Summary
While being invited by Rachel to a party in August, Melinda went to the end-of-summer party with underage drinking and seniors; it became a disastrous night. While Melinda being drunk and became intimate with a guy named Andy Evans, he began to rape her. All of a sudden she called 911 and the party was over and Melinda walked back home without a word.
As the year was ending, Melinda knew that Rachel, Melinda's friend, was in a relationship with Andy Evans. Andy, a senior, invited Rachel to the prom. In study hall, Melinda decided to tell the truth. Melinda and Rachel started talking and Melinda told her that she was raped during the party. She told it was by Andy Evans. Rachel framed her as if she was lying and told Melinda that she is jealous and that she is more popular.
During prom, Rachel and Andy was arguing with each other. Melinda inferred that what she told Rachel was true. Rachel burned everything Andy gave her and left the ashes in front of his locker. Andy was filled with shame.
As Melinda was going to her locker to get her backpack, Andy slams Melinda into a closet and locked the door. Andy confronts her about how he raped her. He says that she is jealous and wrong, and that the story was all a lie. It began all over again. Andy started to rape Melinda again till suddenly, her friend Nicole and the lacrosse team knocks on the door. Melinda is saved.
Quote
"Let me tell you about it" (Anderson 198).
Reaction
Thanks to the lacrosse team, everyone knew that the story was true. As the seniors came into Melinda's class just to say their last goodbye to their teacher Mr. Freeman, a senior looked at Melinda and hoped that she was okay. Melinda felt popular. As Melinda was doing her last project for his art teacher Mr. Freeman, he proudly said she got an A+. Mr. Freeman asked, "You've been through a lot, haven't you?" Melinda FINALLY responded, "Let me tell you about it." This is the start where Melinda began speaking.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson pg 121-160
Summary
To reward Melinda by going to school everyday and not skipping any classes, her mother settled herself with new clothes. Melinda doesn't like to shop with her mother, since all she does is brag about what is stylish and what is not. As Melinda went to a store, she picked out some jeans and went to the fitting room. The fitting room was filled with mirrors everywhere, where she began to look into herself. She began moving mirror to mirror and thinking, how does it feel to walk in a new skin? She reminisced on the times about how her mother and father hating each other, her friend Rachel who hates her, the school is mistreating her, and Heather. She puts on the jeans for a new start. Melinda told herself she needed to stay away from her closet, go to all her classes, make herself normal, and forget the past.
Instead of heading home and sitting in her closet, Melinda decides to stay after school for a basketball game, the last game of the season. She ran down the hall, where the noise in the gym pulled her in. The crowd chanted down the last seconds, where they won 51-50. Everyone was excited. Melinda wanted to be part of it all.
At the end of the Third Marking Period, her grades were failing.
For extra credit, Melinda's history teacher, Mr.Neck, assigned students to write a report about suffragettes because many students were failing. Melinda wrote about how women couldn't vote, own property, or be allowed in schools. But, Mr. Neck told the students it was an oral report, where Melinda did not want to speak. During class, Melinda put up a sign that says that suffragettes fought for the right to speak, and she should not be forced to give speeches where Melinda chooses to be silent. In the end, Mr. Neck gave her a D.
Quote
"Anything you say will be used against you" (Anderson 157).
Reaction
As Melinda was watching lawyers on TV, she heard the cops say, "Anything you say will be used against you." She relates this to the situation where she did not want to speak during the oral report. I wonder why Melinda doesn't speak. Is it her past or she has nothing to say?
To reward Melinda by going to school everyday and not skipping any classes, her mother settled herself with new clothes. Melinda doesn't like to shop with her mother, since all she does is brag about what is stylish and what is not. As Melinda went to a store, she picked out some jeans and went to the fitting room. The fitting room was filled with mirrors everywhere, where she began to look into herself. She began moving mirror to mirror and thinking, how does it feel to walk in a new skin? She reminisced on the times about how her mother and father hating each other, her friend Rachel who hates her, the school is mistreating her, and Heather. She puts on the jeans for a new start. Melinda told herself she needed to stay away from her closet, go to all her classes, make herself normal, and forget the past.
