Plot Summary

 

Melinda Sordino is starting high school with a terrible secret and without any friends. At an end of summer party, Melinda was raped by a senior. Dazed and drunk, she called the police but left before they arrived. Now everyone thinks she called the police to break up the party. Everyone is mad at her, including her group of good friends from middle school. Melinda has told no one, not even her parents. She carries the burden of this alone, confused and inwardly tortured. Once a happy girl, she is now depressed, withdrawn and hardly ever speaks. She doesn't pay attention to how she's dressed and she bites her lips and nails until they bleed. Her grades are terrible. Her parents think she's going through some awful phase. Only Melinda's art teacher, Mr. Freeman, recognizes a talented, creative, yet troubled girl.

 

In art class, everyone is given an assignment to work on for the entire year. Mr. Freeman assigns Melinda a tree. Throughout the book, her efforts to create the right tree bring strong symbolism to Melinda's own need to heal and grow.

 

Melinda's distress is greatly increased by the fact that the senior who raped her also goes to her high school. He enjoys leering at her and making suggestive remarks and threatening movements. To herself, she calls him IT or Andy Beast.

 

Of course, high school is difficult even for kids who are not troubled. Melinda uses her quirky, observant humor to deal with some situations and to nickname cliques, students and most of her teachers: Mr. Neck, Hairwoman, Principal Principal.

 

One new girl, Heather, adopts Melinda as her friend but soon becomes caught up with one of the most popular cliques. They encourage her to drop Melinda and she does, coming back only when she needs Melinda's artistic ability.

 

Melinda's lab partner, David Petrakis, slowly becomes a friend and a potential love interest, but Melinda is too wounded and vulnerable to accept his invitation to a party.

 

As the year progresses and Andy keeps approaching her, Melinda's mental and emotional state gets worse. Her busy parents can't understand why she rarely talks, why she's failing so many courses, cutting school and has no friends. They try tough love, which only pushes Melinda further away. Still, there are moments of tenderness with her parents and the feeling that her relationship with them was once a happy one.

 

When spring comes, Melinda becomes interested in planting flowers and cleaning up the neglected yard and trees around her house. The new growth stirs something in her, a bit of hope and feeling of possibility.

 

Heather approaches her, seeming to be a friend again, but she only wants to use Melinda's artistic talent. For once, Melinda actually says no. This simple but important act starts to awaken her own power. She begins talking a little with Ivy, one of her old friends, who's in the art class. She also writes on a bathroom stall saying that Andy Evans should be avoided. Days later, she feels like flying after she sees all the additional negative comments about him that have been written under hers in the stall.

 

When Melinda finds out that her former best friend is dating Andy Evans and going to the senior prom with him, her feelings of care and protection come forward. Finally, she overcomes the terrible rejection from her friend and tells her what happened on the night of the summer party. Rachel is horrified that such a thing happened to Melinda, but when Melinda names her attacker, Rachel calls her a liar. At the prom, Rachel confronts Andy when he becomes aggressive with her and she accuses him of raping Melinda. Rachel breaks up with him in a very public way.

 

After school, Andy follows her and confronts her about speaking to Rachel. At first, Melinda cannot speak. He advances on her, obviously determined to rape her again. Finally, Melinda finds her voice. She screams "No!" and continues screaming. She fights him and breaks a mirror so she can hold a broken shard to his throat. That stops him just before the lacrosse team comes to the rescue.

 

On the last day of school, Melinda completes her tree. It's not a traditional tree. This one shows some wounds and a low dead branch, but it's also a strong tree with plenty of new, healthy growth. Mr. Freeman gives her an A+. Melinda is, at last, ready to speak.

 

First Marking Period (through page 14) Summary

 

It's Melinda Sordino's first day of high school. She boards the school bus with a stomachache and a sense of fear. Her friends from middle school glare at her and she finds a seat by herself. Soon, she's the only person on the bus sitting alone. Arriving at Merryweather High, she is herded into the auditorium with the other ninth graders. As she looks around, Melinda privately gives names to all the groups of students-Jocks, Country Clubbers, Suffering Artists, Goths, Cheerleaders and so on. Melinda is all by herself, outcast.

 

Melinda's ex-friends-Nicole, Ivy, Rachel-are drawn to different groups. None of them is speaking to Melinda anymore. Melinda hears a bunch of kids laughing and knows they're laughing at her. She turns around to see her ex-best friend, Rachel, among them. Rachel mouths the words "I hate you." Feeling like a wounded zebra in a National Geographic special, Melinda desperately looks for someone to sit with but finally just takes an empty seat. A friendly, perky girl turns and introduces herself. This is Heather and it's obvious that she's new, otherwise she wouldn't speak to Melinda either.

