In Anderson's Speak, the main character, Melinda, is just entering high school and is considered an outcast by the entire school because she called the police on a party the previous summer when she was raped by "IT," Andy Evans. However, Melinda's social life in middle school is actually described by her as pretty good, mainly because of her three good friends, the "Plain Janes."

These three friends are Rachel, Ivy, and Nicole. Yet in ninth grade, the group fractures and Melinda's three friends find new social circles of which to be a part. Rachel becomes a more popular girl, even dating Andy Evans her freshman year. Ivy develops her own group of friends. Nicole becomes one of the jocks, by getting more into athletics.

The end of the "Plain Janes" is yet another difficulty that Melinda has to deal with during her freshman year and communicates another level of isolation in the novel.

Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak tells of Melinda Sordino's journey through her first year of high school. Prior to entering into high school, Melinda had many close friends. Rachel, Ivy, and Nicole were part of Melinda's social circle. The summer prior to ninth grade, the girls attended a party. At the party, Melinda was raped. Scared and alone, Melinda called the police. The party was broken up, and everyone is angry at Melinda for telling.

Her ex-friends, needing to separate themselves from her in order to maintain their own popularity, act completely alien to Melinda. Although Rachel is the only one who really alienates her, Ivy and Nicole do not go out of their way to be nice. Ivy, eventually,  begins to loosen up in art class. Her clan, in a way, has found clans of their own.