Plot
This person is known as "It."
Who is Andy Evans?
The conflict Melinda has about telling Rachel about Andy Evans.
What is person versus self?
This theme is shown by the fact that Melinda sits on the bus alone.
What is "not everyone is a part of a group."
This symbolizes Melinda's happiness when with her father as a child.
What is the apple?
This symbol is shown by, "Little rabbit heart leaps out of my chest and scampers across the paper, leaving bloody footprints on my roof." (Anderson 160)
What is Melinda's fear?
This is the reason Melinda runs out of the cafeteria on the first day of school.
What is mashed potatoes thrown at her shirt?
The fact that Rachel and Melinda are no longer friends.
What is person versus person?
This theme is shown by Melinda not wanting to verbally deliver her assignment on the suffragettes.
What is "not all people find it easy to communicate.?"
This symbolizes the pain Melinda feels from the rape.
What are her cracked, bitten, and bleeding lips?
This theme is shown by, "I am Outcast." (Anderson 4)
What is not all people have a group to belong to?
This is the item that Melinda has to dissect that makes her faint in science class.
What is a frog?
This is shown by the fact that Melinda is bullied by many people in the school.
What is person versus society?
This is shown by the fact that Melinda uses art to express her emotions that she otherwise hides.
What is "art is healing?" or "everyone has their own way of dealing with pain?"
This is represented by the frog that is about to be dissected.
What is the fear and helpless Melinda feels when she is raped.
This theme is shown by," Maya Angelo's picture watches me while I sweep and mop the floor, while I scrub the shelves, I chase the spiders out of the corners. I do a little bit of work everyday." (Anderson 50)
What is everyone needs a safe space?
This is the reason Melinda is happy with her parents at Christmas time.
What is the art supply kit?
This is shown by the fact that Mr. Freeman does NOT let Melinda choose a different item paper for her art project.
What is person versus supernatural?
This is shown by the fact that Mr. Freeman is the person Melinda finally speaks to about the indecent.
What is "comfort is found amongst comforting people?"
This is represented by the bad marks Melinda get in grade 9, other than her Art grade.
What is Melinda's trauma and inability to focus?
This type of irony is shown with, " It feels like the Prince of Darkness has swept his cloak over the table... Heather does not come looking for me." (Anderson 90-91)
What is dramatic irony?
This is the reason Melinda is traumatized.
What is the rape by Andy?
This is the way the conflict between Melinda and Andy is resolved.
What is Andy is caught in his rape attempt?
What is "healing takes time?"
This is represented by the tree.
What is the healing process that Melinda must go through.
This theme is shown by "Good things my lips are stitched together or I'd throw up." (Anderson 46).
What is silence is a coping mechanism?