 

As the classes start, Melinda gives nicknames to most of her teachers. Hairwoman is the English teacher; Mr. Neck teaches social studies.

 

At lunch, Melinda has to face the cafeteria. She's decided to buy lunch on her first day until she gets a feeling for what's acceptable fashion. As she maneuvers through the lunchroom with her tray, one of the basketball players bumps into her, leaving potatoes and gravy on her chest. Everyone in the cafeteria laughs and Melinda runs out. Mr. Neck catches her in the hall and questions her, but she doesn't answer. Announcing that he knew she was trouble from the start, he writes her a demerit for wandering the halls without a pass.

 

The art room is filled with light and a radio plays Melinda's favorite station. Mr. Freeman, the art teacher, welcomes his students to his class, saying that art is the only class that will teach them how to survive. Melinda's former friend Ivy, who's knowledgeable about art, is in this class, but doesn't speak to Melinda.

 

Mr. Freeman is passionate about art, equating creative expression with learning to breathe. Melinda thinks he's weird, but something in her is touched by him. He has each student pick a paper from a broken globe. The word on it is that student's assignment. Mr. Freeman wants them to work on their assignments in any medium they like and find a way to make it say something, express an emotion, to speak.

 

First Marking Period (through page 14) Analysis

 

Anyone who's been to high school can recognize Melinda's self-consciousness on the first day of school. It's obvious, though, that something much more is happening. In middle school, she had a tight group of friends; now they seem to hate her. Melinda will barely speak, letting teachers draw their own conclusions about this withdrawn new student. The readers don't know yet why Melinda is in this situation, but she's so wounded that our hearts and our curiosity go out to her immediately. Her art teacher describes his class as the only one that will help them survive and this will prove to be very true for Melinda. Throughout the book, her efforts in art class and the encouragement of Mr. Freeman are major players in her ability to get through her first year of high school and her terrible pain.

 

First Marking Period (through page 35) Summary

 

Two weeks have passed and Melinda is coping with her alienated high school life. Heather, the new girl from Ohio, sits with Melinda at lunch and calls her for long talks-with Heather doing most of the talking. She's Melinda's only friend.

 

At home, Melinda and her parents usually communicate with notes. Her mother and father have demanding jobs and are usually going in different directions. Sometimes, her mother prepares dinner in the morning and leaves it in the refrigerator; more often, there's a note to order pizza. Although it's September, Mom is anxiously getting her store and staff ready for Christmas. There's not much talking in this family and her parents don't seem to have noticed that Melinda is talking even less than usual. In her room, Melinda examines her reflection in the mirror. There are dark circles around her eyes and her lips have scabs since she's constantly chewing them. She takes down the mirror and hides it in the back of her closet.

 

Melinda wishes she could avoid gym class. Self-conscious, Melinda changes clothes in a bathroom stall. Her ex-friend Nicole is in the same gym class. Nicole is a great athlete, excelling at every sport. Melinda finds herself in the bathroom with her former best friend, Rachel. Rachel now hangs out with the foreign-exchange students and calls herself Rachelle. Melinda suppresses her anxiety and tries to make casual conversation with Rachel but is ignored. Rachel exits the bathroom giggling with one of the exchange students.

 

Heather has a plan for herself and Melinda. They should join five clubs, one for every day of the week. The tricky part, she points out to Melinda, will be choosing the clubs with the right people.

 

Melinda visits Heather's house, where Heather's mother scrutinizes her politely. Melinda doesn't mind; she thinks it's nice that Heather's mother cares about her daughter's friends. Heather hops on the treadmill and continues chattering about all the different clubs. Finally, Melinda announces that she's not interested; clubs are stupid. Undeterred, Heather chides her, explaining how important it is for ninth-graders to get involved-that's what all the popular people do. Melinda shudders.

 

Heather leaves the treadmill and starts to make a plan for them, drawing four boxes (one for each marking period) and writing "Goals" in each box. Melinda realizes that she used to be like Heather, happy and physically fit. Now, Melinda's goal is to go home and take a nap.

 

Hairwoman and Mr. Neck both are asking for Melinda's missing homework and reports. Hairwoman threatens a meeting with Melinda's parents.

 

In an attempt to avoid Mr. Neck at lunch, Melinda heads for the Seniors' Wing, opens a door and steps inside. It's an old janitor's closet that's clearly never used anymore and has been forgotten. The janitors now have a lounge and supply room. Within the closet, Melinda discovers a smelly but comfortable lounge chair, a desk and a built-in bookshelf amid the unused mops. There are cobwebs and dead roaches, but Melinda realizes she's found her own private place. She steals a pad of late passes from Hairwoman's desk. Suddenly she begins to feel better.

