Jacqueline Woodson Published 1994 realistic fiction Taylor B. 4 th Period

The setting is in a town called Chauncey, Ohio in It is a small town with a wealthy black side of town, and a poor white side of town. The setting is important because Lena (who is white) and Marie (who is black) come together and be friends regarding what color they are and what other people think. If the setting was different, Marie and Lena may have not been scared to be friends, or Lena may have never moved there in the first place.

Character Physical Characteristics Adjectives of Personality Text Evidence /Explanation of Adjectives Marie1) long hair 1) trust-worthy 1) she never told Len’s secret. 2) tall 2) loyal 2) she was always there for Lena. 3) skinny 3) Athletic build 3) she’s good at basketball. Lena 1) white 1) creative 1) she can draw very well. 2) short hair 2) rebellious 2) she smokes and she ran away from her foster parents. 3) short 3) incautious 3) she never worried about getting her school work done.

The main conflict in the story is Lena told Marie that her dad beats her and mistreats her, but she doesn’t want Marie to tell anyone because she doesn’t want to be taken away from her dad. Marie doesn’t know whether to tell someone or keep her promise. This is a man v. self conflict.

After long nights of crying, Marie’s mother left her and her father. A couple months later, a new girl named Lena came to school. At first Marie wouldn’t be seen with her but when her teacher assigned Marie to show Lena around, she found that Lena wasn’t so bad and they became good friends. Lena told Marie that her dad mistreats and beats her, but she doesn’t want Marie to tell anyone because she doesn’t want to be taken away from her dad. Marie struggles with what to do, whether to tell someone or keep her promise. Then one day there is a “for sale” sign in front of Lena’s yard.

Moral / Lesson learned If you keep secrets, someone could get hurt. Text Evidence 1: “Lena came to school looking raggedy and dirty.” page 14 Text Evidence 2: “He beat me again last night,” Lena said. page 76 Text Evidence 3: “She moved away with her dad and I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again,” Marie said. page 113

This story is told in first person by the main character Marie. It helps the reader understand all of the true feelings and thoughts of Marie. If the point of view was different you probably wouldn’t know the true feelings that Marie had.

The symbolism I noticed in the book was the box of letters that Marie wrote her mom but never sent them. It symbolized that Marie was mad at her mom for leaving, but she still loved her. It effected the story by Marie not giving up on her mom and Marie and Lena having something in common because both of their mothers had left them.

I recommend reading this book because it teaches you a very good lesson about keeping secrets. It also teaches you to treat people with respect no matter what they look like or where they came from. The book has some touching moments and an ending that will leave you hanging. This is a great book to read.