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The tree is a symbol because it is the art project that Melinda is working on, she keeps failing at the tree she tries to draw and she has made no progress. On page 78, Melinda says ¨When I try to carve it, it looks looks like a dead tree, toothpicks, a child´s drawing. I can't bring it to life.¨ This quote is saying that Melinda's tree has made no change since the beginning of the year. This is a symbol  of Melinda's depression, because until she makes a change she will continue to be depressed. When and if she finally tells someone her story and the truth, she will be able to work on her tree and not only make the tree grow but help herself grow as a person.

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The apples that Melinda dissected are a symbol of the happy life Melinda used to have. It remind her of a memory she shared with her family, when they went to an orchard. On page 66 the quote " Daddy set me high in an apple tree. It was like falling up into a storybook."  shows a happy memory between Melinda and her family. It contradicts with the life her and her family live now, they hardly spend time with each other and Melinda is nowhere near as happy as she used to be. Melinda enjoyed being reminded about the trip to the orchard because she hardly experiences any happy times anymore, so looking back on that moment Melinda wishes she was happy.

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In the story on page 83, Melinda says ¨My nails are bitten to the bleeding point, so it will look natural. I need to get a shirt that matches.¨ When Melinda says this she is admitting that her signs of nervousness are normal now, her biting her lips and her biting her nails show the symbol of how stressed and how nervous she is to speak to others and to open up to anyone. Instead of opening up to someone about her problems she keeps all of her depression inside and when she is nervous she starts biting her lips or her nails which shows her stress.

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The mirrors are a symbol of Melinda avoiding her problems and all of her insecurities. Melinda goes to her mom´s store and tries on jeans. While she is there she says on page 124, ¨I hook my hair behind my ears. I should have washed it. I lean into the mirror ... no makeup, dark circles.¨ Whenever Melinda looks at herself or looks at her reflection all she thinks is negative things. She does not see herself as pretty or confident, she points out her flaws and she tries to cover the mirror in the janitors closet as much as she can because she does not want to look at her self. The mirrors symbolize her insecurities and negativity and depression throughout the story.

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The janitors closet is a symbol in the story because it symbolizes how she isolates herself in school. It is a safe place for Melinda to go to get away from her problems and other people at school. On page 51, Melinda says, ¨My closet is a good thing, a quiet place that helps me hold these thoughts inside my head where no one can her them.¨ By saying this she is describing how her closet is her hiding place that she goes when she wants to isolate herself. In school Melinda does not have many friends so when she is at school she would rather be alone than have to face people and talk to them. When talking to people Melinda gets very nervous, so in the closet she knows she is safe because she is alone.

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The frogs that Melinda dissects in Biology is a symbol for what Andy Evans did to Melinda at the party. "On page 81 Melinda is in the middle of dissecting the frog¨Our frog lies on on her back... My throat closes off. It is hard to breathe." In this moment Melinda is reminded of what happened to her. She eventually passes out, but does not remember that ever happening. Melinda is so greatly effected by what happened at the party that the simplest things can remind her of that event and being reminded of what happened has a huge effect on Melinda.

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The lips are a symbol of Melinda's insecurities. On page 125 Melinda is looking at herself in the mirror "I pushed my ragged mouth against the mirror. A thousand bleeding, crusted lips push back."  Melinda is constantly biting her lips because she is nervous when talking to people. She feels so insecure and when people approach her, she struggles to talk to them. The lips show Melinda's struggles and she will continue to bite her lips and make them bleed until Melinda gets over the things she is insecure about and gets through her problems.