'Speak' by Laurie Halse Anderson.
Matt Guthy Mrs. Palmer Speak Critical Lens Essay “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”-Martin Luther King. This quote means that if you don’t speak about the problems you have, along with the problem of those around you, you will slowly begin to die. This quote has validity with the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, as the main character, Melinda, slowly begins to “die” inside. The fact that she didn’t speak up about her problems clearly lead to a lack of caring for her physical appearance, an anti-social behavior, and many other factors of her deepening depression. But she steadily began to speak, and once she did, she began to escape the repercussions of her silence, and was “reborn”. Melinda’s silence began her spiral of depression, resulting in: a lack of care for her appearance, anti-social behavior, and an attempt to avoid rejection all together. Melinda’s silence resulted from the fact that she was attacked at Kyle Rodger’s senior cheerleader party. She became drunk and was then raped by Andy Evans, and as a result called the cops to the party. Students were arrested at this party, leading students (many of which she doesn’t know) to hate her. She clearly suffers psychological trauma from this event, as displayed in her science class while dissecting frogs: “My throat closes off. It is
Book review - Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key- Jack Gantos Here is the first of two touching stories about a wonderful boy who is "wired wrong" inside. One of them was a Newbery Honor Book, the other a runner-up for the National Book Award, and they both deserve your attention. Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key comes first. Here's a little boy in about fifth grade, who has a problem with hyperactivity combined with a tendency to make bad decisions, though he is basically a nice boy. His grandma and his father were the same way before him, and his mean old grandma is the one who raises him until fifth grade, because his father ran out and his mother went after him, hoping to straighten him out. Turns out the mother and father did a lot of drinking, then the mother decided to clean up her act and go back to the little boy she had left behind. One day she turns up, and the kid doesn't even recognize her. She takes control of the family and the chaos of their household, finally Grandma gets ticked off and leaves, and then the story really gets started. It's basically about the relationship that develops between this little boy who has never had the help he needs, or a positive family life, and the mother who suddenly finds herself raising him alone after having nothing to do with him for years. It's also about how Joey hits rock bottom, ADHD-wise, and begins to turn his life around with the help of