all risks of the bad things her daughter went through, and she wants to try and help people through these novels. The first time she heard about getting censored she wrote a poem called Manifesto and sent it out to her publisher. Although many parents and schools disagree with her writing style and theme, she still continues to write inspiring books and doesn’t let the news about her censorship ruin her confidence in writing.
Books are banned for many reasons but more times than not it is because of the sensitive information found within the novel that agitates the reader. As long as people have been able to develop their own opinions, others have sought to prevent them from sharing. At some point in time, every idea has ultimately become objectionable to someone. The most frequently challenged and most visible targets of such objection are the very books found in classrooms and public libraries. These controversial novels teach lessons that sometimes can be very sensitive to some but there is much more to challenged books than a controversial topic. What lies within these pages is a wealth of knowledge, such as new perspectives for readers, twisting plots, and expressions that are found nowhere else. For example, To Kill A Mockingbird, contains references to rape, racial content, and profanity that have caused many to challenge the novel in the first place. The book was banned from countless
I am a student at Soledad High School and I am writing about the book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. This book should not be prohibited because of its use of foul language, violence and racism.
Speak, is a novel written by Laurie Halse Anderson, about a girl entering high school, for the first time, with a heavy secret weighting on her. Melinda Sordino begins freshman year at Merryweather High School, being a complete different person. Over the summer, Melinda and her friends went to a senior party, where Melinda ended calling the police. This caused her friends and the people at the party to socially reject her, even though they didn’t knew that before the phone call, Andy Evans raped her. Due to the phone call, Melinda enters high school without friends and having to see Andy Evans everyday. Her only “safe” place in the entire school is art class, where Mr. Freeman is the teacher. Mr. Freeman is the only teacher Melinda doesn’t dislike or avoids, because he listens and understands her, but also shows her the value of honesty.
Censorship in School Libraries The most debatable and controversial form of censorship today is the banning of books in school libraries. Banning books that educate students is wrong and selfish. Censorship of books in school libraries is neither uncommon nor an issue of the past. Books with artistic and cultural worth are still challenged constantly by those who want to control what others read. The roots of bigotry and illiteracy that fuel efforts to censor books and free expression are unacceptable and unconditional.
The main character of speak, Melinda Sordino, has been raped by a guy name Andy Evans at a party the summer before entering her freshman year. Melinda does not speak about what happened to her at the party and nobody would talk to her because of her decision to call the cops. Although she decided to leave before the cops showed up. “I learned what makes men rape… it is power and privilege. I learned what makes women silent. It is fear…” (Pearson, 24). Melinda is determined to keep quiet and erase the memory of what happened to her at the party. Essentially, she does not speak at all, which is physically and emotionally hurting her by not speaking to someone, and it seems as no one really notices or cares to talk to Melinda to why she is acting
She finds it increasingly difficult to speak to anyone at all. When trying to speak, “[her] throat is always sore... [Her] jaws are clenched… Every time [she] [tries] to talk to [her] parents or a teacher, [she] sputter[s] or freeze[s]” (Anderson 50-51). The beginning of the year is when Melinda finds it hardest to speak. She implies that every time she attempts to talk to anyone about anything, she freezes and can not seem to get the words out. Finally, Melinda builds up the courage to open up to her ex-best friend – Rachel. Melinda shows great character development by speaking to Rachel about the incident, as she is one of the most – if not the most – difficult person to tell. Although Melinda is nervous to tell Rachel, as she and Rachel converse, she writes a note explaining that “[she] didn’t call the cops to break up the party, [she] called – [she] put[s] the pencil down. [She] pick[s] it up again – them because some guy raped [her] under the trees. [She] didn’t know what to do…” (Anderson 183). Rachel asks “why [she didn’t] tell [her]”, and Melinda explains that “[she] could not tell anybody” (Anderson 183). Although Melinda was not ready to speak before, she is now ready to speak and that is what matters the most; she has grown significantly since the rape occurred. In autumn, Melinda’s character is selectively mute and has a lack of communication skills. Yet, by the end of the year,
Books will introduce them to the fun parts of the world or their imagination. They will also show them the difficult realities as well, but it makes them stronger in their thoughts, opinions, and how they see things. In conclusion, when a book has bad language don’t have it banned because other people enjoy certain books that become banned because of one word.