Instead of heading home and sitting in her closet, Melinda decides to stay after school for a basketball game, the last game of the season. She ran down the hall, where the noise in the gym pulled her in. The crowd chanted down the last seconds, where they won 51-50. Everyone was excited. Melinda wanted to be part of it all.
At the end of the Third Marking Period, her grades were failing.
For extra credit, Melinda's history teacher, Mr.Neck, assigned students to write a report about suffragettes because many students were failing. Melinda wrote about how women couldn't vote, own property, or be allowed in schools. But, Mr. Neck told the students it was an oral report, where Melinda did not want to speak. During class, Melinda put up a sign that says that suffragettes fought for the right to speak, and she should not be forced to give speeches where Melinda chooses to be silent. In the end, Mr. Neck gave her a D.
Quote
"Anything you say will be used against you" (Anderson 157).
Reaction
As Melinda was watching lawyers on TV, she heard the cops say, "Anything you say will be used against you." She relates this to the situation where she did not want to speak during the oral report. I wonder why Melinda doesn't speak. Is it her past or she has nothing to say?
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson pg 81-120
Summary
Back to school from winter break, Melinda is grateful to be back. During gym, since there was about two feet of snow on the ground, the students had to play inside. The first sport they played was basketball. Ms. Connors, the teacher, teaches the students how to shoot foul shots. Melinda stepped on the line, and shot it. It went in. Ms. Connors tells her to repeatedly do it over and over, and she sunk the ball again and again. After class, Ms. Connors wanted to meet Melinda during activity period. She checked her grades, but sadly, Melinda had a 1.7 GPA and couldn't play for the team. As the boys basketball team came in, they practiced their foul shots and humiliatingly made thirty percent. Melinda had a deal with Ms. Connors that if she volunteer to teach the team how to shoot a foul shot, she will automatically get an A in gym.
In English class, writing essays are troublesome to the students. On the first essay, the English teacher gave an assignment to write "Why America Is Great", due in three weeks. Only one person turned it in on time. Another essay that was assigned was "The Best Lost Homework Excused Ever", and everyone in class done it the next day. No one was late.
At the end of the Second Marking Period, her grades weren't as good as the first.
Another day in English class, the students are reading The Scarlet Letter, and are trying to figure out symbolism in the book. The teacher describes how the author chooses every word, comma, paragraphs, are done on purpose. Melinda gets interested in finding symbolism because it's like code breaking to find hidden secrets. A students then shouted out how symbolism is not needed in the book but the enjoyment of reading does. She doesn't believe how all the symbols are made up. The teacher explains how Hawthorne, the author is a genius and relates symbolism to math by saying how three times four equals twelve. "Once you figure it out, it's as clear as day."
Quote
"They swallow her whole and she never looks back at me. Not once" (107).
Reaction
In lunch cafeteria, Heather spoke out her confession towards Melinda. Heather says that she will ruin her reputation because of who she hangs out with, a creepy weirdo. Heather couldn't be Melinda's friend anymore. She walks back to her table with the Marthas and never look back at her once. The Marthas has taken full advantage of her lifestyle in school.
Back to school from winter break, Melinda is grateful to be back. During gym, since there was about two feet of snow on the ground, the students had to play inside. The first sport they played was basketball. Ms. Connors, the teacher, teaches the students how to shoot foul shots. Melinda stepped on the line, and shot it. It went in. Ms. Connors tells her to repeatedly do it over and over, and she sunk the ball again and again. After class, Ms. Connors wanted to meet Melinda during activity period. She checked her grades, but sadly, Melinda had a 1.7 GPA and couldn't play for the team. As the boys basketball team came in, they practiced their foul shots and humiliatingly made thirty percent. Melinda had a deal with Ms. Connors that if she volunteer to teach the team how to shoot a foul shot, she will automatically get an A in gym.
In English class, writing essays are troublesome to the students. On the first essay, the English teacher gave an assignment to write "Why America Is Great", due in three weeks. Only one person turned it in on time. Another essay that was assigned was "The Best Lost Homework Excused Ever", and everyone in class done it the next day. No one was late.
At the end of the Second Marking Period, her grades weren't as good as the first.
