The Plot

The plot is shown on page 113 in the fourth paragraph. This is where Melinda has a chance to turn her whole life around by telling her parents,the principal, and the guidance counselor what happened to her over the summer that is affecting her life now, and tell them that's why she's cutting class and depressed all the time and most importantly doesn't talk. She stays quiet and doesn't say anything which gets her more problems because now if she cuts they have a whole list of consequences for her but they don't know anything because she won't tell them. The significance of this passage is here was Melinda's chance to turn her life aroud just by speaking what she knows and she just threw it away. The author's purpose is to show how she had a chance, it's not like she was never given one to tell what happened. On Page 114, on the first paragraph her mother even tells her "You are only hurting yourself by refusing to cooperate." This is the author's purpose because the author brings us to the part of the story that will change everything. She can tell and get help and Andy Evans will get in trouble and everyone will know why she called the cops at the party or she can not tell and just go on letting it get worse and bring her whole life down. The effect this is going to have on the reader is to make them wonder what really happened to Melinda that she can't even speak about it. The reader will want to read on to see if they will ever find out and if she will ever tell or change to that nice sweet girl she is said to be or use to be.