Choose one passage, scene or dialogue from a chapter and write about why that passage caught your attention. Did it surprise you? Puzzle you? Impress you? Provoke something in you? Explain. What "lasting" images have stayed with you so far? Be sure to:
1. Write the name of the Chapter
2. Answer each part of the question
3. Put your first name, last initial and class period
1. Write the name of the Chapter
2. Answer each part of the question
3. Put your first name, last initial and class period
Nicole D (pd 4) Chapter: Closet Space
ReplyDeleteThis chapter is all about how Melinda keeps everything to herself. She thinks her new closet is a good thing because she can keep all her thoughts in there and no one can her them. It's also getting harder to talk for her. Her mouth is always sore in the morning and she has trouble talking to her parents and teachers. Making this closet didn't surprise or puzzle me because Melinda has been talking about herself and feeling insecure earlier in the book. Melinda finds silence and retreat as her only options. She is choosing to have no connections or relationships with anybody that can help her get through what happened at the party. Melinda thinks that she doesn't belond anywhere and wants to leave. She wants to confess everything and dump the memory of the party but she knows it will stick with her forever. When I read this chapter, this picture of Melinda just all alone in that closet, cleaning it up and making it her own place, really stuck with me because it was a vivid image and I felt bad for her being so insecure. I also imagen a vivid picture of everyone in school staring at Melinda in the hallways and whispering about her. It's a terrible thing and they shouldn't do that to her.
Brian G Pd 3- The chapter is called "First Amendment" (page 53) In this passage you are brought into Mr. Neck's classroom. At first it sounds liken he will be your typical direct teacher. But he comes out with the statements about his son not being hired, and how its sorely based up on racism. This caught my attention because although you the readers don't know why he wasn't hired, you also don't know if it's because of the immigrants. What surprised me was that during his lecture, a student named David Petrakis spoke out against him. His argument was that " Maybe your son didn't get that job because he's not good enough. Or he's lazy. Or the other guy was better than him, no matter what his skin color.." (page 55) The courage that this kid had was tremendous. Even if i disagreed with my teacher, i would never talk back like that, or say anything at all. This impressed me greatly, yet left me baffled. Why would he speak out like that? Surely he knew that his actions would lead to repercussions. This didn't really provoke me but clearly Mr. Neck provoked David. My lasting images are a brave teen, in a classroom standing up for what he believes him.
ReplyDeleteFederica Balboni Pd 4-
ReplyDeleteOne chapter/ passage that caught my attention was "Closet Space". I'm very suprised in what she says about letting go about the past. What happened I believe at the party has changed her life, even though I do not know what it is I am 100% positive it is what caused her to change, what caused her to lose her friends and what caused people to think differently of her. She wants to dump the memory as if she could but can't. Its suck with her forever. I believe everything happens for a reason so maybe what ever did happen to cause so much pain in her life will come out with something good at the end. Physically and mentally she can not talk about what happened. It's perminately hurt her and she has no escape. The image I create in my mind is a helpless child, locked in a cage and has no way out. At such a young age her life is ruined in one night. Even though she can not speak about it, she can think about it. She is a quiet girl hanging out in a quiet place (the closet) the memories are bottled up inside of her with no escape, no one can see or hear them only herself.
Sydney Mueller Period 3- Chapter: "The Opposite of Inspiration is... Expiration?"
ReplyDeleteThis chapter caught my attention for one particular reason, and that was how Melinda was drawing her trees. When Melinda first gets assigned to draw trees for the whole year she draws simple trees that second graders draw but on page 31 she starts drawing trees that are struck by lightning and almost dead. This puzzled me in the beginning because I didn't know why the author would put those details in but then I realized that the trees represent how Melinda feels in her everyday life between the pressure to lie in front of her parents or how she is the outcast of the ninth grade. She is being pushed to her limit and is nearly dead, which is why she is drawing the trees the same way. This made me feel sorry for Melinda because I could figure out what she was feeling like and I think Mr. Freeman does too. The image that came from my head was Melinda sitting all alone in class with no friends drawing trees that are dying and can't be helped anymore. No one should have to feel that way in a classroom while other kids are making fun of you and the teacher does nothing.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteRichard H Period 4 Chapter: Wishbone.
