So Much to Tell You, based on a true story, is presented as a diary written by a 14-year-old girl known as Marina. Marina has a scarred face because she was the unintended victim of an incident involving a vial of acid which was thrown by her father. She refused to talk to anyone during her long recovery period in hospital, so she was sent to Warrington, a girls’ boarding school, because nothing else appeared to be working. But even after her arrival, she maintains her silence. Then, one day, her English teacher Mr. Lindell encourages the class to keep a journal. Despite the fact that Marina is determined not to make use of her diary, she cannot resist writing about some of the seemingly trivial events of her day. However, the content of her entries becomes more and more revealing over time, and readers are able to better understand Marina’s world: how her friends, teachers and families create profound and lasting impressions on her psyche. Marina goes from not interacting with others at all, to opening up and socialising, and eventually finding non-verbal ways of communicating. However, as the book continues, Marina’s negative feelings towards her father fade away, and by the end of the book she devises a plan which enables her to see him again. When she speaks for the first time, in such a long time, she utters her only words for the entire novel: “Hello, Dad… I’ve got so much to tell you…”
Main characters[edit]
Students of Warrington[edit]
The Essay on Societies Reaction To Madness Over Time
History, has been, and will continue to be, an important part of society. Frederick Jackson Turner once said, Each age tries to form its own conception of the past. Each age writes the history of the past anew with references to the conditions uppermost in its own times. (New) Today our culture views some events as significant and others that have impacted society just as much, oftentimes do not ...
Marina May Jamison: Marina is the book’s main character and narrator. Initially, she is heavily introverted and avoids contact with her fellow students. Also she has “anorexia of speech”.
Cathy Gloria Preshill: The closest thing Marina has to a friend for most of the book. She invites Marina over for the holidays. She is tall and thin, and reads things like Illusions. She also enjoys writing poetry.
Sophie Marie Smith: One of the most promiscuous girls in the dorm, Sophie is loud and bubbly. Marina once saw Sophie saying to herself “I hate you, you off moll, you bitch”, although she runs away crying when she sees Marina standing there.
Ann Chloe Maltin: Described by Marina as very nice and pretty. She had a clay eagle that Marina broke by accident.
Kate Isobel Mandeville: Kate is the loudest girl in the dorm, but has a side to her that no one but Marina knows. She always talks about sex and boys.
Lisa Scarlett Morris: Lisa is tall with lovely, lovely blonde hair. She is very Nordic looking. Lisa has a slight mark on one cheek from a skiing accident. She is strong and quiet but still popular, and seems like nothing can hurt her. Marina sees her crying violently on her bed when no one else is around, but doesn’t find out why.
Tracey Jill McDonald: After Marina, Tracey is the most unpopular girl in the dorm, and is often more malicious to her than the others. Described as quite big and plain.
Emma Andrea Chew: Emma is from Hong Kong. She has red hair and braces and always seems quite cheerful.
Staff of Warrington[edit]
Mr Lindell: Marina’s English teacher. He invites Marina to stay at his place several times. Marina trusts him the most.
Mrs Ransome: The school counsellor. Marina sees her at least once a week. She has a son who is out of control.
Mrs Graham: The Housemistress/Year Adviser. Disapproves of Marina’s silent state.
Dr Whitely: The Headmistress of Warrington. Marina also mentions that she teaches Divinity.
Marina’s parents[edit]
Robyn Jamison: Marina’s mother comes across as unsympathetic and impatient for Marina to regain her ability to speak. She also comes across as fake and a selfish woman who only cares about herself. She sends Marina to boarding school to ‘supposedly’ learn to speak again but really her mother just wants her out of the way to make room for her new husband. Later in the book she goes to New York with her new partner whom she refers in her letters as JJ.
The Review on Um Notes book report 20242
PART #2 CHAPTERS 1-2 Summary The UM starts out talking about the office he worked in when he was twenty-four: apparently he hated everyone there and likewise, they hated him. The narrative then derails while the UM describes the Russian national character, which he believes eliminates fools and elevates Romantics who appreciate the "sublime and beautiful." Returning to his description of his life, ...
Tony Jamison: Marina’s father is like “a radioactive cloud”, because he is always in her mind. She is unsure about her feelings towards him.
Origins of story[edit]
The book is partially based on a true story. Marina’s character is based on a fourteen-year-old girl and a woman named Kay Nesbitt, whose face was damaged by chemical contact. In addition, the dedication in the beginning of the book identifies a certain John Mazur as the English teacher, Mr. Lindell, who gives Marina her diary assignment and is one of the people she places the most trust in.
So Much to Tell You: The Play[edit]
A play based on this book was written by the same author, John Marsden, in 1992. According to the author, he has always wanted to put So Much to Tell You on the stage.
Take My Word for It[edit]
A half-sequel with the title Take My Word for It was written in 1992, from the point of view of Lisa Morris. It tells Lisa’s story over the same period, as well as her observation of Marina, but then expands on this and shows Marina after her visit with her father. The second point of view aids the reader by answering some questions from the first, for example, the cause of Marina’s nervous breakdown in early April, and the reason for Lisa’s crying earlier.
