Kayleigh S's Blog

In the passage, Melinda explains what she see’s happening when notes are passed around. This could determine that she is observant and believes that the notes shouldn’t be taken as seriously as if they were to speak with each other.

Love and betrayal are feelings. Most would believe that you aren’t taught feelings; If you are it’s from experience and life. What Melinda faces here is the love for past friends and the betrayal of them towards her. She most likely had just admitted her feelings, while still hiding them.

It could be Melinda wants to understand these feelings a bit better. Maybe instead of the science teacher to teach her about the feelings she’s experiencing, Melinda could recognize in what ways she feels them and why.

What Melinda needs to understand is that the common everyday feelings she lacks, is replaced with sorrow, depression, and negative vibes just from her everyday life. Her feelings would be easy to understand if she hadn’t been this way; although the causes of her feelings aren’t because of her.

It’s probably hard for Melinda to understand because of her condition of arguing parents, low grades, no friends, and barely a self esteem. She doesn’t focus on what she feels; she only focuses on what she can do to survive.

These feelings are normally recognized by many of us. We can remember them and at times give to others. To lack these emotions is a flaw that only some may have. A flaw that Melinda has to deal with.

Melinda’s hope has vanished. Christmas for her seems like a chore, considering that she was the only one putting it up and decorating it. This is a shame. The book explains how they all gave up on being a family. Melinda has to suffer with this and blames herself for not believing in Santa anymore.

Melinda also explains that she finds her family falling apart and that if she wasn’t born, her parents wouldn’t be stuck into their marriage. This is a sad scene because if any child were to think this, they must have a horrible background.

Some would think that if any child were to think this way that something bad has happened and continues to happen. Melinda needs to motivate herself to trust her parents and give them the truth.

As the book continues, Melinda attempts to have Christmas spirit. She motivates herself by thinking “what would heather do?” She must really think of herself to be a sad character. If she has to put her shoes into someone she finds more suitable in certain situations, she lacks the traits she wishes she had.

Not only does she put herself as another character, she compares her style to an example from TV. Some of her confidence shows when she accepts her style of Christmas.

During this chapter, Melinda mentions twice that if there was a little kid around, charismas would be more fun and special. She explains that they make Christmas a big deal, giving everyone the spirit like when Melinda was a child, and when she still believed in Santa.

On Christmas day, Melinda shows tears realizeing that her parents noticed her trying to draw. She takes this to heart but right away she thinks about the party, panicking trying to change the subject.

The quick change in emotions shows that Melinda isn’t capable of being steady or level with certain situations. She’s un-easy and quiet, showing little interest, but soon when she’s happy or upset she jumps to conclusions or finds some way to think of the worst.

It’s safe to say that Melinda does need help, not only in life but with her emotions and how to control them. If this kind of set up continues she may find herself in a deeper predicament then she ever thought of.

What are the common qualifications to be in a club; Good grades, very social, motivation? From the book speak you will notice that to be in one particular club, the Martha’s, only lets those in that have “coordinated outfits” and seasonal dress up. Most people wouldn’t find that right.

The Martha’s aren’t entirely bad. They “do nice things for teachers” and “tutor kids in the city” “host walkathons”. Sure those things can be considered good deeds but generally it sounds like a big way to be teachers pet.

In this section of the book, you may notice the attitude the Martha’s carried. Their a bit snotty and expect the impossible out of someone; in this case heather. Also, as Melinda tells readers, it is an “expensive clan to run with”. That sounds a bit off, no club should be expensive unless it has to deal with traveling to another country or places like Washington D.C.

To ‘fix’ this club, there would have to be an attitude change. Also, the school would have to recognize them as a club not worth keeping, or creating a different name so anyone can join. That is anyone with the qualifications of good grades, attendance records and hardly any demerits or detentions.

Once this is an order, you would realize this is a community service club. Simple as that and very organized without the hassle of new clothes new attitude and the wrong group to be with. Heather would be better off than doing “deeds” for the Martha’s.