ReplyDeleteIn this part of the book Melinda gets some turkey bones out of the trash and brings them to art class. Then she arranges them many way until the period ends, after she stays to build a more realistic model of it. What caught my attention in this portion of the book was how Ivy acted more friendly to Melinda when she made the sculpture, that Mr. Freeman felt that pain was the meaning of the sculpture and that Melinda felt that she needed to change the art. I wonder why she changed it, is it because it's more realistic and has a deeper meaning. This piece of art reminded me of a skeleton of a T-Rex, and this means to me that she and the turkey both had horrible things happen to them, now they need to rebuild themselves
Nicolette Forgione Period 3 Chapter: Closet Space
ReplyDeleteIn this part of the book, Melinda is thinking about confessing everything that happened to her that night and how she wishes that she could just give someone else the mistakes, guilt and anger that she feels to someone else so she doesn't have to worry about it anymore and people won't hate her for calling the police that night. Her giving that night and the events that happened during it to someone else would lead her to still having her best friends and not having everyone hate her. I think this is a strong moment for her because she's thinking about speaking up about the night when it's obviously something that she never wants to talk about and something that she wants to forget ever happened. She states that even if she did tell someone about it, that doesn't mean it will go away. She knows that it will stay with her forever and she thinks that her closet is a good, quiet place that helps her hold the thought of telling someone and the memory of that night inside of her head where no one can hear them. This chapter impressed me because it showed that Melinda was starting to feel like she should tell someone but she also felt that it was useless because it would stain her forever.
1. Melinda
ReplyDelete2. What caught my attention about Melinda is that she a guit girl that don’t really like to talk and she try to not get in problem or as much she want friend she can’t trust having friends because her ex bestfriend stop talking to her cause something that happen in the summer. Melinda is a type of girl that don’t like talking about her problem and she remind me of my self cause I’m the same way.
Ellie Villa P.3
Mike Salvatori pd.3 - A chapter that caught my attention was "Closet Space". This chapter really surprised me because one of Melinda's favorite places is the closet. The first thing she did to the closet was cover up the mirror. Melinda wanted to be alone and completely hidden from everyone, even her own reflection. Melinda said that she loved to watch the scary movies in her eyelids. I think that this means she is replaying the horrible things that happened to her the night of the party. Whatever happened that night to Melinda ruined her entire life. She is now physically and emotionally damaged. She has lost her closest friends and is an outcast in school. Melinda has no one to talk to. She wants to tell her friends what happened that night, but does not think they will listen and understand her pain. The closet is a place for Melinda to get away from everybody that allows her to think without anyone bothering or hearing her. Every time Melinda tries to talk to her parents or someone else she always freezes up, that's why she enjoys being alone in the closet. The closet helps Melinda with the pain she is suffering from. A lasting image I got from this chapter is Melinda sitting in the closet alone with her eyes closed thinking.
ReplyDeleteBrandon Antolino pd. 3 one chaper that caught my eye was "closet space" becuse what ehappened at that party has changed her life. Whatever happened at that party changed everthing about her life. She lost ALL of her friends and she is hurting inside. she cant tell anyone about what happened at the party which is causing her to be hated by everyone except for heather. ican just picture her inside hurting because she was so frightened of what happened that she cant tell anyone about it. it seems like someone is threatening her not to say anything or else else someting bad will happen to her
ReplyDeleteMarianna D. Period 3 Chapter: The Marthas
ReplyDeleteIn this chapter Melinda gets made fun of. It really surprised me because she was made fun of by the girl Heather was talking too. I was expecting Heather to stand up for Melinda since she always talked to her and said that Melinda was the first person that made her feel like she was home. But I also think Heather was probably afraid of standing up for Melinda because maybe the girl who made fun of her would of made fun of Heather too.
