Melinda Sordino is the first-person storyteller who attends Merryweather High School near Syracuse. Readers meet her when she is a freshman in high school, feeling like an outsider with no friends. She makes up nicknames for all of her teachers and discusses all the lies the school tells regularly and how easily duped the principal is by conniving students. In the book’s first part, the reader doesn’t know what happened to Melinda, only that she called the police during a party. Therefore she is ostracized by her peers.
Melinda’s secret is slowly disclosed as we learn about her parents and home life. Unfortunately, the adults in her life are more concerned about appropriate school mascots and other inconsequential issues. They pay little attention to the help Melinda screams for while depicting behaviors indicating that she is depressed. Finally, the art teacher, aptly named Mr. Freeman, recognizes that she has talent and guides her through a project that involves a tree that needs professional help to thrive. The tree is one of several symbols used to help Melinda realize that she must speak about the ugly assault she experienced,
This book uses realistic characters, relatable high school issues, and thoughtful imagery to portray the pain and agony associated with sexual assault.
