Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault. Ninth grader Melinda is starting high school with no friends. She called the cops at a party over the summer, and no one knows why. Everyone at school knows her as “that weird girl who called the cops and bites her mouth.” Everyday at school for her is a struggle and she manages to handle ninth grade, all while repressing her trauma.
*See trigger warning above. I would absolutely recommend this book. It’s written in a unique way-characters get their own funny names, and certain events are described in a perfect dry humor way. Halse Anderson perfectly writes about the feeling of having no one understand you, and the fear and sadness that accompanies complete loneliness. This makes me feel the frustration that Melissa feels about the people around her. However, the book slowly works up to a refreshing ending. This is a quick read, but is nevertheless impactful.
By Serena