Mike G period 3
ReplyDeleteA chapter that surprised me in Speak was called First Amendment. This shocked me for many reasons. First of all, Mr. Neck, the social studies teacher was being racist and saying that his son didn’t get a job being a firefighter because they had to give the job to a minority. The second thing that surprised me about this chapter was that a student named David Petrakis stood up to the teacher and yelled at him. I wouldn’t do that even if I knew that the teacher was wrong. He basically scolded the teacher and told him that he was racist and that he was wrong. Even when he was threatened to go to the principal, he didn’t seem scared. It impressed me that a student would have the guts to stand up to a teacher. However, I don’t think that this chapter is very realistic because teachers make a point to teach without using their personal lives or being racist. This left a lasting image of a kid who isn’t scared of his teacher and will stand up to tell him that he’s wrong.
Abdullah A Per.3
ReplyDeleteI got surprised when Menlida recived her report card in the chapter “Nightmare.” What I got confused was how she was sacred about IT. The things that were suprising was how she expalined it was IT. “I see IT in the hallway, IT goes to Merryweather, It is walking with Aubrey Cheerleader, IT is my nightmareand I can’t wake up.”Somehow in the book Speak it was the first time that she was scared about more than anything. When I turned to page 46, I finally saw IT and IT was her report card. Saying Art A, Play Nice B, and Clothes C which means that she has to improve in school.
Yumi R. Period 3
ReplyDeleteChapter- Burrow
When I previously read this book, I had not been paying much attention to the small details that may have been significant however, after reading I noticed that on this chapter, Melinda leaves a comment about why she likes the closet she found. "The closet is abandoned- it has no purpose, no name. It is the perfect place for me" (Pg. 26) This immediately sparked my attention because I realised that the closet was a representation of herself, and how she saw herself. I also observed that as she began to fill the walls of her closet with art, her self esteem started to rise. Her closet was also her only other sanctuary besides the art room. I was impressed that I was able to make this connection. The closet may have given her a reason to look forward to each day, and being in there also helped her accept her past. Everything she put in her sanctuary represented herself, or her thoughts.
Sierra S. Period 3 Chapter Closet Space.
ReplyDeleteThroughout this chapter in the book Melinda describes a closet that she has been going to after school. She feels that she can express herself in this closet and know one weill judge her for it. This chapter caught my attention beause the majority of kids that are struggeling socialy at school would rather have a closet or alcove to express themselves at home rather then school. The fact that Melinda made this closet did not suprise me. Melinda has been insecure and unhappy eearlier in the book. Melinda finds that having no relationships with anyone will help her to deal with freshman year. Melinda wishes that everyone would forget about what happended and move on but that will never happen. Instead of trying to move on and meet new people Melinda isolates herself. While I was reeading this chapter I could viidly picture Melinda sitting alone in the closet cuttting pages and hanging posters as a form of expressing herself. I can easily picture Melinda sitting in the closet upset and depressed looking around anad trying to understand why her, why all this had to happen to her. I feel very bad for Melinda although this chapter mainly focused on the closet space it also slightly described Melindad walking through the hall and getting looks from her peers. My heartbreaks for Melinda I could never understand how she feels, so alone and angry, loosing her ability to speak. This chapter really helped me to understand what Melinda was going through.
Marianna D. Period 3
ReplyDeleteThe tittle was “Bullying words can kill”. I think that tittle is very effective because it tells people that bullying can become something very serious. People should e aware by now that bullying is not something right and that it can hurt people and they can end up taking their lives. When watching the video I felt really upset and I wish people would feel the same way, even if they’re not happy with themselves I don’t think they should make someone else upset. If you hear someone bullying another person you should speak up and help the person.
Conor M. - Period 3 - Chapter 1 pg. 35: Dinner Theater. This passage really caught my attention. The whole passage is written much like a play script would be written. The scene is described first and the show begins. What really surprises me is how Melinda is able to ignore her parents. Her parents make many efforts to connect to their daughter, but she tunes them out. No matter how much her father yells and gets angry, Melinda is able to block him out. Also, her mother speaks in a “Death Voice” that used to make Melinda scared. Now, Melinda is not scared of this. However, Melinda says that it now takes more for her to be scared. This proves she still can be scared and has some remains of respect and fear for her parents. Another key feature of the passage is how it is written in a play form. This illustrates the drama of the situation and how drmatic her life can be.
