Sprich

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.
https://quipsandquotes.net/ ( )

This book caused a lot of issues for me. I first read it in middle school when I was severely depressed, so this was probably the worst book I could've read at that given time. That being said, it is devastatingly told. I enjoy it, but will probably never read it again. I may get rid of it soon. ( )

I can add this books to my favorites. I read this in 5 hours. I couldn’t put it down. This read was just mind blowing. I truly truly truly hated high school and I relate to Melinda on every single aspect. I wanted to be her friend so badly and help her out. On to the subject on things I want. I wanted to punch Andy, Rachel, and Heather at the same time. Seriously. I never hated a trio this much. Andy was a creep who needed his head bashed against the wall. Rachel was a horrible friend who didn’t deserve Melinda. Heather was vapid and too self involved to even think properly.

I just can’t describe the anger I felt when reading this. Why didn’t I read this in high school? This is a book we should all read. But no, they are going to shove toxic Romeo and Juliet down our throats til the aliens take over. I have nothing else to say but to go read this book. It’s so short but it captures the reality of trauma. ( )

I've read this book four times since it came out. My first, I was eleven and it was brand new. I copied all the passages into the journal I had at the time, with the r*pist in them, aware that I didn't yet have the emotional intelligence to fully grasp what was going on. The journal was merchandise based off a difficult puzzle game played on a PC. I never got very far into the game, but wound up being intrigued by platypi. I was too young to fully understand the book's effect at eleven, but it stuck with me and I reread it once as a teen. The third time, I was a temporary secretary for a day, and read this during breaks. I was mid-20s and thought I could read something interesting. I'd totally forgotten the emotions this book brings up. Now, I idly looked for library books and this one was available. I had liked the movie adaptation a lot, and thought it'd be interesting to read this a bit more critically--surely emotions wouldn't get in the way. No, I still have emotions.

This book has rightfully had a profound effect on society over the past twenty years, and especially reading it with the effects of the MeToo movement was powerful. It's incredibly important content, and none of it is for shock value or to form a tragic background. I deeply appreciate that. This book needs to keep being read and discussed. So why the three star rating? Because I have clinical depression in real life and can't take medication for it, and don't like reading about it in books. It's a me thing. While the author did a fantastic job of writing a teenager, I couldn't much connect with the mindset anymore. It's a me thing. This novel is a diary without the format, swapping white space and subheadings for dates and chapter titles. I had forgotten that, and disliked it. It's a me thing. I still wish the author great success and I'm so glad of what she's created. ( )

This book was recommended by a friend. She loves the author.
I've got to be honest. I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't this great thing. It could have been done better.
The writing of the author is recognizable, but I didn't like it much.
Melinda is an okay character, but she treats the others like she is superior. She insults her ex-friends but.. It is not their fault. She should have spoken sooner. That's it. Everything would have been resolved if she spoke. She can't give the fault to others when the possibility to resolve the fact is all in her hands.
I liked the fact she uses art to express herself, though. That can really help.
The stoiry overall could have been done better, but it was okay. Iespected much more, to be honest ( )