The Outcast Behind the Tree

Definition of Outcast: A person who has been rejected by society or a social group.

Just imagine what it would be like to be an outcast. To walk around school, alone and rejected. This is what it feels like for the main character Melinda in the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Ever since Melinda called the cops at a huge high school party she has been an outsider. All of her friends have faded and she can't recover to fit in. Melinda is not the only one. There are many teens that are outcasts.

As readers, we see Melinda as an outsider, someone who has no friends and no personality. When really it's just because she can't speak up. But have the readers of this book given any thought? What if Melinda is afraid to speak? What if she's afraid of what people think of her and how they'll respond? After what happened at the party, I don't think Melinda wants to take a risk and talk to people because she doesn't want it to get any worse.  If people didn't judge, I don't think Melinda would have a problem going up to someone and starting a conversation.

Heather, the new girl in town is just like Melinda. Sort of like a mirror reflection of her.  Always trying to fit in and be like everyone else.  She doesn't really have a real personality. She's truly fake. It seems that the author created Heather as an "extra". Someone that Melinda could talk to and be around in this lonely, depressing stage. She represents the people in reality trying to be cool and popular  just to fit in. In this book, Heather is constantly trying to fit into a clique. When really she should just be herself and see who accepts her. That is how she'll find her true friends.

This book is very much related to real life. Many kids around the world are outcasts in their school. It is mostly caused by bullying, shyness, or just being plain-out depressed.  We walk down the hallway passing these so called "outcasts" and we just ignore and judge. We say that they aren't "cool" enough and we say that they are too different. When really they are just like us. Except they are hurting inside. They eventually hurt so bad that they are too afraid to speak. Just like Melinda.