 

The Homecoming pep rally will be the perfect time for Melinda to clean up her closet. She brings some sponges from home and plans to sneak in a blanket and some potpourri. Just as Melinda has made it past the teacher, Heather catches her and pulls her back to the pep rally. She brings Melinda to sit with a group who work with her on the school newspaper. They're friendly enough at first, but then they hear her name, asking if she isn't the one who called the cops at Kyle Rodgers' party. Heads snap around and Melinda is met with hateful looks. She wants to say that they don't understand, but her throat tightens. Heather doesn't defend her. When the cheerleaders cartwheel into the gym, starting the rally, Melinda buries her head in her hands and screams. There is plenty of noise; no one can hear her.

 

In art class, Melinda has been working on her tree, using watercolors. She paints trees that have been hit by lightning, trying to make them look like they are nearly, but not completely, dead. Everyone in the class is struggling with their project and Mr. Freeman encourages them to study the masters-Kahlo, Monet, O'Keeffe, Pollock, Picasso and Dali. He launches into a tirade about the school board, which has cut his budget for supplies.

 

On Columbus Day, Melinda visits Heather, whose room is finished being redecorated. It's perfect-everything in place and neatly organized. Melinda thinks that the room "screams Heather." She wishes her own room would at least whisper Melinda. Heather's latest plan is to sign them both up for the musical. Privately, Melinda thinks the musical would be easy for her. She proves her acting skills every day as she finds ways to smile through her pain or ways to avoid the whispers and taunts as she walks through the halls. Melinda tells Heather that they couldn't get into the musical. Heather falls apart for a few minutes of crying but quickly pulls herself together with a new plan for breaking into a good group.

 

First Marking Period (through page 35) Analysis

 

Melinda cannot stand to face herself or look at her pain. She takes down the mirror in her room at home and hides it in the back of the closet.

 

As for the deserted closet she finds at school, it's an outcast like her. It has no purpose, no name. After Melinda finds her safe space, her closet, within the school, she feels a little better. She can escape from feeling constantly exposed and vulnerable. When Melinda appropriates the closet and gets her own supply of late passes, she's at last done something to take control.

 

At the pep rally, we find out the reason that Melinda's been ostracized-she called the police during a party. We still don't know the reason. Melinda can't bring herself to speak about what happened. She has worked hard to forget it, but it continues to dominate her life, her thoughts and her every move. We know it's horrible; she uses the noise of the pep rally to muffle her own pained scream.

 

Heather's companionship provides another hiding place for Melinda. Heather is someone to sit with, spend time with, but she is so self-centered that she doesn't notice Melinda's distress. She simply assumes that Melinda wants the same things. Heather's constant chatter makes Melinda's silence easy.

 

The tree Melinda's working on in art class is a powerful symbol throughout the book. She begins working on a tree that's been hit by lightning, that's almost dead from the injury-it stands for her own traumatic experience and her feeling of being closed off, nearly dead, to the world as she knew it and to herself.

 

First Marking Period (through page 46) Summary

 

Melinda's parents confront her at dinner. The interim reports have come in and her grades-except for art-are way down. She's always done much better than this. They shout at her, but Melinda doesn't respond, finally just getting up and going to her room. Her parents continue, now arguing with each other.

 

The next day, Melinda tries to pay attention in biology and even enjoys looking at cells through a real microscope. She arrives at algebra class with only ten minutes left, but she has her late pass to show the teacher. Melinda always excelled in math, but she hates algebra. She's not alone, though; every day someone asks why they have to learn algebra. Today, Mr. Stetman calls on Melinda for an answer and calls her to the board. He has Rachel come up to help her. This feels like a disaster to Melinda. Rachel easily solves the problem on the board as Melinda tries to disappear.

 

Melinda spends Halloween night in her room at home reading Dracula. The next morning, in Spanish class, Melinda is humiliated when a student proclaims that "Melinda no es linda." Linda means pretty in Spanish. Everyone laughs and they continue to call her Me-no-linda for the rest of the class. Melinda thinks that this is how terrorists get started.

 

Heather has found a clique to join-the Marthas. Heather, who is on probation with her new group, expects Melinda to come along, but this clan holds no interest for Melinda. In the Marthas, proper dress is very important-it must be coordinated and appropriate to the season-and they are constantly taking on projects. Heather has been assigned the job of decorating the faculty lounge for a Thanksgiving party and she begs for Melinda's help. The Marthas think Heather did all the work herself and they're impressed. However, they aren't happy with Heather's friend. Melinda overhears them telling Heather that "that girl" is creepy and looks like she has a disease.

 

Melinda sees "IT" in the hall. He's walking happily with a cheerleader. For her, IT is like a nightmare from which she can't wake up. When IT sees Melinda, he smiles and winks.

