1. Investigate the issue of teen violence, encompassing both physical and psychological aggression against peers. Compile a list of violent acts committed by teenagers, including armed robbery, date rape, and murder. Is it possible to create a profile of typical offenders and victims?

2. Choose an object for an art project akin to the one Mr. Freeman assigned to Melinda. Present it creatively through a painting, sculpture, poem, or another artistic medium.

3. Identify the various forms of sexual harassment, such as name-calling, groping, lewd gestures, writing obscenities, or displaying pornography. What types of harassment do the characters face in this novel? What drives individuals to sexually harass others? How are both males and females affected by sexual harassment? Differentiate between harassment and flirting.

4. Write a report on the symptoms a sexual assault victim might experience, such as insomnia and anxiety. Which of these symptoms does Melinda show? Imagine you are her counselor and compose a profile detailing her reactions to her rape. What medical concerns might a doctor have regarding Melinda's health?

5. If you were a friend of Melinda, what advice would you offer her? Write an essay with your response, including several paragraphs explaining how, if you were Melinda, you would confide in someone you trust.

6. Write a script for a readers' theater depicting the scene where Melinda makes the 911 call, including possible dialogue she might have spoken if she had found her voice.

7. Write two editorials: one advocating for teacher involvement in students' personal issues, and another opposing faculty interference in students' private lives.

8. Research clinical depression, especially in teenagers, and write a paper providing evidence that Melinda suffers from this condition. Did you ever worry she might consider suicide? Refer to sources like Lyn Mikel Brown's Raising Their Voices: The Politics of Girls' Anger (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1998) to explore how scholars interpret depression and anger in adolescent females.

9. How accurately does this novel reflect American high school culture? Are there elements of the high school experience that are universal to students worldwide? Write a newspaper article addressing an issue such as raves, drug/alcohol abuse, date rape, cliques, or school violence, incorporating the perspectives of at least five students from both American and international backgrounds.

10. Could Melinda's story be told in a different setting, or is it crucial for her to be physically present at school? Is high school a microcosm of American culture, reflecting attitudes toward those seen as weaker or insignificant? Defend your views in a brief essay.

11. Discuss the significance of family to teenagers, drawing from both general and personal observations.

12. What is the distinction between sexual harassment and sexual discrimination? Does Melinda face both? Do you believe the author wrote this novel to advance a particular agenda?