Melody is part of the Whiz Kids team yet separate from the other participants all the same. The practices take place after school until six o’clock, and although Melody often has the right answers to the practice questions, she cannot push buttons quickly enough on her computer to take part in the fast back-and-forth that occurs between the other members of the team.

Claire worries that Melody will impact the optics for the team, saying, “But she’ll look odd on TV” (195). Melody responds by saying that many people look funny on television, and Claire could be one of them. Connor cheers the comeback, making Melody happy. Even though she cannot participate in the quick discussions amongst her teammates, Melody listens to everything they say all the while wishing she could be more like them.

When Rose’s mom buys pizza for the class, all the kids dig in except for Melody. She cannot feed herself but is too embarrassed to admit it to any of the students. When her mom offers to buy her Pizza Hut on the way home, Melody says no.