Conflict/Problems

She was raped at a party. -The biggest problem in the novel is the Melinda was raped. Melinda was raped at a party. It happened because she was out alone in the woods and everyone was drunk. The only people involved in this part of the book are Andy and Melinda. The problem does get solved but it really takes a while. Andy gets in trouble and Melinda moves pasted it by speaking up about the events. From this big problem a lot of small problems grow and come up.

No one liked her. - After she was raped she called the cops and that ended the party. Many people got arrested; since she called the cops everyone was upset. Once she went to high school that followed her around; everyone was pushing her, making fun of her and putting her down. For example when she went with Heather to a football, someone pointed Melinda out as the girl of called the cops at that one party; after someone poured a soda down her back. Also heather sold her out for a clan named the Marshans. It seemed that no one cared and it was almost like that. The problem got fixed at the end because she became some sort of a hero after holding a mirror to Andy’s throat. Since that everyone then found out what really happened at the party, and was not mad at her anymore.

Couldn’t speak her mind- Since no one liked her or noticed her she never talked. Her parents were worried because she never talked it was rare when she did. Also she was going through a lot and had no one to talk to; that made her feel the pain more. Once she got Heather that only made things worst because Heather didn’t help her at all, while Melinda did. A teacher of her named Mr. Freeman tried to help her talk in the beginning of the book but Melinda didn’t have the right support at the moment and so much was going on that she couldn’t or didn’t want to talk. There were to ways this book ended the problem, the first one was that she was really in to art and that helped her express her self. The second way is that Melinda in the end spoke up and talked things out with Mr. Freeman. From there he helped her move on from those harsh events.


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Dear Melinda,

Hello, Melinda you were through a lot, so many things that it’s just inspirational that you kept going. I like that you really are head strong it may not seem like you are throughout the book but you kept going which is amazing. I also liked that you are into art and it’s a good way to express some emotion. You are a good girl very polite I like that; it means you know and have manners. Throughout the book you went through so much, from being raped to being hated by everyone and on top of that, you wanted to speak up but you couldn’t because you didn’t know how. My thoughts on the events are just speechless, one of the reasons being that going through what you did is more than most girls go through, at your age. I was just very surprised that all of that can happen to you. I was also sad; I mean the things that happen too you really hit me in the weak spots. If I could have done anything really to help you I would. In the story I saw that you were struggling to speak your feeling, I could have helped with that by just talking it out or helping you find your outlet. I also could have became s close friend because sometimes that all someone really needs. I would have been there for you and just talked things out and really just help you move on by motivating you and helping you find a way out. I saw that art was your way out, your outlet; I could have maybe pushed you to continue on the road to becoming an artist. I could have been the person that is by your side until you feel better. Well I can say now is that I’m happy that you got through it all and you will be a great artist from what I have read.
Your loving friend,
Elvis

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