 

First Marking Period (through page 46) Analysis

 

There's more of a glimpse of Melinda's home life here. Both her parents are busy and distracted, unable to take the time to realize their daughter's distress. Many of Melinda's fellow students find her creepy and strange and they find ways to make fun of her.

 

IT makes his first appearance. Even though we don't know yet what happened, Melinda's visceral reaction makes it clear that IT did something unspeakable to her.

 

Second Marking Period (through page 70) Summary

 

Melinda's parents have ordered her to stay after school every day to get extra help from her teachers. Melinda says only that she will stay after school; she neglects to mention that she'll spend that time in her closet. She works on fixing up her safe space; it feels like a fort. There are new books on the shelves and a poster of Maya Angelou covering the mirror that's screwed to the wall.

 

It's even harder for Melinda to talk now. Her lips are raw and her throat is always sore. She wakes each morning with her jaws clenched. She wishes she could hand over her guilt, anger and fear to someone else. Only in the closet does she feel truly safe.

 

The school has a Job Day and all the students have to complete a questionnaire about their dreams, plans and preferences. Melinda's test results indicate that she should go into forestry, firefighting, communications, or mortuary science. Melinda just hopes to get out of the ninth grade alive.

 

In social studies class, Mr. Neck launches into a tirade about immigration. His son, he feels, lost a job opportunity because of reverse discrimination. He has the class start a debate with the topic "America should have closed her borders in 1900." Melinda works on her drawing of a tree but listens to the heated debate. One brave boy suggests there might be other reasons Mr. Neck's son didn't get the job. Perhaps the person who got the job was simply better. At that, Mr. Neck ends the debate. David Petrakis stands up and explains that Mr. Neck started a debate, which means that each student has a right to express his or her opinion. The teacher can't just stop it because it's not going his way. David points out that the Constitution doesn't acknowledge different classes of citizens based on their time living in the country. He protests the racist, intolerant tone of the lesson. The furious teacher commands him to sit and shut up, but David simply picks up his books and walks out of the room.

 

Thanksgiving Day is chaotic at Melinda's house. Her mother insists on trying to cook a proper Thanksgiving dinner even though she's frantic about preparing her store for the next day's pre-Christmas shopping. She forgot to defrost the turkey and tries a variety of ways to cook it without defrosting. In between work at her computer and emergency calls from her staff, she works on the meal. In the end, it becomes clear the meal is ruined. Melinda and her father are relieved when her mother gives up and goes off to the store. They order pizza.

 

Melinda digs the bones from the ruined turkey out of the trash and takes them to art class. Mr. Freeman is thrilled with her creative decision. Using the bones, a Barbie doll head and various items from the art supplies, Melinda creates a fascinating and dramatic piece of art. Pleased, Mr. Freeman asks for Melinda's analysis, but her throat is so dry, she can't get any words out. So, her teacher analyzes it for her, ending with the statement: "This has meaning. Pain."

 

In social studies class, David Petrakis is fighting back about freedom of speech. His parents are totally supportive and have hired a lawyer. David brings a tape recorder and then a video camera and Mr. Neck teaches a straight forward class.

 

Second Marking Period (through page 70) Analysis

 

Since seeing IT in the hall, Melinda has been getting worse, speaking even less and hiding more frequently in her school closet. David Petrakis, who will later become her friend, has what Melinda needs so badly-parents who support and believe in him along with the confidence and ability to speak out against injustice. Melinda's creative spirit shines when she rescues the Thanksgiving turkey carcass to turn it into a work of art.

 

Second Marking Period (through page 92) Summary

 

Winter break begins and Melinda's mother leaves a note for her to put up the tree. Melinda misses her childhood when there was a feeling of magic at Christmas time. She thinks her parents would be divorced by now if it weren't for her. She tries to imagine what Heather would do to decorate for Christmas and sets about making the house more festive.

 

On Christmas day, Melinda and her family exchange presents. Included in the gifts from her parents are charcoal pencils and a sketch pad; they've noticed she's drawing. Tears fill Melinda's eyes and she almost tells them her terrible secret. Her parents wait, sensing that she has something to say, but Melinda feels there's a snowball in her throat. She can't speak and the moment passes.

 

Two days later, Melinda's parents have decided that she should work with them during her vacation. She starts out in the stockroom at her mother's store. Being at work with her mother gives Melinda some insight into the pressures her mother faces every day. At her father's insurance office, Melinda has a job stuffing envelopes. She feels angry watching how much more relaxed his work environment is than her mother's.

 

Back at school, the phys ed teacher discovers that Melinda is a terrific basketball player, but, because of Melinda's poor grades, she doesn't qualify for the team. Melinda doesn't want to be on the team anyway, but she likes the sensation of succeeding brilliantly at something.

