Ivy Character Analysis in Speak

A former member of the Plain Janes, Melinda’s middle school friend group, Ivy is never as cruel to Melinda as Rachel is. In fact, she and Melinda begin to become friends after spending a great deal of time together in Mr. Freeman’s art classroom. Together, they write graffiti about Andy Evans (Melinda’s rapist) on a bathroom wall, and are surprised to see how many other girls have had negative experiences with him. Throughout the novel, Ivy is kind and supportive, helping Melinda to see the good in her peers once again.

Ivy Character Timeline in Speak

The timeline below shows where the character Ivy appears in Speak. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...whom she used to be in a clique called the Plain Janes: Nicole the jock; Ivy the artist; and Rachel, Melinda’s former best friend (the fifth member of their group, Jessica,... (full context)

...the radio is playing Melinda’s “favorite station.” A dark spot, however, is Melinda’s former friend Ivy, who refuses to even look at her. This makes Melinda particularly sad because Ivy is... (full context)

...She describes its rose decorations and pink walls, and recounts the different ways that Rachel, Ivy, Nicole, and Jessica decorated their rooms when they were in fifth grade. The only things... (full context)

...is not satisfied. She recounts that her other classmates have been experiencing problems too (especially Ivy, whose subject is clowns, although she fears and hates them). Mr. Freeman responds to their... (full context)

...his own piece, a mural depicting all the members of the school board in hell. Ivy also stays after in order to work on her clown project. She even smiles and... (full context)

...a Barbie doll within them. Mr. Freeman is delighted and praises the work, as does Ivy. Although he asks her to describe her piece to him, Melinda is unable to do... (full context)

...in her pocket on French fries. As she watches the mall goers, she comes across Ivy, who is sketching children’s faces as they get them painted like tigers and leopards. Ivy,... (full context)

...of her closet; she considers moving in there “full-time.” She realizes that her leaves look good—“Ivy was right.” David, meanwhile, is drawing a family tree; Melinda decides to draw a family... (full context)

...Although she’s annoyed, she does agree with him. Despairing, she decides that real artists like Ivy belong in Mr. Freeman’s art room, but she does not—nor does she belong with the... (full context)

...a necklace with mirrors on it. Andy gets up, ripping Melinda’s paper in the process. Ivy, meanwhile, walks in and senses that something is wrong. Andy and Rachel leave, and Ivy... (full context)

While Ivy and Melinda are working in the art room, Ivy accidentally gets magic marker on Melinda’s... (full context)

...the shirt in the bathroom. As Melinda waits in a stall wearing her bra while Ivy scrubs the shirt, she reads the graffiti on the walls. Despite feeling exposed and cold,... (full context)

...waits in the high school lobby, too upset by her conversation to go home. Suddenly Ivy shows up, and asks if she can show Melinda something. Together they walk to the... (full context)