Another day in English class, the students are reading The Scarlet Letter, and are trying to figure out symbolism in the book. The teacher describes how the author chooses every word, comma, paragraphs, are done on purpose. Melinda gets interested in finding symbolism because it's like code breaking to find hidden secrets. A students then shouted out how symbolism is not needed in the book but the enjoyment of reading does. She doesn't believe how all the symbols are made up. The teacher explains how Hawthorne, the author is a genius and relates symbolism to math by saying how three times four equals twelve. "Once you figure it out, it's as clear as day."
Quote
"They swallow her whole and she never looks back at me. Not once" (107).
Reaction
In lunch cafeteria, Heather spoke out her confession towards Melinda. Heather says that she will ruin her reputation because of who she hangs out with, a creepy weirdo. Heather couldn't be Melinda's friend anymore. She walks back to her table with the Marthas and never look back at her once. The Marthas has taken full advantage of her lifestyle in school.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson pg 41-80
Summary
Heather, Melinda's friend, has found a clan called the Marthas. She finally feels that she fits in with the school, not being a loner. The Marthas has to have their outfits coordinated, crisp, and seasonally appropriate: plaid for autumn, sweaters for winter, and skirts for spring. The Marthas also are a big support for the school, who help on projects and do good objectives.
At the end of the First Marking Period, Melinda's report card grade came out not-so-good for a student.
The Second Marking Period begins and Melinda's parents want her to stay after school every day to get help from the teachers. She agrees, but she decides to stay in her closet. She has a Spanish teacher that thinks that all the students would understand the homework assignments, and if they don't they will get detention for "pretending". She has a social studies teacher that is very ignorant about students opinions. She has an art teacher, which is the only subject Melinda is interested in, since she only got an A in that class.
Family for Melinda is very important for her. On Thanksgiving, her mother cooks dinner. It's the definition of being a mother and since her family doesn't talk much, cooking a Thanksgiving dinner describes the importance of being a family.
Melinda also sees her family as a failure. During winter break, she understood the point of Christmas and presents. Once Melinda found out that getting presents were from Santa was a lie, it broke their parents hearts. Melinda says if she wasn't born, her parents would be divorced, and Melinda was a disappointment. Melinda describes herself as her parents, an ordinary drone dressed in secrets and lies.
Quote
"It's a shame we can't just admit that we have failed family living, sell the house, split up the money, and get on with our lives. Merry Christmas" (Anderson 70).
Reaction
Melinda shows how her life from the start, should never had to begin with. The relationship with their parents are not very compatible, as Melinda says. With Melinda being born, her parents had to agree upon living together. Melinda feels this is her present for Christmas.
Heather, Melinda's friend, has found a clan called the Marthas. She finally feels that she fits in with the school, not being a loner. The Marthas has to have their outfits coordinated, crisp, and seasonally appropriate: plaid for autumn, sweaters for winter, and skirts for spring. The Marthas also are a big support for the school, who help on projects and do good objectives.
At the end of the First Marking Period, Melinda's report card grade came out not-so-good for a student.
The Second Marking Period begins and Melinda's parents want her to stay after school every day to get help from the teachers. She agrees, but she decides to stay in her closet. She has a Spanish teacher that thinks that all the students would understand the homework assignments, and if they don't they will get detention for "pretending". She has a social studies teacher that is very ignorant about students opinions. She has an art teacher, which is the only subject Melinda is interested in, since she only got an A in that class.
Family for Melinda is very important for her. On Thanksgiving, her mother cooks dinner. It's the definition of being a mother and since her family doesn't talk much, cooking a Thanksgiving dinner describes the importance of being a family.
Melinda also sees her family as a failure. During winter break, she understood the point of Christmas and presents. Once Melinda found out that getting presents were from Santa was a lie, it broke their parents hearts. Melinda says if she wasn't born, her parents would be divorced, and Melinda was a disappointment. Melinda describes herself as her parents, an ordinary drone dressed in secrets and lies.
Quote
"It's a shame we can't just admit that we have failed family living, sell the house, split up the money, and get on with our lives. Merry Christmas" (Anderson 70).
