jan 3, 2000 - 9. "She says suicide is for cowards" (88). (Trigger Warning: Self-Harm)

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Context: After Melinda's parents meet with her school guidance counselor, she is grounded "until the Second Coming" (87).

"I open up a paper clip and scratch it across the inside of my left wrist. Pitiful. If a suicide attempt is a cry for help, then what is this? A whimper, a peep? I draw little windowcracks of blood, etching line after line until it stops hurting [...] Mom sees the wrist at breakfast. 'I don't have time for this, Melinda.' She says suicide is for cowards." (87).

Question: Do you think Melinda's mother has an appropriate reaction to seeing her wrist? How might this impact Melinda's relationship with her parents in the last half of the book?

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