Discussion Questions #2 - Monica Bell

1.  What do you think happened the night of the party?
I think Andy did something bad to her. I think he might have raped her because when they were in the cafeteria talking about Andy and they said he'd sleep with anyone, she reacted to it. I think this could've resulted in her calling the police. She could've had something to drink and Andy took advantage of that.

2. Do you think Mel knew Andy before the party?
No, I do not think Mel knew Andy before the party. She doesn't seem to know much about him. She didn't know he went to her school and didn't seem to know his name. When they were in the cafeteria and he walked in, Siobhan says his name and Mel doesn't react until she sees him. She also calls him by "IT".

3. Why do you think nobody asked her what happened at the party?
I think nobody asked her about the party because nobody wanted to be considered her friend and be socially outcast with her so they just went with what everyone else was saying. It was easier for them to not ask and just believe other people than listen and get involved with her problems.

4. Do you think Mel will end up telling someone about what happened at the party?
Yes, I think eventually Mel will end up telling someone about what happened at the party because she can't keep it to herself forever. I think she'll either tell a guidance counsellor or therapist or she'll break down and tell anyone. She might even tell her parents because at Christmas she was so close to telling them but in the end didn't because they walked away.

5. Do you think Mel had her lip biting habit before the party?
No, I think she developed it after the party due to stress and anxiety caused by what happened at the party. She seems to always bite her lips or notice it when she gets nervous or anxious.

6. What do you think Andy did to make Mel react this way towards him?
I think he did something really bad to her at the party like raped her or something along those lines because she constantly refers to him as "IT" which means to her he is not even good enough for "he" or "him" but is an "IT". He could've abused her and everytime she sees him she's reminded of that night and it makes her feel sick. She seems almost scared of him so it had to have been something bad.

7. Do you think Mel uses art to cope with what happened or to express her feelings?
Yes, I think she expressed her feelings through art because when she made her turkey sculpture, she seemed so into making it. When it was finished, Mr. Freeman described what he saw and it described her life almost perfectly. He also said it showed pain and Melinda is clearly suffering from something emotionally and is in emotional pain.

8. Do you think Andy purposely twirled Mel's ponytail at the lunch table to make her react in some way?
Yes, I think he purposely did it because he seems to not care about what he did to her and hasn't apologized or said anything about it. I think he's trying to get under her skin and show that he is aware of what he did and he's not going to do anything about it. I also think he's trying to scare her so she won't tell anyone and get him in trouble.

9. Why do you think Mel runs away and throws up whenever she has an encounter with IT?
I think she does this because everytime she sees him she is reminded of what happened. I think it makes her feel like she can't escape it or him no matter what she does and it makes her sick. She may feel trapped and helpless and thinks she'll have to live like this forever.

10. Why do you think that Mel called the police but didn't end up telling them about what happened?
I think maybe she got scared about what would happen if she did so she called them and then tried to run away, She probably thought would be better than talking to the police and getting people in trouble resulting in them hating her.

Journal Entry #1 - Sarah Izzard

The first section of the book Speak was very interesting to me. Melinda’s character really gets me because so many people are bullied and no one does anything about it. I feel like I can relate to people because I have been socially outcast and bullied before. It wasn’t to the same extent but it’s helping me connect to the book and I’m really enjoying it. I really want to know what happened at the party and why everyone hates her so much. She seems like a nice person who’s just sad and lonely I don’t see how an entire school could hate her so much. Her friend Heather doesn’t seem like she likes her very much either and she just moved there. She doesn’t appear to be a good friend to Melinda and I have a feeling that things won’t end well between them. Her old group of friends won’t so much as look at her so what happened in the summer at the party for things to change so drastically must have been pretty dramatic.
The way the book is written leaves a lot of un-answered questions at this point and I really want to continue reading to find out what happens next. I really want to know who “IT” is. Melinda really doesn’t seem to like this person and I think that they might play into why everyone dislikes her. Maybe “IT” did something or said something to her at the party to make her call the cops. It doesn’t make sense that the only reason she is disliked is because she called the police to the party so something more must have happened that night that no one else really knows about. Hopefully we find out soon because I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

-Sarah Izzard

Journal #1 - Monica Bell

I really like the book Speak. I feel like I can relate really well to Melinda. A couple of years ago I was outcast and had pretty much no friends all because of one mistake. It wasn't as bad as Melinda but I still understand how she felt entering high school with no friends because I had to pretty much do the same. It was hard at first but eventually it got easier and I learned not to care. I feel like the reason Melinda doesn’t try to make friends or join any of the cliques is because she’s either scared of rejection or thinks she’s better off alone without them. I felt like that and became kind of a loner like Melinda.

When I read the part of the book where it’s the pep rally and the girls were confronting Melinda, I got really mad. I was mostly mad at the fact that Heather didn’t stand up for Melinda. If I was there I would’ve probably told off the girls or done something to help Melinda. I know what it feels like to be confronted by older girls and it can be intimidating when you know you have no one on your side or backing you up.

I don’t like Heather. I feel as if she would ditch Melinda as soon as someone better comes along. She also would do anything to be popular or accepted and I find that to be very shallow and fake. I think she is only using Melinda as a friend so she has someone and isn’t totally friendless.