Reaction
Melinda shows how her life from the start, should never had to begin with. The relationship with their parents are not very compatible, as Melinda says. With Melinda being born, her parents had to agree upon living together. Melinda feels this is her present for Christmas.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson pg 1-40
Summary
It is the start of the First Marking Period. The first morning of high school, Merryweather High. The school is separated by clans: Jocks, Country Clubbers, Idiot Savants, Cheerleaders, Human Waste, Eurotrash, Future Fascists of America, Big Hair Chix, the Marthas, Suffering Artists, Thespians, Goths, Shredders. But Melinda Sordino is an outcast. High school for Melinda is different in ways that she doesn't respond to anyone, or ignore the people around her environment. Melinda lives inside her own mind, where her thoughts are unnatural. She has a list that explains the meaning of high school.
THE FIRST TEN LIES THEY TELL YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL
1. We are here to help you.
2. You will have enough time to get to your class before the bell rings.
3. The dress code will be enforced.
4. No smoking is allowed on school grounds.
5. Our football team will win the championship this year.
6. We expect more of you here.
7. Guidance counselors are always available to listen.
8. Your schedule was created with your needs in mind.
9. Your locker combination is private.
10. These will be the years you look back on fondly.
As Melinda starts her first year of high school, she seems like from the start, she already disliked it. Melinda thinks her teachers are weird by how their appearance, how the cafeteria is separated by groups, or how her old friends are not friends they use to be. As Melinda and her friend Heather thinks about joining a club, Melinda was careless. Melinda thinks clubs are stupid and a waste of time. Heather asks, "What are your goals, Mel?" Melinda responds, "My goal is to go home and take a nap."
Quote
"We are nobody" (Anderson 34).
Reaction
As Heather talks about wanting to join the musical, Melinda thinks otherwise. Melinda said, "We are nobody," which means that the people who doesn't have a purpose in school has no meaning in school. Heather bursts out crying because of how high school has changed her life. Melinda thinks her life as being a "nobody" as she is an outcast in school.
It is the start of the First Marking Period. The first morning of high school, Merryweather High. The school is separated by clans: Jocks, Country Clubbers, Idiot Savants, Cheerleaders, Human Waste, Eurotrash, Future Fascists of America, Big Hair Chix, the Marthas, Suffering Artists, Thespians, Goths, Shredders. But Melinda Sordino is an outcast. High school for Melinda is different in ways that she doesn't respond to anyone, or ignore the people around her environment. Melinda lives inside her own mind, where her thoughts are unnatural. She has a list that explains the meaning of high school.
THE FIRST TEN LIES THEY TELL YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL
1. We are here to help you.
2. You will have enough time to get to your class before the bell rings.
3. The dress code will be enforced.
4. No smoking is allowed on school grounds.
5. Our football team will win the championship this year.
6. We expect more of you here.
7. Guidance counselors are always available to listen.
8. Your schedule was created with your needs in mind.
9. Your locker combination is private.
10. These will be the years you look back on fondly.
As Melinda starts her first year of high school, she seems like from the start, she already disliked it. Melinda thinks her teachers are weird by how their appearance, how the cafeteria is separated by groups, or how her old friends are not friends they use to be. As Melinda and her friend Heather thinks about joining a club, Melinda was careless. Melinda thinks clubs are stupid and a waste of time. Heather asks, "What are your goals, Mel?" Melinda responds, "My goal is to go home and take a nap."
Quote
"We are nobody" (Anderson 34).
Reaction
As Heather talks about wanting to join the musical, Melinda thinks otherwise. Melinda said, "We are nobody," which means that the people who doesn't have a purpose in school has no meaning in school. Heather bursts out crying because of how high school has changed her life. Melinda thinks her life as being a "nobody" as she is an outcast in school.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Beals pg (176-220)
Summary
Since Danny the soldier left, Melba felt lonely and knew the only way to survive Central High School was by self defense. The school was very unsafe, where students would hang out with knives, set dynamites near the exit stairs, or there would be hit-and-runners. With Melba knowing her grades are not that well, her main priority was to stay alive.