 

In art class, Mr. Freeman has been working on his own painting-one that expresses his unhappiness with the school board. Melinda thinks it's a masterpiece and a local reporter has written an article about it. Melinda continues to struggle with her assignment: the tree. Still, she thrives in art class and thinks, "Maybe I'll be an artist if I grow up."

 

Heather is having a problem with the Marthas. They're not happy with the quality of her work and she's in danger of being excluded from the group. She turns to her artistic friend Melinda for help with posters for the Canned Food Drive.

 

Biology class brings the opportunity to dissect dead frogs. David Petrakis is excited; Melinda is vaguely disgusted. As they get ready to work on their frog, Melinda's emotions take over. The sight of the frog lying on its back as if alive and vulnerable, about to be sliced open, awakens her memories of trauma. She faints, cutting her head in the fall.

 

In her closet at school, Melinda has been working on Heather's posters. Heather's busy with a modeling job at the mall and asks Melinda to hang the posters. It's nice having students see her do something good and Melinda's actually enjoying it until IT creeps up behind her. "Freshmeat," he whispers. Melinda drops the poster and masking tape and runs.

 

Melinda's report card is terrible except for Art. At the dinner table, her parents berate her. She doesn't speak. They outline her punishment. Melinda quietly does her homework, shows it to them and goes to her room. Melinda opens a paper clip and scratches it across her wrist-not cutting deeply but drawing blood. She scratches line after line until the pain stops.

 

Her mother sees the injured wrist at breakfast. All she says is that she doesn't have time for Melinda's drama. Melinda's parents have decided to try tough love.

 

In the school lunch room, the Marthas express their unhappiness with Heather. She hasn't been bringing in enough for the Food Drive and they don't like the posters. Melinda sits quietly on the other side of Heather, feeling her friend's distress. The Marthas are distracted from Heather when they notice Andy Evans nearby. They giggle with excitement, talking about how gorgeous and rich he is. Melinda freezes inside. Andy Evans is the dreaded IT. One of the girls calls him over to the table. Flirting with one of the Marthas, he stands behind Melinda, twirling her ponytail in his fingers. Melinda runs from the table and vomits in the girl's bathroom.

 

Mr. Freeman is in trouble with the school board. They've drastically cut his art budget and he's been reprimanded for giving out too many A grades on the last report cards. He seems depressed in class and has stopped working on his canvas.

 

Melinda has started a new linoleum block. As she works once again on her tree, the chisel slips and slices her thumb. After Mr. Freeman treats and bandages the injury, he takes the chisel and slices his canvas.

 

Second Marking Period (through page 92) Analysis

 

On Christmas Day there are glimpses of the concern and care Melinda's parents have for her. Just a little more tenderness from them might bring the words from Melinda that she so desperately needs to share with them. Although we still haven't been told exactly what happened to Melinda, we can probably guess after her experience with the frog in biology. The dead frog, laid out like a victim, waiting to be cut apart, overwhelms her.

 

IT becomes more aggressive with her. Sneaking up behind to whisper "Freshmeat" in her ear, toying with her in the cafeteria. We find out ITs real name: Andy Evans.

 

Melinda is falling into deeper despair and trouble. Her grades are worse, her ability to speak is lessening. She seems to be self-destructing. Still, her superficial cuts on her wrists actually show a glimmer of hope-she doesn't want to die; she wants to survive. She's faintly asking for help.

 

Third Marking Period (through page 117) Summary

 

It's cold and Melinda, snug in her bed, oversleeps. She's missed the bus and will have to walk to school. It's not a long walk and she doesn't feel any need to hurry. She decides to stop at the town bakery but sees Andy Evans (IT) coming out of the bakery. He sees her, grins and walks toward her. Feeling like a scared rabbit, she bolts and runs from him. "Why didn't I run like this before when I was a one-piece talking girl?" she wonders.

 

Safe from IT, Melinda decides to cut school altogether and, in spite of the cold and snow, wanders down Main Street before catching the bus to the mall.

 

In English class the next day, Hairwoman introduces The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and explains the use of symbols in the book. Melinda thinks she and Hester, the book's main character, would have been friends. She wonders if Hester tried to say no. In art class, Mr. Freeman has a new canvas, although it's still blank. He's finding creative ways to compromise with the school board. Melinda gives up on the linoleum block carving for her tree and tries finger paint. She studies books with different representations of trees.