ReplyDeleteJames D. Period 6- The chapter is called "Closet space." In this chapter Melinda goes into her closet and covers the mirror with a poster and she talks about how it is getting harder for her to talk. Melinda says she wants warp herself into another galaxy and there is something in her gut that she just wants get out and confess. She said if she dumped the memory it will still stay with her and her closet is the only place where these thoughts stay in her head, where no one else can hear them. I wasn't surprised when Melinda covered her mirror because she has a very low self-esteem and she doesn't even want to look at herself. It impressed me that Melinda agreed to stay after school. She doesn't talk to anyone and all she wants to do is isolate herself from the world. I don't know if she will actually stay after school or if she was just saying that to end the conversation with her parents. The image that lasts in my head is Melinda sitting in her closet, covering the mirror, and thinking about what happened in the past and how she could confess it to everyone else.
ReplyDeleteJackie D- period 6. wishbone: it really surprised me that Melinda took the wishbones that her dad threw out, and brought them to school for the art project. I am shocked on how Mr freeman reacted when he was listening tell her story about what her wishbones represent.It was described by Mr. Freeman "Pain", like it was screaming out! the nonsense of the thanksgiving dinner was a wreck. No one in Melinda's family sat together. What gets me wondering is why did Ivy want to stay with Melinda? Is she trying to reach out to Melinda with out anyone knowing? well she has not made her move yet, she does, if Melinda stays extra again
ReplyDeleteCarlye Uretta Period 4- The chapter that caught my attention was "Closet Space." This chapter was about Melinda covering the mirror in the closet with a poster and her talking about how she feels safe and can keep everything to herself in there, and that its getting harder for her to talk. This chapter in a way surprised me because it showed how insecure she was of herself by covering the mirror as one of her first priorities, another thing that surprised me was how she said it was getting harder to talk, not physically i'm assuming but emotionally, possibly about that certain thing that happened to her in the past that changed her life. But it also in a way didn't surprise me a whole lot because Melinda has talked about how insecure she is and how she has no relationships with other people or family and how she doesn't feel like she belongs here, so for that reason the "Closet Space" didn't completely surprise me because i already know Melinda as that type of person. When reading this chapter the picture that came into my head was a picture of Melinda in the closet covering the mirror with a poster
ReplyDeleteShannon Z (Period 6):
ReplyDeleteThe chapter that caught my attention was, “The Opposite of Inspiration is... Expiration?" This chapter caught my attention because when Melinda painted her assigned topic, trees, she doesn’t draw them green or lively. She draws trees that were hit by lightning. It surprised me because when I read it I thought she was just going to draw basic trees, and not engage in the project, but she did. This chapter shows how Melinda feels about her life with her parents, and at school. It showed that art is a way to express herself without speaking up about what is going on in her life with someone who might be able to help. I felt sorry for her, but I also felt that being in the art class and having to draw trees for the rest of the year is a good thing for her, because it can be her escape to her problems and help her deal with them in a different way. A lasting image that stayed with me was Melinda's tree that was hit by lightning, because it was a powerful painting.
Amanda Levkoff Period 6:
ReplyDeleteThis chapter is all about how Melinda keeps everything to herself instead of expressing her thoughts and feelings. In this chapter, it talks about her new closet space. Melinda feels that this closet is a good thing for her because she can express herself in there and its a place where she feels safe, where nobody can bully her. Making this closet didn't surprise me because Melinda has been feeling insecure and uncomfortable in the environment she is living in and her surroundings. It is her choice not to have relationships with people around her, even though she knows that there are people out there who will help her and who love her. Melinda feels alone and that she doesn't belong anywhere in this world but that is not true. Reading this chapter, made me picture Melinda sitting alone in a her new closet, thinking to herself about how she wants to forget what happened at the party meanwhile she knows it will stick with her forever throughout her life. This made me feel bad for her because she is so worried to talk to her family or anyone around her. It is terrible how badly people treat her because of this party and I think they should all forget about it and stop bullying Melinda. My opinion is that Melinda will learn from this and become comfortable with her environment and become confident and change her whole life around.
