Review Detail

I loved Melinda's voice-all that darkly funny sarcasm.  She was so relatable.  Anderson captured the teenage mind perfectly.  So many of Melinda's descriptions of high school and the students were dead on.  I remember thinking those exact same things when I was her age.

I had seen the movie before reading the book and I think it was adapted just right by using the voice overs (which is pretty much the only way they could have done it considering Melinda almost never speaks).  I'm glad I knew the whole story before reading the book because otherwise the suspense of waiting to find out what had happend to Melinda would have killed me.  I hate being kept in the dark.

I liked the movie a little bit better than the book. Firstly, the parents were more likeable-they came across as more quirky than neglectful. Secondly, art seemed to have a greater importance to Melinda in the movie than it did in the book. It was important in the book too, don't get me wrong. It was what helped Melinda sort through her emotions and find the courage to speak up. But in the movie, it seemed to hold a deeper meaning for her, something more lasting that she would continue doing throughout her life.