Alienation is isolation. It is being purposefully left out of a group or activities. It is estrangement. At the very beginning, we see Melinda being alienated. When on the bus, she sits alone. She is the only one sitting alone. She is looking to make eye contact with her friends to see if they are going to make eye contact with her. Her friends have all left her alone. Everyone is leaving her alone. She is an Outcast. This makes her dreadful of her entire school year. Throughout the book we see Heather with Melinda. They become acquaintances rather than friends. We see they are never really close. When Heather finds the Marthas, Melinda isn’t impressed with their treatment of people. However, Heather is desperate to fit in with the Marthas.