Nick N. Period 6. Chapter: Closet Space.
ReplyDeleteThis passage really caught my attention. It really suprised me because this is when the author shows what Melinda thinks of herself. It shows how the bullying got so bad that she actually started to believe it. She believes that something's wrong with her and that her head isn't screwed straight. It also tells us how much Melinda wants to get what happened at the party off her chest and how much worse it's making everything. A lasting image that has stayed with me so far is Melinda just sitting in the closet wishing that it all could go away.
Melanie S Period 6- One chapter that caught my attentions was “First Amendment”. In the chapter Mr. Neck started a debate on whether America should have closed its boarders in the 1900s. He explained how his family has been in the U.S for two hundred years and wanted to know why his son still can get a job. Mr. Neck blamed racism was the cause of why his son didn’t get hired as a fireman. It surprised me that he would abuse his power as a teacher. Something else that surprised me in the chapter was the student’s reaction towards Mr. Neck’s accusation. David Petrakis stood up in front of the class and protested against the debate. He said that his lesson was “racist, intolerant, and xenophobic.” It was surprising because David had the courage to stand up and disagree with what Mr. Neck was saying. Melinda paid close attention to David while he was defending himself. I think she wants to learn from him how to use her voice and talk about what happened at the party. My lasting image is of a kid who isn’t afraid to stand up for what he thinks is right.
ReplyDeleteKatie Stevens. Period 4- Closet Space
ReplyDeleteThis chapter really surprised me when Melinda took down the mirror. It surprised me because it really showed me that Melinda finds herself ugly inside and out. She is not a confident person and doesnt like who she is. The closet is important because its where Melinda hides. She feels safe inside that closet because its the place where she expresses her thoughts and feelings without being judged. She has no communication with anyone except herself in that closet. Her parents relationship has sunk because they have nothing in common and they cant even celebrate a special holiday, Thanksgiving. Also, she is starting to have problems speaking because her mouth is always sore. The phonecall she made to the police at the party destroyed Melinda, from where she was the most popular girl at school to a castaway. The image that stays with me is Melinda being tortured at school and everyone is picking on her and teasing her.
Rebecca O. Period 4: Closet Space
ReplyDeleteThis chapter really surprised me, and puzzled me at the same time. This surprised me because she took the mirror down in the refurbished closet first, this was because when she looks in the mirror she feels as if she sees nothing and she feels ugly and insecure about herself and her image. It also puzzled me because, she went from a girl with many friends to an outcast, but we found out during the pep rally that this was because she called the cops at a party, but we don't know why. Her image was destroyed from the humiliation at school. Another thing that surprised me was how she woke up in the morning with a clenched jaw. I believe this is because she won't talk, and when she gets nervous, she clenches her jaw.
Kyle Lometti period 3.. Chapter-First Amendment.
ReplyDeleteThis chapter takes place in Mr. Neck's Social Studies classroom. Mr. Neck is having a very racist debate about immigration. And one brave student, David Petrakis did not like this and stood up for his beliefs. This really shocked me because I did not expect anyone to stand up to Mr. Neck because of his gruff and inconsiderate nature. This also shocked Melinda in the book. She said that David Petrakis is her new hero, most likely because of his ability to express his feelings and ideas. This makes me want to stand up to things I don't believe in or feel are right. The image that stays with me is David looking coldly at Mr. Neck as Mr. Neck screams at him to sit down.
Keith Lometti period 7- Nightmare
ReplyDeleteA chapter that caught my eye was the chapter called "Nightmare". In this chapter, Melinda says that she sees IT in the hall and at school. This chapter puzzled me because we do not know who IT is but it its obviously someone or something that did something very bad to Melinda or one of her friends because she says that when IT winks at her, she wants to throw up. The lasting image that has stayed in my head is a huge guy because Melinda says she sees IT walking down the hall with one of the cheerleaders.
