First Marking Period; Pages 1-24.

Summery

Melinda begins her first day at Merryweather High School, she is unsure who to sit with when she enters the auditorium because she had lost all her friends over the summer. She looks and sees Rachel who mouths, "I hate you". Melinda meets Mr. Neck, a jock teacher, who already makes a bad impression on her when he tells her to sit. She turns and meets Heather, a new student from Ohio. After leaving the auditorium, Melinda heads to her classes and meets her teachers. Her English teacher; a quiet, unspoken lady, is given the nick name "Hairwoman" by Melinda because her frizzy unmanaged hair. Mr. Neck is her social studies teacher, who tells Melinda "I got my eye on you", and sends her to the front row. At lunch, Melinda searches for a friend to sit with. While heading over to Heather, a tall student she calls "Basketball Pole" runs into her and potatoes fall on her clothes. Melinda tries to run out in embarrassment but Mr. Neck stops her. Melinda goes to art class after lunch and meets her teacher, Mr. Freeman. She sees Ivy, and ex-friend but doesn't talk to her. Mr. Freeman has her pull out a word out of a globe which she will have to focus on in art all year, she pulls out "tree". Next, Melinda goes to Spanish. Her teacher says they will go through the entire year without speaking in English; she imitates actions as she speaks in Spanish. We meet Nicole when Melinda goes to gym class, Nicole is an ex-friend of Melinda. She is good at every sport and popular amongst the students and faculty. After school one day, Melinda goes to Heather's house. Heather tries to convince Melinda to join a school club with her. Melinda refuses and says that the clubs are stupid.

Analysis

Melinda's first day of high school without anyone to sit with on the bus, she is an outcast. Her throat burns to tell Rachel her secret but no words come out and Rachel mouths, "I hate you". Her English teacher is shy and no one sees her face very well due to her hair covering it. In art, she pulls out a word that she will have to revolve around in art; her word is art, Melinda can't draw trees. At home, there is no communication. The greatest form Melinda's family has is leaving notes on the kitchen counter. When Melinda goes to bed that night, she took down the mirror and put it in the back of the closet. We learn that Melinda feels uncomfortable changing in front of anyone before gym.