The night before Thanksgiving, Melinda's mom stayed up all night on the laptop and forgot about cooking the turkey for dinner. Melinda thinks it's like a holy obligation to her mom to fix a Thanksgiving dinner, and is what makes her a wife and mother. Her dad watches football while her mom is still cooking. She is having a lot of trouble with the turkey so she goes to the store. While she goes to the store, her dad takes over dinner. He calls for Pizza.
In the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Melinda spends Christmas feeling isolated and struggling to cope with the trauma of being raped at a party. She feels disconnected from her family and peers and finds it difficult to celebrate the holiday season. The story depicts Melinda's inner turmoil and emotional journey as she grapples with the aftermath of her assault.
She got a handful of gift certificates, a TV for her room, ice skates, and a sketch pad with charcoal pencils.
Melinda's grade is specified in the book in this conversation:"Name, freshman?""Huh, wha-?""Name, it's for the yearbook.""Uh, Melinda Sordino."
In the novel Speak, Melinda's parents are at a conference the night of Kyle's party. This allows Melinda to go to the party without them knowing.
Melinda goes to the abandoned garden behind the old school in Speak when she goes on her bike ride.
In "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson, the falling action includes Melinda confronting her attacker, Andy Evans, at the school dance. She bravely speaks up and shares her story, leading to Andy's arrest and Melinda finding her voice and beginning to heal from the trauma she experienced.
In "Speak," Melinda feels that keeping silent about sexual assault and harassment should be illegal because it perpetuates the cycle of abuse and allows perpetrators to go unpunished. By speaking out and breaking the silence, she believes that survivors can seek justice and prevent others from being victimized.
Melinda Cea goes by Mel.
Melinda Shankar goes by Mindy.
Melinda Lange goes by Mel.
Melinda Dunn goes by Lindy.
Melinda Clarke goes by Mindy.
Melinda Neyman goes by Mindy.
Melinda Garner goes by Mindy.