Scott B period 4,
ReplyDeleteA chapter that really surprised me was Closet space. It suppressed me so much because she got rid of the mirror. She didn't seem like she was so insecure about herself. It also surprises me so much because she is so upset with who she is that she would rather be alone in a dirty closet then be seen by her peers. She is so insecure and she should talk to someone but she won't talk about her incident.
Emily Coash Period 7-
ReplyDeleteOne chapter that caught my eye was The Martha's.
Melinda's "friend" Heather really wanted to find a clique to be in. Melinda did not care and knew trying to fit in would be a complete waste of time. Many of the cliques are exclusive and don't add people easily. Heather finds a group called the Martha's. This group does kind and nice things for people without taking credit. Heather really wanted to fit in with them. Heathers first project was to decorate the teachers lounge for thanksgiving. The Martha's knew this would be a hard task for Heather to do alone. Melinda knew how badly Heather wanted it so she helped her decorate it. When one of the members of The Martha's walked in Melinda was just leaving. Melinda overheard the girl saying how ugly and weird she was.
This surprised me because Heather did not say anything to back up Melinda or stick up for her. Heather also took credit for all of the decorating work.
This stayed in my head because my friends and myself sometimes say little things like that about someone and now when i think of it, it can really hurt someone and i shouldn't judge someone especially when i don't know there story.
Ariel C. Period 6,
ReplyDeleteThe chapter that stuck in my memory the most was "All Together Now". It surprised me that Melinda chose to conjugate the words, to flunk, to hide, to escape and to forget. It puzzled me because I was not expecting Melinda to express her feelings in this way. It impressed me because I think this is one of the ways Melinda found that she could share her feelings. I was also impressed that the author thought of this way to subtly display her feelings without flat-out saying how she felt. This made me angry because I think her spanish teacher should have noticed that she picked these certain words to conjugate and should have followed up on it. The teacher should have asked Melinda if something was wrong. This chapter put a lasting memory in my brain of Melinda trying to express herself somehow. I can see her scribbling the words on to a page trying to explain herself.
Sabrina A. period 4- the chapter that caught my attention the most was "Wishbone" because it showed Melinda finally expressing her feelings to the people around her. When Melinda began working on her art project, she created a bird out of wish bones with a barbie doll head inside to look like someone was trapped. this sculpture expressed her feelings of being trapped by bullying and trying to escape it. this surprised me because i would of never thought Melinda would ever show what she was really feeling inside. this also puzzled me because she hated art and never wanted to work with the object she was given and she did. this impressed me because Melinda finally expressed her feelings to the people around her. this is why this chapter caught my attention.
ReplyDeleteErica G. period 3: The chapter that caught my attention was "Closet Space." The part that surprised me was when Melinda took down the mirror while refurbishing the closet to make it her own. This symbolizes that Melinda is so insecure about her image that she can't even look at herself. She feels ugly and doesn't want to be seen even inside her own private retreat. This chapter really made me realize how the constant torment from her classmates turned her from a confident, cheerful, outgoing girl into a depressed, insecure, outcast.
ReplyDeleteOlivia B. Period 7 Chapter: Closet Space
ReplyDeleteThe passage “Closet Space” made me able to see how Melinda was starting to react towards the exclusion and self-division she was experiencing in Merryweather High School. The way Melinda is fixing the abandoned janitorial closet she has found reflects how she is dealing with what is going on in her mind. It puzzled me that Melinda would cover a mirror with a poster of someone else. I already knew she didn’t want to see herself (hence the division between her and the mirror) but since she was trying to isolate herself, why would she want to have the presence of another human being in her secluded space? What really made an impression on me was the image of Melinda being tortured by the “movies” playing on the inside of her eyes (the horrible memories of what happened at the party). I think she is getting so depressed that if Melinda keeps on heading in this direction, she may become even suicidal. The fact that Melinda feels so horrible terrifies me, and if something like this were to ever happen to someone I knew I would hope that they would be able to share their feelings and get help.
