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Book Summary

Reviewed by Norah Caroline Piehl

High school should be the best time of Melinda's life. Instead, freshman year is a nightmare, as Melinda finds herself rejected by her friends, cut off from her parents, and unable to reveal a terrible secret. Melinda's slow healing process is a realistic and compelling one, and readers will cheer for the strength she finally finds.

Is It Any Good?

5

This is one of the most devastatingly true and painful portrayals of high school to come along in a long time. The cliques, from the Jocks to the Big Hair Chix to the Marthas (devotees of a certain Ms. Stewart), are pigeonholed to perfection. Outsider Melinda seems somehow familiar, too. Her witty, ironic commentaries can't cover up her pain at being excluded.

Kids who are genuine outsiders stand to gain a lot from this compassionate novel. The author offers real solutions to Melinda's pain: Melinda's connection to a mentor, her artistic creations, and even her plans for a flower garden all feed her inner strength. When she's finally able to speak, readers will rejoice in her triumphs.

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