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.
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.
There are many different opinions for climaxes in the book Speak. One would be pages 193-195, when Andy corners Melinda in the closet. Another would be pages 133-136, when we learn Melinda was raped at the party.
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 Shankar goes by Mindy.
Melinda Dunn goes by Lindy.
Melinda Cea goes by Mel.
Melinda Clarke goes by Mindy.
Melinda Neyman goes by Mindy.
Melinda Garner goes by Mindy.
Melinda Lange goes by Mel.