Mark Menniti
ReplyDeleteOne thing that realy did suprise me was how malinda even went to the pep rally because there was a lot of people who do not like her that were there. I would of expected her to sneak out to go to her closet.
Daniel Quinn Period 4- "Wishbone" The reason that this chapter stuck out to me is that Ivy one of Melinda;s old friends said something nice to her. Ivy saying this did suprise me beccause after what Melinda did I thought no kid would ever say someting nice to her again. This at first did puzzle me a little bit. Why would Ivy say that? But I came to the conclusion that she said that becasue Mr. Freeman was there or she actualy meant it. This did impress me because it shows that Ivy isn't a follower and will stand up and say what she wants to say. This will stick with me becasue someone said something to an outcast, and it was nice. That will always stick with me and i will try to do that in my own life.
ReplyDeleteSamantha ORourke pd 6 closet space grabbed my
ReplyDeleteattention the most because we see her personally some more. We also notice that when she throws the mirror it shows she doesn't have a voice or really know who she is.
Dominique L. (Period 4)
ReplyDeleteChapter: "Giving Thanks"
This chapter really caught my attention for a lot of reasons. It mainly struck me because it showed how un-pulled together Melinda's family is as well as also showing how they cannot even act like a family on a holiday. This chapter did surprise me because even though Melinda stated that her family didn't really communicate, It was surprise to see how much of a mess they are. So much of a mess that they cannot even celebrate a holiday together. This chapter didn't puzzle me but provoked me to start to think that another part of Melinda's depression would be her family. This is because since Melinda is struggling already socially, she really has no one to tell or have any one to support her. Her family could very much help her if they communicated well. The main image that stuck in my mind from this chapter would be the frozen turkey getting cut up with an ax by Melinda's dad and all the body parts everywhere. This really stayed with me because it was strange yet funny.
Nicholas Campo
ReplyDeleteperiod 4 chapter: Closet Space.
In this chapter melinda hears about this closet and other kids think she should be in there and she should not come out. She went in their one time after school and she happened to like being alone. So she started going to the closet after school a lot. She liked it she thought it was a place where she could express herself in. A picture I can image would be one person in a closet cleaning it up and making it hers by hanging posters, and cleaning the spider webs.
I don't understand why she sitting down in a closet and not trying to get herself through this by doing something about it.
Melinda is going through something tough but she's got to find a way to get herself out of it, instead of letting it eat her alive.
Matthew Mies period 7: Closet Space
ReplyDeleteThis chapter really surprised me because it showed how depressed and lonely Melinda actually is. It puzzled me because I thought she used to have friends and now all of a sudden all she does is hide in a closet. What really impressed me is that melinda actually likes being in the closet. I was provoked because I could never find happiness in a closet. So far in the book some lasting images that have stayed in my mind have been her when she bites her lips, her in the closet and the debate between David Petrakis and Mr. Neck. I also have gotten a lot of imagery in the book.
Nick F. Pd. 3 - In the passage "Closet Room", Melinda tells about how she’s cleaning out the closet after school instead of going to extra help. She says it's like building her own fort. She then explains how she chokes up everytime she speaks and how she wishes she could just leave and go somewhere else. This passage caught my attention because she explains how her closet is a place where she can express her feelings without others hearing her. I think the things she thinks about and talks about in the closet, is the bad thing that happened at the party. I know something bad happened because she always refers to it and people hate her for calling the police. For example, in the scene at the pep rally when everyone makes fun of her for calling the police. If I were her I would stand up for myself instead of getting made fun of.
