Lions and Tigers

Lions and tigers at the zoo symbolize the way Melody sometimes feels about her body. She mentions how these wild and powerful animals are trapped in a cage at the zoo. She mentions this shortly after narrating about how other kids at school cannot see her for who she is. This juxtaposition demonstrates how Melody sometimes feels like she is trapped in her own body.

Researching Blue Jays

Mrs. V helps Melody research information about blue jays. This symbolizes the ways that Mrs. V helps Melody learn to help herself. Mrs. V does not just give Melody what she needs; she helps her meet her own needs. When the novel opens, she has already done this by helping Melody get Elvira which allows Melody to communicate with other people and advocate for her needs. Now she is helping her find information rather than just...