Literary Terms
Static character- noun. a literary character who remains basically unchanged throughout a work. In the book, a static character who doesn't change at all is Andy Evans (IT).
Developing character- noun. in literature or drama, a character who undergoes a permanent change in outlook or character during the story. A developing character would be Heather after she ditches Melinda in order to hang out with the Marthas after she was finally accepted in a "clan."
Flat character- noun. a literary character whose personality can be defined by one or two traits and does not change in the course of the story. David Petrakis is a flat character because he isn't really described as much in the book unlike other characters.
Round character- noun. a character in fiction whose personality, background, motives, and other features are fully delineated by the author. Heather is a round character because Melinda fully describes her after meeting her.
Symbol- noun. something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible. A symbol used in the book is Melinda's lips. Her lips are always chapped or cracked, but never healed.
Symbolism- noun. the practice of representing things by symbols, or of investing things with a symbolic meaning or character. An example of symbolism is when Melinda fixes her turkey sculpture and places the barbie head inside the turkey and covers the barbie's mouth. (pg. 64)
Vocabulary Terms
Conundrum-noun. anything that puzzles; a riddle, the answer to which involves a pun or play on words. "Conundrum-a three-point vocab word."(pg. 98)
Asylum- noun. an institution for the maintenance and care of the mentally ill, orphans, or other persons requiring specialized assistance. "It is supposed to bore us into submission or prepare us for insane asylum."(pg. 117)
Gargoyle- noun. a grotesquely carved figure of a human or animal."The moon is asleep and I'm sitting on my porch roof like a frozen gargoyle, wondering if the sun is going to blow off the world today and sleep in."(pg. 136)
Imbecile- noun. a dunce; blockhead; dolt; someone with mental retardation and an IQ point of 25-50."It's the blood of imbeciles."(pg. 103)
Vulnerable- adj. capable of or being susceptible to being wounded or hurt, as by a weapon."First off, I don't go through the line for anything, to avoid that vulnerable moment of coming out into the lunchroom, that moment when every head lifts and evaluates: friend, enemy, or loser."(pg. 127)
Discussion Questions
1. Was being a child better than being a teenager for Melinda? In your answer, discuss what ways it is better to be older, and why it’s hard to be between adulthood and childhood.
Being a child was better for Melinda because life was easier for her back then."The first hour of blowing off school is great. No one to tell me what to do, what to read, what to say. it's like living in an MTV video-not with the stupid costumes, but wearing that butt-strutting, I-do-what-I-want additood."(P.97-98) The quote helps because Melinda is always hearing from grown-ups what to do and what to say. Being a kid was better for her because she was still free-er than she is now, and she didn't have to worry about what she has to worry about now.
2. Melinda wishes her Science teacher would teach them about love and betrayal instead of about the birds and the bees. In your answer, discuss where we learn about things like that and whether or not we can learn about love from a book.
We can't learn about love from a book because it leaves out the happiness and the pain it can bring. You can't learn about life events from a book, or about emotions because it's not accurate. "Ms.Keen decided it would be cute to review birds and bees in honor of Valentine's Day. Nothing practical, of course, no information about why hormones can make you crazy, or why your face only breaks out at the worst time, or how to tell if somebody really gave you a Valentine's card on your locker. No, she really teaches us about the birds and the bees. Notes of love and betrayal are passed hand over hand as if the lab tables were lanes on Cupid's Highway."(P.109) The quote helps because Melinda wants to be able to learn about what is happening to her, what will happen, and what she can do. But, of course, she can't learn it through a book, she has to learn it by herself.
3. Mr. Freeman tells his class, “You must walk alone to find your soul.” In your answer, discuss what this means, if you think it’s true, and what a soul is.
It means that you're on your own when it comes to self-discovery. You have to find and know who you are and not what others want you to be. "' I can't do everything for you. You must walk alone to find your soul.'"(pg.118) The quote helps because you have to find yourself on your own, and somebody else can't do that for you because it won't really be you.
4. Mr. Freeman also says, “Art is about making mistakes and learning from them.” In your answer, discuss what else might be like this.
Life is also like that because you make mistakes you can't correct, but you have to keep going and make things right. You have to learn from the mistakes you make or else you'll keep on making them and start getting lost and confused. We have to recognize the mistakes we made in order to not make them again. "'Don't be so hard on yourself. Art is about making mistakes and learning from them.'"(pg.122) The quote helps support what i said because you have to not let the mistakes get to you or else you won't be able to fully learn.
Journal Topics
What do report cards really say about people?
Report cards show how much someone learns or how they cooperate within adults (teachers) and classmates. It could also mean if they have other things in mind that they can't change and are unaware that because of that it affects how they progress in school and with other people. An example in the book is when Melinda's parents go to the principal to talk about her grades. Her grades used to be good, but as she got to high school, her grades started to go down.
