The protagonist of Speak, Melinda begins high school (and the novel) traumatized by a ra.pe that occurred at the hands of upperclassman Andy Evans at a party the summer before. She has not told anyone about the ra.pe, however, and her classmates loathe her for calling the police at the party, while her parents and teachers are disappointed and angered by her sudden depression and apathy. She is smart, but refuses to do her homework, or go to class. She displays an aptitude for basketball and tennis, yet refuses to make any effort to follow through on her skills.
