Why Would I Speak? 185-200

Summary:
In these last few pages of the book Melinda transforms from the completely quite, antisocial girl to the mature and outspoken teenager. In particular, one of her lost long friends, Ivy, asks Melinda what has happened to her and Melinda bluntly reveals to Ivy that she was raped by Andy Evans and comes to find out Ivy was almost raped by Andy as well. The details are that Ivy went on a date with Andy to the movies and he tried touching her during previews. Furthermore, Melinda resumes family time; In fact, she watches an arborist chain saw the oak trees dead branches with her father and then stays with him for breakfast. In other words, Melinda has recuperated from her depression and decides to bloom as an individual. In addition, Melinda starts to ride her bike again and takes herself to a desolated area pass her school and Rachel's home where she can think about all that has happened. Melinda decides to transform her ways and begins to help around the house. Mrs.Sordino becomes impressed when she drives up at dinnertime and Melinda has raked the front lawn, mowed it, and even cleaned the kitchen as well as vacuumed it. Moreover, prom has passed and she finds out Rachel ditched Andy in the middle of a song. Andy was grinding against Rachel infuriating her and so she left him for her exchange-student buddies on the dance floor.While Melinda is taking off her posters from her closet walls at school, she encounters belligerent Andy Evans. Andy tells Melinda she has a big mouth and that all she is is jealous because she can't get a date; Andy then slams his body against Melinda grabbing her wrists so tight back that she feels her bones splintering. Melinda then imminently shrieks "NO" after he fist her in the lip. Since Melinda sensed the screaming wouldn't work, she slammed a block of wood against a glass mirror and held it into Andy's neck. She thought about killing him but just waits until she sees blood dripping down his chest. By this point  the lacrosse team starts pounding on the door and when they see what has happened, run for help.
Quote:
"I follow the sound, pushing off the wall, pushing Andy Evans off-balance, stumbling into the broken sink... I said no..."(Anderson 194).
Reaction:
This quote clearly shows how much Melinda has changed from the beginning of the book. She no longer is bullied and speaks for herself. I was completely correct in assuming that Melinda would change by the end of the book. Halse Anderson had her be this weak and vulnerable teenager to then develop into the person she is now.