Literary Terms
Plot- noun. Story line; the story or sequence of events in something such as a novel, play, or movie. Throughout the book, there is a plot, and so far, it seems that the plot is mainly speaking up for what happened to you, and not keeping it silent. (book)
Character- noun. Somebody in a book or movie; one of the people portrayed in a book, play, or movie. An example of a character in the book is Melinda Sordino. She is also the main character of the book, and is the one narrating throughout the book.(pg 3-198)
Setting- noun. Period or place of story; the period in time or the place in which the events of a story are said to occur. The main setting of the book is in Melinda's high school, Merryweather High. (book)
Irony- noun. Humor based on opposites; humor based on using words to suggest the opposite of their literal meaning. An example of irony in the book can be that the cheerleaders at the school act differently around school than they do at parties.(pg. 29)
Motif- noun. Theme in work of literature; an important or sometimes recurring theme or idea in a work of literature. The recurring theme in the book is silence; Melinda doesn't want to speak up about what happened to her at the party, and instead decides that having everyone at school hate her is better than telling the truth.(book)
Vocabulary Terms
Inconspicuous- adj. not obvious; not easily seen or noticed. "And it gives me time to scan the cafeteria for a friendly face or an inconspicuous corner." (pg. 7)
Pseudo- adj. not genuine; not authentic or sincere, in spite of appearances. "Just a pseudo-friend, disposable friend." (pg. 22)
Mayhem- noun. chaos; absolute chaos or severe disruption. "We will wander underneath them and commit mild acts of mayhem." (pg. 30)
Degrading- adj. making somebody feel humiliated; causing somebody to feel shame and humiliation. "The Ecology Club is planning a rally to protest the 'degrading of an endangered species.'"(pg. 41)
Voila- interjection. there you are; used to bring somebody’s attention to something, especially in order to elicit appreciation or approval. "And voila- an idea!"(pg. 11)
Vaguely- adv. not explicit; not clear in meaning or intention. "I vaguely recognize a couple; the rest must have gone to the other middle school."(pg. 27)
Blathers- intransitive verb. Talk inanely; to talk in an unintelligent or inane manner, especially at length/informal. "Heather paints her nails on her desk blotter and blathers."(pg. 33)
Irony- noun. humor based on opposites; humor based on using words to suggest the opposite of their literal meaning. "She doesn't think the Clan Leaders, Meg 'n' Emily 'n' Siobhan, understand irony."(pg. 43)
Simultaneously- adv. at same time; done, happening, or existing at the same time. "It's as if they operate in two realities simultaneously."(pg. 30)
Interim- adj. having temporary effect; serving as a temporary measure until something more complete and permanent can be established. "The interim reports came today."(pg. 35)
Battered- transitive verb. hit repeatedly; to hit or beat something repeatedly using heavy blows in order to break, bruise, or damage it. "Metal folding chairs surround a battered table."(pg. 43)
Wan- adj. pale; unhealthily pale, especially from illness or grief. "She's smudging mascara under her eyes to look exhausted and wan."(pg. 20)
Discussion Questions
1. Family Communication: How does communication breakdown in Melinda’s family? In your answer, discuss what could each person do to improve it, and if you were a parent, how you would communicate in your family.
In Melinda's family, communication doesn't break down as well as other families might communicate. Melinda prefers not to talk about the personal parts of school, actually, she prefers not to talk at all. Something happened to her at the party that made everyone at school hate her and made her friends turn their backs at her, but she hasn't told anybody. "Mom: 'Look at me now.' This is the Death Voice, the Voice that means business." In this quote, Melinda's parents were having a dinner theatre, and when Melinda would not look at her mom, she turned serious and sort of threatening by the way she said it. This quote helps prove that the communication in Melinda's family is more strained than what other families might have, or it at least involves not being able to talk about serious matters that happen to them, especially Melinda. If I was a parent, i would try to listen and comprehend what my children had to say.
2. How does your room express who you are?
My room, or the part i call my own, expresses the way I am by having items that are more like me, whether they're decorations or everyday items, or even the music i listen to. Every one's room should have an essence of who they are in order to actually feel comfortable and at home, even if it's a small area they have for themselves. For me, since i have a bunk bed and share the room with my family, i have comforters of the colors that appeal to me, music i like, and my personal artifacts that i prefer having with me. Melinda does not feel like if her room is hers because she has a mixture of how her friends decorated theirs. "Why can't I figure out how to do that?...a little whisper of 'Melinda' would be nice." In this quote, after Melinda sees Heather's room, she sees that Heather's room seems a lot like how she really is like, and cannot figure out how she could do the same to her room; she would like her room to state it belongs to her, not someone else.
3. Are we sometimes different people on the outside than we are on the inside? In your answer, discuss why is this true or not.
Sometimes we are different people on the outside than on the inside. People can either pretend to be someone different for appearances to hide their true nature from others, or some people can seem like someone different by accident, like if they are afraid or shy to show others who they really are. In the book, the cheerleaders that attend Merryweather High go out and party with boys, but around school, they act like if they would never even hurt a fly near the presence of adults and teachers. "How else could they sleep with the football team on Saturday night and be reincarnated as virginal goddesses on Monday?" In the quote, Melinda wonders hoe the cheerleaders at the school can assume an identity during the week, and another on the weekend.
Journal Topics
First day of school
The first day of school can be hard for many people. Some people are social and can make friends fast, but some are socially inept, which causes making friends harder. Personally, I cannot make friends as easily as others can, and if I do, I never get to know them as well, and vice versa. In the book, Melinda dreads the first day of school because of what happened during summer. It is still unclear of what actually happened, but what we do know is that she called the cops on a party, and everyone found out. Because everyone knows what she did, she is an outcast. The only "friend" she has is Heather, but they have nothing in common, and they are using each other for their personal gain.
High school "clans"
High school "clans" are pretty ridiculous in my opinion. If people with different interests want to hang out together, they should. People shouldn't feel obliged to hang out with people with the same interests. In middle school, i hung out with girls with different tastes, like some liked to dress girly, some didn't, and some liked pop while others liked rock. What I'm trying to get across is that nobody should be excluded or invited because of how they look or who they are. In the book, Melinda is left out by everyone, including her "friends," who joined their own "clans." She is left alone, an outcast, and needs to find a friend that she could be around with to be less lonely.
Lies they tell you
Everyone lies during their natural life. There are harmless lies, and there are deadly lies. People tell us lies either to "protect" us or to make a fool of us. I lie all the time, and my family does too. It's natural for us to lie and not feel that bad about it, but when someone else lies to us, we can get pretty angry at them. Like for example, I would ask my dad if we could go to the store, and he would say later or tomorrow, but he never takes us the time he says he will. In the book, Melinda mentions that teachers and staff at school lie to us. She makes a list of all the lies they have that are supposedly the truth.
