What important are the decisions/actions to the story?

I will choose Marcy for this question, as she is the main character. When we first meet Marcy, she is self-conscious, isolated, and timid. Her weight causes her embarrassment, and her parents are unsupportive. Marcy's father is verbally abusive, and although her mother attempts to help... her methods don't pass the "keep the peace mark". Her only desire is to pacifiy her husband and save them both additional abuse.

Over the course of the novel, Marcy meets Ms. Finny, who challenges her students and provides an outlet for her students to open up and be heard. As a result, Marcy begins to flourish.... she opens up, makes friends, and becomes more assertive. Her father, however, does not approve of the "new" Marcy and tries to put a stop to Marcy's tramsformation, in addition to joining in with the school board to terminate Ms. Finney from her position.

For Marcy, she has to choose between placating her father and standing up for her teacher.... she chooses her mentor. Marcy's mother, in turn, faces the same challenge.... does she support her daughter and the teacher who's made a difference in her life? Or does she buckle once again in the name of keeping the peace on the homefront? In the end, she chooses to challenge both the school administration and her husband.