The voice that Laurie Halse Anderson uses is completely authentic and truly sounds like it is coming from a 14 year old girl. This is an extremely realistic book that brings many tough issues to the forefront of readers minds.
Challenge: The way the text is structured is very unique, with short paragraphs, however, it does proceeded in chronological order through the school year. There is lots of sarcasm coming from Melinda which stems from much deeper issues and this can be seen directly in her description of the school and people in her life. However, this description isn't straight forward, and can initially confuse students.
Curriculum Connection & Themes: The story is told from a first person point of view with extremely authentic voice.
- Bullying and Cliques
- Standing up For Yourself
- Coming of Age/Identity
- Alienation and Depression
Lexile: 690 L
Interest Level: (maybe late middle school) or High School +
Controversial Scenes/Content: Date rape is an extremely sensitive subject and unfortunately too many students have been victims of this or know someone who has been a victim of date rape. Therefore, this book may hit very close to home for many individuals.
Rating: 5/5
Awards: National Book Award Finalist; Michael L. Printz Honor Book; Margaret A. Edwards Award Winner