 

Heather has a serious talk with Melinda. The Marthas have made it clear that this friendship tarnishes Heather's reputation. And Heather agrees, explaining to Melinda that they have nothing in common. Melinda, who was ambivalent about the friendship, suddenly realizes how much it means to her to have this one friend. Heather has made up her mind and leaves Melinda behind to go sit with the Marthas. Melinda's lab partner, David, is friendly toward her; they sometimes exchange notes in classes. She wonders if he could be someone who would "like the inside girl I think I am." Melinda is cutting school more often. One day she wanders around the wards in the hospital, thinking of curling up on one of the beds to sleep.

 

Principal Principal calls Melinda and her parents in for a meeting. They have noticed her frequent absences and the fact that she doesn't talk. The guidance counselor has been asked to join the meeting. They want Melinda to speak, but, of course, she is silent. Her mother is furious. Principal Principal wonders what's happened with Melinda's grades. Last year she was a straight B student with few absences and no behavior problems. The guidance counselor wants to discuss family dynamics. Melinda's father points out that, last year, she was a sweet, loving girl. He blames the change on the high school. The adults agree on a list of restrictions and consequences. The next time Melinda misses school, she's sent to detention. Also in detention is Andy Evans, who slips up and blows in her ear.

 

Third Marking Period (through page 117) Analysis

 

Rejected by her only friend and harassed by IT, Melinda's fragile façade begins to crumble. There seems to be hope when the principal and guidance counselor meet with her and her parents. A formerly good student is failing; she rarely speaks. Is something wrong? Unfortunately, there is more frustration for the reader as the adults in the room argue and blame one another instead of looking for Melinda's true problem. Her friendship with David Petrakis is slowly growing, proving to be one of the few positive relationships she has.

 

Third Marking Period (through page 137) Summary

 

Melinda is having more trouble functioning. Even in art class, she can't do anything. Mr. Freeman says that her imagination is paralyzed and presents her with a huge book on Picasso. "Picasso," he says, "Who saw the truth. Who painted the truth, molded it, ripped from the earth with two angry hands." Melinda opens the book. When she moves into the chapters of the artist's Cubist work, something in her shifts dramatically, excitedly. She's inspired at last and draws a Cubist tree for Mr. Freeman, who beams his approval.

 

One day after school, Mr. Freeman gives Melinda a ride to meet her mother. On the way, he compliments her progress in art class. Melinda finds herself talking easily to him. As they part company, Mr. Freeman tells Melinda he thinks she's a good kid with a lot to say. He'd like to hear it. Melinda is actually excited about the plant study in biology class. She considers starting to talk to her parents but wonders what will happen if she says the wrong thing.

 

After school one day, Melinda takes refuge in her special closet for a little nap. She wakes up at 8:45 to the sound of cheering. It's the last basketball game of the season and they've won. Going out into the gym, Melinda feels happy and swept up in the celebration. David Petrakis spots her and comes over to talk. He invites her back to his house for pizza with his friends. Part of her is thrilled, but part of her is frightened by the idea of a party. She heads home.

 

Her conflict over David's party has stirred memories of that end of summer party. At home, Melinda remembers how Rachel, then one of her best friends, tricked her mother and arranged for them to go to the party-a party with beer and seniors. Melinda tried her first beer, then another, then one more. Feeling strange, she walked outside into the warm night. A handsome senior came up behind her and asked her to dance there in the leaves. He held her close and began to caress her in ways that her drunken mind realized were rude. When he kissed her, for just a moment, she thought he was her new boyfriend. His kisses and his touches became more aggressive. As he forced her to the ground, his hand covered her mouth as she tried to cry "No!" Melinda remembers how much it hurt. Then he got up, zipped his jeans, smiled and walked away. Back in the party house, in a daze, all Melinda could think was that she needed help and that she should call 911. Someone grabbed the phone. Everyone knew Melinda had called the cops. Someone slapped her. She walked home without a word.

 

Third Marking Period (through page 137) Analysis

 

Mr. Freeman knows how to express pain and anger through art. He even sliced his own canvas in frustration, but he soon had a new canvas to begin something fresh. He can see that Melinda needs to find that expression and he wants to help her find her artistic "voice."

 

In biology, studying the germination of seeds, Melinda is inspired by the way a tiny seed beneath the earth makes a plant that can come up and out to find the light. Here and in her art class, Melinda is working with, contemplating growing things-things that must overcome hardship to flourish. There's the sense that Melinda realizes she too must find a way to overcome her dormancy and grow.

 

The invitation to a party from David Petrakis sends Melinda into a vivid memory of the end of summer party. At last we know without a doubt what happened to Melinda as she lets herself recall the rape by Andy Evans.

 

Fourth Marking Period (through page 162) Summary

 

It's April. Melinda has passed many of her tests. She notices that Andy Beast, as she now calls IT, has abandoned the Marthas and is hanging around the International Club girls. That includes Melinda's former friend Rachel.

