Speak

This book could easily be paired with Boy Meets Boy. Many thoughts went through my head while reading speak, like: Would Melinda be accepted in Paul's school? Would Melinda be able to speak out if she were in the environment that Paul grew up in?

As uncommon as Paul's high school was, Melinda's school seemed more realistic to me. I mean, going through high school, kids get ostracized if they wear the wrong clothes to school (which is referenced in the book when Melinda talks about what she is wearing to school on the first day and all of her thoughts on this). That stuff is realistic. You didn't hear about motorcycle cheerleaders or transvestite quarterback/homecoming queen, this stuff hits more at home for most of America's youth. I feel that this is how a gay individual would feel in a high school as well, not like Paul was in Boy Meets Boy. These two characters would be ostracized similarly for two totally different things.

I love how the book was written, it made you feel that you were suffering through this whole experience with her. The book was broken down in short spurts... maybe symbolizing her struggles to speak? She doesn't come out and say what is wrong with her, you eventually find out through the clues early on in the text....which also would parallel a rape victims inability to let others know of the problem.

I Maya Angelou symbolism is great too. Melinda is the caged bird, she even paints the prison, which is the tree, in art class. She is the one with the wings clipped reliving the nightmare which was that dreadful night of the party.