Wednesday, April 5, 2017

  • Travel Tracer-carefully track the action in words or diagrams
                              1) Mom is in the kitchen prepping burgers for tomorrow cookout (hoping the new neighbors will                                                   join)
                                  Dad is outside teaching David how to hit tennis balls
                                  Catherine is trying to invite the new neighbors to the cookout without being embarrassed by her                                                brother while doing it
                               2) Occupational Therapy Clinic(this setting has been described in the first five chapters)
                                  David and his mom are there, but the focus is on Catherine and Jason's positive interaction (which is                                         surprising, because Catherine began the 
                                  chapter eager to spend David's appointment at the park)
                               3a) Home where David is in the living room watching a section of Thomas the Tank Engine over and                                              over
                                      Mom is in her office, on the phone, working (we learn that Mom keeps a puzzle in the office as an                                             emergency distraction, because David's autism will not allow him to just leave the pieces as they                                               are. More details on page 86).
                                       Catherine is supposed to watch David, but wants to work on Jason's cards at her desk, so she props                                            a mirror so she can do both
                               3b) Kristi enters Catherine's house where the two girls spend time in Catherine's room exclusively (with                                           a couple of interrupted visits by David)
                                      (The setting of Catherine's room was described in the first five chapters.)
                               4a) Catherine goes to Kristi's house because Catherine's house is so chaotic. They go straight to Kristi's                                            room, "Kristi's room looks like a page from a catalog, the sort of shiny catalog I get in the mail and                                          can only afford a toothbrush or a poster from. But Kristi's new pink-swirled curtains match the fat                                            comforter on her bed, which matches the pink and blue rug on her floor. It's all beautiful, but what I                                          envy most is the nice row of things on her bureau. Photographs, makeup, her jewelry tree, and a long                                        row of nail polish bottles--everything out in the open, not jumbled in drawers like mine, out of                                                  David's sight" (Lord, 2006, p.90).
                               4b) Kristi's Garage/ Driveway where Kristi and Catherine play Basketball
                               5)   Catherine goes home from spending time with Kristi around dinner-time to learn Jason was                                                       disappointed she wasn't there and brought carrots for Catherine's guinea pigs.
                               6)   Occupational Therapy Clinic-The focus is entirely on Catherine and Jason this time. Catherine brings                                       her guinea pig to make up for not showing up and she gives him the cards she made and they                                                     have a nice conversation. Catherine asks to go to the mall to pick up supplies to make more                                                       cards for Jason.
at

6 comments:

  1. UnknownApril 5, 2017 at 1:07 PM

    I am sorry about formatting. I am having a lot of trouble with this aspect of blogging. Does anyone have suggestions on where I can learn about formatting on Blogger? Some kind of tutorial? I can provide content, but my presentation could really use a boost.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cindy's Blog of the DayApril 6, 2017 at 3:27 PM

    Looking past the formatting, I could follow the travel tracer details you provided. It's important to pick out key words or phrases through out the readings of each chapter as it connects the story line for a reason. All of these bits and pieces lead up to the "So what?" by the end of the book. But that "So what?" really wasn't a big deal afterall. Catherine realizes that her life is her normal and she looks to do what she can for David, and enjoy the moments she can help him in making his life a little easier. I find that makes her a pretty special sister and I'm sure that Jason helped her in part of this unknowingly as Catherine would do anything for David, day or night.

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    Replies
    1. UnknownApril 8, 2017 at 8:01 PM

      I disagree. I think the "so what" of this book was a very "big deal." Not only was Catherine able to find balance in being true to herself, she was also able to confront her parents about their unrealistic pressures and expectations of her which was challenging but necessary, she was able to appreciate the special relationship she has with her brother (even though he often really frustrates her and causes anxiety, mostly she wishes people would understand, not that he didn't exist); Catherine also allows herself to break one of her own rules (about dancing) and finds that she really enjoys herself. She decides not to care what Kristi thinks (even if it means not being friends) and has a date with Jason at the dance in front of everyone (a relationship far deeper than friendship that has developed over the course of the book). It takes a lot of guts for Catherine to be honest and unapologetic, especially without back-up (her best friend is in California for the summer.) Catherine, who struggles with the understandable desire to belong and this tightrope balancing act of taking car of her brother but still wanting to be considered "normal" throughout the book completely throws all that out at the end. She is more worried about being true to herself than fitting in and is no longer worried about being normal because she likes who she is. When Catherine was making the poster for the dance and Kristi suggested sing green for her fireworks and the green ruined them in Catherine's mind, it was a really good metaphor about how Catherine has a special perspective and unique things to offer; when she tries to fit in, she ends up with an unsatisfying product (Lord, 2006, p.161).

      Delete
  3. Cindy's Blog of the DayApril 7, 2017 at 4:17 PM

    Hi Sarah:

    As the story progressed up to the final chapter, did you feel that it would end the way it had? Do you think Catherine came to an acceptance with her role in helping to raising her brother, being there for her brother and ensuring the success of her brother? I felt as if she did and knew this was her life, this is what it will always be. I felt as if she came to the realization it will not ever change. I believe too that Jason was an intergral part of that whether she realizes it or not? Do you agree...especially where at page 197, Jason is heading to the dance floor even though Catherine thinks he's leaving and Jason says to her, "Break. Dance. RULE." I felt that was the turning point of the story. What are your thoughts?

    Cindy

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    Replies
    1. UnknownApril 8, 2017 at 8:12 PM

      I think the turning point in the story was when Catherine demands her father leave his work and show up for her, expressing feeling neglected and decides to go to the dance with Jason, even if Kristi and Ryan sees them together (Lord, 2006, p.184). This shows Catherine is no longer trying to belong at any price and would rather be true to herself and care about the feelings of those she cares about (Jason and David). This continues in the chapter when she changes her wish to wishes there is grape soda so David's wish can come true at the dance (Lord, 2006, p.190). I do, however, agree that it is meaningful that Catherine decides to break one of her rules, but I think it is important to point out that it was not her idea, and I don't think she would have ever thought of it. I do think her relationship with Jason is very insightful, as it helps frame how Catherine sees the world and how the world "looks" back and how she feels about it all. Didn't you find it interesting how Catherine, several times talked about how frustrated SHE felt when people stared? It's ironic because she first interacted with Jason because he caught her staring when she was trying to draw him. She never once connects the dots about how Jason must feel even though early on Jason is pretty clear about it...this is likely because lots of people stare at David but David doesn't notice the way Catherine does and to her, it is like she feels it enough for the both of them.

      Delete
  4. Cindy's Blog of the DayApril 7, 2017 at 4:17 PM

    Hi Sarah:

    As the story progressed up to the final chapter, did you feel that it would end the way it had? Do you think Catherine came to an acceptance with her role in helping to raising her brother, being there for her brother and ensuring the success of her brother? I felt as if she did and knew this was her life, this is what it will always be. I felt as if she came to the realization it will not ever change. I believe too that Jason was an intergral part of that whether she realizes it or not? Do you agree...especially where at page 197, Jason is heading to the dance floor even though Catherine thinks he's leaving and Jason says to her, "Break. Dance. RULE." I felt that was the turning point of the story. What are your thoughts?

    Cindy

    ReplyDelete

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