 

The last day of Spring Break, Melinda visits the mall and sees Ivy, who's working on a sketch to help with her project for art class. Ivy invites Melinda to take a look and the two former friends begin an easy, comfortable conversation about their projects.

 

Andy Beast went to the movies with Rachel and some of her exchange student friends from the International Club. Now, the girls walk through the halls with him and gaze at him adoringly. Even though Rachel has rejected her, Melinda can't help feeling worried about her with Andy. Something in her wants Rachel to be hurt, but, when she sees Rachel kissing Andy after school, the memories of their past friendship come flooding back. She writes Rachel an anonymous note: "Andy Evans will use you. He's not what he pretends to be. I heard he attacked a ninth-grader. Be very, very careful."

 

Melinda's work on a tree for art class has been progressing, but Mr. Freeman tells her that her work now is stiff and unnatural. Melinda agrees, but she's hurt by his criticism. She tosses her linoleum bock in the garbage. Mr. Freeman retrieves it and brings it to her with a box of Kleenex. He explains that she can do better. It looks like an average tree. She needs to breathe life into it. His gentle voice and faith in her give Melinda courage.

 

In social studies class, Mr. Neck announces that anyone who's flunking can write an extra-credit report on Cultural Influence at the Turn of the Century. Melinda does not want to repeat this class. She pours her energy into a perfect report on the suffragettes. With pride, she turns it in, only to have Mr. Neck say that, to receive credit, she'll have to deliver the report orally tomorrow. Melinda is speechless.

 

She confides in David Petrakis, who helps her devise a plan. The next day, before class, Melinda writes a message on the board and covers it with a suffragette poster. Class starts, Melinda comes to the front of the room and Mr. Neck nods for her to start. She rips the poster from the blackboard, revealing the message beneath. It says that, in the spirit of the suffragettes, she stands up for what she believes. No one should be forced to give speeches; she chooses to stay silent. David stands beside her and says that Melinda has made copies of her report so everyone can read it. He passes them out. Mr. Neck gives her a D and marches her to the principal's office and detention.

 

Later, David points out to her that-although he thinks her protest was cool-she wasn't true to the memory of the suffragettes. They spoke up for their rights. If you're just silent, David says, the bad guys win. Melinda's friendship with David is deepening and he wants to call her. She likes him and likes the attention, but she's afraid that he might try to touch her.

 

Melinda stays after school to work on her tree sketches. The art room is one place where she feels safe. Then Andy walks in, looking for Rachel. He sits on Melinda's table. She can't speak. Just in time, Rachel walks in to claim him and Ivy comes in behind her. Melinda is still stunned,, but after Rachel and Andy leave, she manages to hear Ivy telling her that Andy is nothing but trouble.

 

As soon as Melinda gets home, she goes into her clothes closet, stuffs fabric into her mouth and screams until there is no sound left.

 

Fourth Marking Period (through page 162) Analysis

 

Mr. Freeman seems to be talking about Melinda herself as he works with her on her tree: "Breathe life into it. Make it bend-trees are flexible, so they don't snap. Scar it, give it a twisted branch-perfect trees don't exist. Nothing is perfect. Flaws are interesting."

 

A real friendship begins to bloom between Melinda and Ivy-a beginning of healing. Caring about her former friend Rachel, despite Rachel's betrayal, helps Melinda start to speak-even though her first expression is in an anonymous note, she is finally telling her truth.

 

Melinda also finds the courage to stand up for herself when she's treated unjustly by Mr. Neck. Still, she's doing it without actually speaking (David has to speak for her), but it's a good change nonetheless.

 

Fourth Marking Period (through page 198) Summary

 

Melinda takes a mental health day, playing sick to stay home from school. Her mother is gentle and nurturing before going off to work. Alone in the house, Melinda curls up on the couch to watch TV. Viewing one talk show after another, she begins to reflect on her life and wonders, "Was I raped?" She imagines Oprah and Sally Jesse Raphael saying that she can't keep it inside anymore, that she has to speak up.

 

Back at school, in art class, Ivy accidentally catches Melinda's shirt with a handful of uncapped colored markers. Melinda goes off to the bathroom to clean up and Mr. Freeman sends Ivy in to check on her. As Ivy helps her clean the shirt, the two girls start talking. Melinda reads some of the graffiti in the stalls. She notices that someone writes a message, then others write comments. Finally, Melinda asks why Ivy said Andy Evans was big trouble. Rumor has it, Ivy explains, that Andy only wants one thing and he'll do whatever necessary to get it. They wonder what to do about Rachel, but Rachel isn't speaking to either one of them. Melinda takes one of the markers and writes "Guys to Stay Away From: Andy Evans." Ivy smiles.

 

The Senior Prom is approaching. In spite of Melinda's anonymous note, Rachel is still seeing Andy and is going to the prom with him.

