Mrs. Violet Valencia (Mrs. V)

Mrs. V is Melody’s next-door neighbor, and a former nurse who worked with Melody’s mother, Diane, at the hospital. She watches Melody after school and while her parents are at work. Mrs. V is one of the first people, aside from Melody’s mother and father, to see her intelligence and potential. She pushes Melody in every aspect of her life, teaching her how to roll over if she falls out of her wheelchair, and how to read. Mrs. V is responsible for “giving [Melody] language,” since she redesigns Melody’s communication board to fit more words, and convinces Melody’s parents to get her a Medi-Talker. Mrs. V also pushes Melody academically, and is the one to convince her that she can and should try out for the Whiz Kids team.