As the protagonist of the story, Melinda struggles with expressing herself and communicating her inner thoughts and feelings to others due to a traumatic event she experienced during a summer party. This leads her to appear withdrawn, quiet, and detached on the outside, concealing her true emotions and experiences.
Despite the image she projects at school, readers gain insight into Melinda's inner world through her personal narrative and diary entries. We discover her complex inner thoughts, reflections, and struggles, revealing a multifaceted and emotionally expressive side of her that contrasts with her reserved exterior.