 

Heather appears on Melinda's front porch, begging for help. The Marthas are taking advantage of her, demanding more and more. Heather's grades have fallen because she's so busy with them. She needs Melinda's help to decorate the Holiday Inn ballroom for the prom. Melinda says no.

 

That simple no emboldens Melinda. She decides to talk to Rachel and sits next to her in study hall. Melinda starts with some small talk. Both girls are nervous. Finally, Melinda asks about Andy. Rachel smiles and talks about how wonderful he is. The librarian tells them to keep quiet, so they start writing notes. Melinda asks if her former friend is still mad at her. Rachel says no, the party was a long time ago. Finally, Melinda writes that she called the police that night because someone raped her. Rachel is horrified and wants to know why she didn't tell her then. Melinda explains that she wasn't able to tell anyone, even her parents. Rachel asks who did it. Melinda writes his name: Andy Evans. Rachel leaps up, calls Melinda a liar and leaves.

 

After school, Ivy finds Melinda. She has something to show her. Ivy leads her to the bathroom where she wrote Andy's name. The stall is filled with more comments about how horrible he is. Melinda feels like she could fly.

 

The next day is Saturday. Melinda and her father watch as an arborist works on the tree in their front year, cutting off diseased and dead branches. He's saving the tree, her father explains. Melinda goes off on her bike and finally rests near a barn. She wonders if there's a way she can take an ax to her own memories and fears so that the healthy part of her can come to the surface.

 

Melinda goes home and spends the afternoon cleaning the yard. Late that night, she takes a bike ride past Rachel's house, wondering if she is safely home from the prom.

 

On Monday morning, prom stories abound. But the most important one is that Rachel ditched Andy in the middle of the prom. They fought during a slow dance when Andy's hands and mouth were all over her. Andy's furious. Rachel burned everything he'd given her and left the ashes in front of his locker.

 

Melinda doesn't feel like hiding in her special closet at school anymore. After school, she goes to start clearing it out. As she leaves the little room, something slams into her, knocking her back into the closet. The door shuts. Melinda is alone with Andy Evans. Rachel accused him of raping Melinda. He denies it, accusing Melinda of jealousy. She tries to get around him and he locks the door. She can't speak. He grabs her wrists. She opens her mouth, but nothing comes out. "I know what you want," Andy says. Melinda struggles, but he holds her down. Suddenly, the sound explodes from her-a long, loud no. She fights him, but he grows more violent. Melinda screams and screams. She breaks the mirror on the wall, grabs a triangle of glass and holds it to Andy's neck. He stops, frozen. Melinda says, "I said no."

 

There is pounding on the door. Melinda unlocks it and the whole lacrosse team is there, wielding their sticks. One of them runs for help.

 

On the last day of school, Melinda stays late to get her tree right. She's no longer trying to make it a perfect tree. It's not symmetrical and the bark is rough. A lower branch is sick, but the new growth is strong and healthy. It's not perfect and Melinda knows now that this makes it good.

 

Some seniors come in to say goodbye to Mr. Freeman. One girl praises Melinda for her bravery and says she hopes Melinda is all right. Everyone knows what happened. Rachel has asked Melinda to call her.

 

Mr. Freeman comes over to see the completed picture. He gives her an A+. She's crying and he hands her a box of tissues and says that he knows she's been through a lot. Melinda offers to tell him about it.

 

Fourth Marking Period (through page 198) Analysis

 

As Melinda nestles in front of the TV, it's clear that she doesn't even fully understand that she was truly raped. She's beginning to realize how urgent it is to speak up and speak out. Her writing about Andy Evans on the bathroom stall is part of this, but she's still just writing-and staying anonymous-instead of speaking. Melinda sees that others have had bad experiences with Andy; she's not alone.

 

Heather's rejection of Melinda and now her friendliness when she has a reason to use Melinda are abusive-not like rape but, still, another kind of abuse. It is this realization that enables Melinda to actually speak her first "No." She is getting stronger.

 

And she is brave. It takes a lot of courage to approach Rachel. In finally telling Rachel what happened, Melinda sees that her old friend might have actually supported her if she'd spoken up at the time. Although Rachel is initially furious with Melinda for naming Andy, who's now officially Rachel's boyfriend, Melinda has actually saved Rachel. When Andy becomes aggressive at the prom, Rachel understands at last.

 

In the horrifying confrontation by Andy, Melinda at last finds her true voice and her true power. She is free. Her creativity flows and it's soon clear that she is growing and healing. Her A+ tree for Art Class expresses her, once wounded but now becoming strong and healthy, basking in the light.

 

From BookRags:

Speak from BookRags and Gale's For Students Series. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.