Melba and her mother was invited to a parent meeting in the School Superintendent Blossom's office, which they felt that it would end in a disaster. As they enter the meeting, all they had in mind was to stop the abuse in Central High students. Melba's mother asked whether or not the school would have any plans to protect children. Blossom replied rudely by saying it's not her business, which ended the discussion of the meeting.
One day entering the cafeteria, which mostly all blacks wouldn't enter because of the drama, they decided to eat. Minnijean, who loved chili which was served today, decided to make her way and get her tray. Suddenly, boys have surrounded her in her tracks, where all hell broke loose. Minnijean angrily tossed her tray onto the boys. Minnijean was suspended, and the only way to come back is by having permission from the superintendent. That will never happen.
Quote
"I will be here tomorrow and the next day and the next" (Beals 212).
Reaction
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Beals pg (134-175)
Summary
Stepping inside the front door of Central High School, goes the violent mobs of disaster again. Each of the nine students were assigned a uniformed soldier for protection in the school. Everywhere Melba went, she was faced with harsh racial words from the students. In the classroom, or either the bathroom, the N word was said to terrify Melba. Not only Melba was being heckled, the soldier was being taunted by students because he was protecting an African American. When it was lunch time, she arrived in the room amazed at how the room was like the size of half the football field. As she was getting lunch, she saw the people serving food behind the counter who were blacks that smiled at Melba. Melba found a place to sit with some black students, and surprisingly even friendly white girls. In some classes like French, it was peaceful, where students were pleasant welcoming Melba. At the end of the day, all the nine students were gathered together smiling, chatting, and behaving as it was a normal school day.
Waking up for another day of school, Melba arrived in a helicopter. As she walked in school, the torture began again. She got spitted on by a girl. The soldier, Danny, said that he couldn't do anything, and his job was to keep her alive and is to not allow to get into verbal or physical battles with the students. Melba was then kicked in the shin and stomach till she fell on the floor. Melba went to the principal's office and reported the kids but the principal said Melba needed evidence of the incident. Melba told her Danny saw the incident but the principal refused him as a witness, where to be a witness is to be a teacher.
Quote
"In order to get through this year you will have to become a soldier. Never let your enemy know what you are feeling. You can't afford to become bored" (Beals 161).
Reaction
The quote was the last words the soldier, Danny, had to tell to Melba. The quote signifies that Melba should have strength, in order to become a soldier. If the whites knew what Melba was feeling inside, they might torture Melba until she wants to quit. Melba should keep all her feelings inside to herself, and ignore her surroundings.
Stepping inside the front door of Central High School, goes the violent mobs of disaster again. Each of the nine students were assigned a uniformed soldier for protection in the school. Everywhere Melba went, she was faced with harsh racial words from the students. In the classroom, or either the bathroom, the N word was said to terrify Melba. Not only Melba was being heckled, the soldier was being taunted by students because he was protecting an African American. When it was lunch time, she arrived in the room amazed at how the room was like the size of half the football field. As she was getting lunch, she saw the people serving food behind the counter who were blacks that smiled at Melba. Melba found a place to sit with some black students, and surprisingly even friendly white girls. In some classes like French, it was peaceful, where students were pleasant welcoming Melba. At the end of the day, all the nine students were gathered together smiling, chatting, and behaving as it was a normal school day.
Waking up for another day of school, Melba arrived in a helicopter. As she walked in school, the torture began again. She got spitted on by a girl. The soldier, Danny, said that he couldn't do anything, and his job was to keep her alive and is to not allow to get into verbal or physical battles with the students. Melba was then kicked in the shin and stomach till she fell on the floor. Melba went to the principal's office and reported the kids but the principal said Melba needed evidence of the incident. Melba told her Danny saw the incident but the principal refused him as a witness, where to be a witness is to be a teacher.
Quote
"In order to get through this year you will have to become a soldier. Never let your enemy know what you are feeling. You can't afford to become bored" (Beals 161).
Reaction
The quote was the last words the soldier, Danny, had to tell to Melba. The quote signifies that Melba should have strength, in order to become a soldier. If the whites knew what Melba was feeling inside, they might torture Melba until she wants to quit. Melba should keep all her feelings inside to herself, and ignore her surroundings.
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