ReplyDeleteMichelle A. per.3- In chapter, “NIGHTMARE”, it brought in a new character, “IT”. It was a very small chapter, but it definitely surprised me because it meant that there could be a reason to her insecurity. I was also surprised by the fact that she is afraid of IT, and that IT winks and smiles. It puzzled me when she said, “Good thing my lips are stitched together or I’d throw up.” I just got kind of confused as to why she seems so serious about her lips being “stitched” because they aren’t literally stitched, so technically she could’ve thrown up, so that didn’t really make sense to me. Since there wasn’t a lot of writing in the chapter, there wasn’t anything in the actual writing that really impressed me. But I was impressed by how Melinda didn’t give herself an F in Lunch in her report card, since she seems so insecure and because of how humiliated she got on the first day of school. What provoked me was how they’re keeping IT a secret, so it’s making me really want to find out who that person was and why she only refers to the person as IT. I pictured her standing in the hallway surprised, with IT standing at a distance looking at her, while no one notices, walking around normally.
ReplyDeleteAbdullah A Per.3
ReplyDeleteI got surprised when Menlida recived her report card in the chapter “Nightmare.” What I got confused was how she was sacred about IT. The things that were suprising was how she expalined it was IT. “I see IT in the hallway, IT goes to Merryweather, It is walking with Aubrey Cheerleader, IT is my nightmareand I can’t wake up.”Somehow in the book Speak it was the first time that she was scared about more than anything. When I turned to page 46, I finally saw IT and IT was her report card. Saying Art A, Play Nice B, and Clothes C which means that she has to improve in school.
Kiana Comizio Period 7 Chapter- Closet Space
ReplyDeleteThis chapter didn't surprise me because all along Melinda has been isolated and quite.Melinda keeps her thoughts and feelings to herself. That is why she likes the closet so much because she feels safe and alone so she can keep her thoughts to herself. I think she keeps things to herself because she is pained by the terrible thing that happened at the party and she is afraid to ask for help. Maybe she thinks if she keeps it bottled up the pain will go away but she thinks by talking about it she still will have the memory anyway. That is why for me it is easy to see why she likes being in her closet. This chapter makes me sympathize with Melinda because she is so alone and miserable. A lasting image that stays with me is Melinda sitting in a corner in the closet being alone and in pain. I can see Melinda coming in the closet to think when she can't handle her social problems.
Emma LaBarbera Period 7 Chapter-Rent Round 3
ReplyDeleteIn this chapter, Melinda cuts herself. This surprised me because before this when she became more socially active when she was offered to help the basketball team and when her old friend Nicole and Ivy started to speak to her, I thought that she was getting better and becoming closer to telling people about what happened at the party. When she cut herself it shows that she is regressing and she wants the pain of what happened at the party to be numb. A lasting image in my head is Melinda in her closet in the pitch black alone and in pain. I can see this escalating into something more serious and something that when she realizes what she has done, will force her to speak and tell everyone what happened at the party.
"foul"pg 74 i was suprised because i never thought she will be good in sports.
ReplyDeleteluis barrera period 7
Daniella Lagani Per.7- First Amendment
ReplyDeleteIn this chaper Mr. Neck was talking about immigration and how he blammed the foreigners for "ruining" this country. Many students opposed jis thinking but didn't acually stand up for what they believed in. That is all except for David Petrakis. He didn't even care that Mr. Neck was the teacher and in charge of him. And because of what he did Melinda began to respect David. I found this whole conversation between David and Mr. Neck really surprising. I thought at first that David who a shy quiet kid. But after this whole dialogue between the two of them, my thoughts of David completely charged. And in a way, he is also kind of my hero. The image of a freshman standing up to his inacuurate teacher will always stay with me.
Carly Rutkovsky per 7
ReplyDeleteIn the vignette "Closet Space" Melinda explains how she has become very comfortable in her abandoned closet, or "fort" as she calls it. She admits to ditching extra help to hang out and refurbish her getaway. I feel as though if she felt as comfortable alone in her closet around other people, she may have the courage to tell someone about what happened to her on the night of the party. I was intrigued thinking about what the authors wants to convey in between the lines about Melinda's thoughts in the closet. Who, or what she thinks about? How she thinks about it, negatively or positively, but considering she is very depressed I would not be surprised if everything she says or does in the closet is negative. The image of her sitting alone in her closet does not surprise me as much as it makes me upset to think about how alone she must feel. A scene that has stuck with me since was when she was looking in the mirror at herself and contemplating about all the horrible things about her body she could think of.