I’m really curious about what happened the night of the party and about “IT”. I’m also curious about why her old friends didn’t ask her about what happened in her own words. If something happened to one of my friends I wouldn’t jump to conclusions or believe any rumours unless they were confirmed by my friend. Either way, I don’t think her old friends deserve her friendship again and I feel like Melinda is better off without them because they don’t seem to really care about her enough to wonder what really went on at the party or to be her friend when she clearly has no one else.

-Monica Bell

Discussion Questions-1st quarter-Victoria Tucker

1. What do you think happened to Melinda and her old "clan" before high school that changed everything between them all?

Maybe some drama had happened, targeting Melinda. Also, it talks about in the book that Mel called the police on Kyle Rodger's party at the end of the summer, so maybe they could be mad at her because of that and turned on her.

2. Do you picture the school Melinda attends is similar to Sir Wilfrid Laurier?

I do not picture the school Melinda attends similar to Sir Wilfred Laurier. There are one or two things. As in no matter what school you go to there will be people who aren't always nice, snobby ignorant or rude, which is similar to a few at Sir Wil and the students at Merryweather High.

3. In your opinion, why do you think it's so tough for Melinda to make new friends once in high school?

I think that her reputation was ruined by calling the police at that party during the summer, maybe the person who threw the party was popular and everyone found out about it. It could also just be because people are very judgemental about how Melinda looks and dresses and seems like. Also could have to do with her lack with confidence in herself, it could discourage her with being social and wanting to try new things and meet new people.

4. Why is Mel putting such an effort in the washroom with Rachel/Rachelle when they are no longer friends and she knows Rachel/Rachelle doesn't like her?

I think Mel put that much of an effort even though Rachel was being very ignorant and making it quite obvious that she wanted nothing to do with her because maybe she wanted to find out why exactly she hates her. Also she could've just wanted to be the bigger person and be friendly but then again we don't have a definite answer.

5. Do you think that the tense relationship Melinda has with her parents is affecting her self confidence and lack of making friends?

I think it does affect Melinda. I think it affects her because your family is supposed to be the closest people to you, the people you go to for advice, the people who will always have your back and they're the people who matter most in your life. I find if you have a bad relationship with your family it makes it tougher on you because you feel like you have no one to really talk to or just in general have nobody. Maybe that's how she feels, and maybe that's why her confidence isn't too high and she is having issues making friends at her school.

6. Someone at the pep rally talks about how Mel called the cops on Kyle Rodger's party at the end of the summer, why do you think she did?

There could be many reasons why Melinda would call the police at the party. She could have been in trouble or see something go on that wasn't right so she could have gotten scared and resorted to that. She could have been mad at somebody for saying something or doing something for her so that she called the police to ruin all their fun. The list could go on and on but those are the two reasons I think are most likely true in that situation.

7. Now that Heather has found other friends to hang around with at school, do you think she'll ditch Mel or they will become more distant quickly?

I think there is a chance for Heather to do so. Why, is because I think Heather will try to fit in and just to have friends she will go to drastic measures to please them. For example dressing a certain way or similar to what they wear, pushing people out of her life if the new friends don't like her (for example Melinda), and changing her personality completely to please them. I really hope she doesn't because I think Melinda wouldn't do the same with her, but who knows I guess we will just have to wait and find out.

8. Who do you think "IT" is?

I think "IT" is a person who Melinda may or may not know too well. The character sounds like someone who is frightening, someone that has a connection to Melinda but nobody knows but the two of them. I think we will be hearing a lot about this "IT" character because it seems to have impacted Melinda a lot, or at least made her very angry and agitated.

 

 

-Victoria Tucker

Journal #1-Speak-Victoria Tucker

       So far, I have really enjoyed reading Speak. It has a different sort of context, not something you regularly see in novels. The way the context is written is in a form of a journal, as if the main character, Mel is talking to you or showing what they are thinking. The book seems to be written not as serious as you see others, as in the way the character is talking or thinking, is similar to how a regular teenager would now a days. I find the book so far very relatable. A teenager starting high school, not sure what to make of herself, obviously not self confident, and terribly scared. I found it weird how in the book at the assembly the first day, they show a slide of a power point I presume, saying "THE FIRST TEN LIES THEY TELL YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL" . Especially the ones that we are told are true, as in "1. We are here to help you." and "3. The dress code will be enforced." I wasn't finding myself bored even reading it from the start, the way most novels are. I've been interested since the first page. When Mel was speaking about "IT" I became very confused. Who is "IT"? It leaves me on the edge of my chair wondering who it could be and what more we would find out about this "IT". I'm afraid that since Heather has started to hang around with a new "clan" at their school, she'll change to please them and her and Mel won't be as close or she will completely forget about her. You would think the school Mel goes to would have similar characteristics as Sir Wilfrid Laurier does, but they're nothing alike. The high school she attends is full of the classic high school cliques. At Sir Wil there is nothing even near that here. Also at Sir Wil most people are very accepting of others and it's encouraged to be but at her school it doesn't seem to be like that at all and not very many of the students seem kind.

-Victoria Tucker