An Open Wound, Closing

Starting high school is scary for most teens. For Melinda Sordino, it is terrifying. None of her old friends will talk to her, and people she doesn't know whisper behind her back. That summer, she called the cops on a party, and has been shunned by everyone who heard. She retreats into herself, eating lunch by herself, falling behind in her classes, and frequently ditching class to hide in an abandoned janitor's closet. Her distant parents notice her falling grades but nothing else about what has happened to their daughter. Melinda is afraid. What happened to her that summer at the party is shoved to the back of her mind, because if she acknowledged it, it would come crashing to the surface, and she would have to speak the truth.

The only escape Melinda finds is in art class. Mr. Freedman, the teacher doesn't structure the class normally, giving them an assignment of one word to explore using every medium they can throughout the year. Melinda picks "tree", and while it flummoxes her at first, eventually this becomes her only human refuge from her life.

Considering the subject matter, the novel is extremely funny. From Melinda's breakdown of the various clique's in her school, to her tale of her workaholic mother's attempt to cook a turkey on Thanksgiving, she has something witty to say about almost every situation. At the beginning she comes off as simply irreverent, later it becomes clear that her humor is one of the way she shields herself from the outer world.

The subject matter itself is handled delicately, never falling into the category of insulting or into after school special territory.

The ending is not wholly conclusive. Melinda never quite triumphs, but she survives, and as we see in the last section, has begun to regain her sense of self, and begun to heal.

The style by which the story is told somewhat is unusual. Instead of ordinary chapters, the narrative is organized by subject, into titled sections between a few paragraphs and a few pages long.

I purchased this book from the Scholastic Book Order when I was in the seventh grade. I'd say, with the language and subject matter, it is appropriate for the more mature middle school readers, and excellent as a discussion starter with a parent.