Avery's Themes In The Movie 'A Girl Like Her'

Notably, in the movie, “A Girl Like Her,” there are many themes. One of those themes, which plays an important role in the movie, is definitely bullying. Bullying and lack of communication between the characters is also present. The directors of the movie created it as a documentation of what went on, at South Brookdale High School.

A further explanation of the situation at South Brookdale High School, is that severe bullying was going on. Of those students who bullied, and got bullied, they were in tenth grade. The movie portrays Avery Keller as the, vicious, pitiless, and inhuman character. She can be described as an insecure and passive aggressive character. Her parent’s arguments taught her to show her anger, while still hurting and bullying

others. She used bullying as a way to gain popularity, only hiding her insecurities.
In addition to this, she bullied the other character, Jessica Burns. Jessica Burns is portrayed as the reserved and sheepish character. Then there is Brian, the best friend. He admired Jessica for who she was, respected her, was patient as well, and reserved. He was Jessica’s only best friend, who would document what really happened to her, on an everyday basis. Jessica and Avery used to be best friends in middle school, as well as Brian. Due to popularity being more important, Avery chose that.
Moreover, the two main characters, Avery and Jessica, connect on many levels.

Avery used to be like Jessica; seen as the unpopular, outcast, as well. Like bullying left Jessica insecurities, Avery had hers. Her insecurities resulted in later bullying. Because Avery had a very troublesome and unfortunate life at home, it created social burdens for her. Her parents fought everyday, and her mother yelled and insulted the father for no reason. Out of the three communication styles, assertive, passive, and aggressive, Avery’s family seemed to apply aggressive in their everyday lives. The dad tried to compromise and the mother would respond in a very passive aggressive manner. Meaning that instead of talking it out, the “talking it out” portion, would come out as very angered and would not solve anything. Avery learned from her passive aggressive mother. She lacked real communication skills which resulted in bullying, later reflecting her insecurities. The setting took place at South Brookdale High School, Brian’s house, and of course at the hospital, once Jessica attempted

suicide.
Not to mention, Avery harassed Jessica not just verbally, but physically too.

Avery affected Jessica’s physical, social, environmental, and mental health. Jessica could be at home watching TV, when she would get an email or text. Those emails and texts would be filled with hateful words and comments. This would eventually affect Jessica’s mental health, in a way that she would be insecure about herself, thus resulting in bad behavior. In this case, she swallowed the pills, attempting suicide. Avery also attacked her physically. She would surround her in the bathroom stalls, with her friend group. She would push Jessica, trip her, and throw her books on the floor. She affected Jessica’s social health in a way that she would not want to go out or be seen, because people might insult her; so she was reserved. Jessica became desperate to find a way out and later committed something horrible. Jessica’s environment became like a safe haven hat protected her from the cruel, outside world. Jessica would rarely seem to do things she enjoyed because she had no positive outlook on life. She viewed her environment as something horrible, mainly because she wanted a way out. Her teachers even described her as more quiet, and this was all part of her newly affected environment, due to the

bullying.
To tell the truth, my views as to why Brian documented Jessica’s daily harassment, was to eventually show the true Avery. I believe that eventually Brian would convince Jessica into showing the principal the daily harassment she received from Avery. I believe that Brian feared Avery and her clan, hence the reason why he recorded the harassment without Avery knowing. I think that his plan was to uncover the real pitiless Avery, so that she would not be popular over bullying anymore. Eventually Jessica could have asked for him not to show Avery’s true colors, only because she and her were once friends.
If I would have been in Jessica’s shoes, I would have taken many actions against Avery. I would have told a trusted adult about it. Later, to get evidence, I would have record as well, and shown it to the principal or that trusted adult. I would not want to hurt Avery the same way she hurt me, but she could get what she deserves, because she really needed psychotherapy. If she would not have stopped in the first warning, I would have later then talked to an adult. I would not stand back, and let anyone treat me as if they are superior to me and others, only because they are not.