Outside Reading Blog Post #4

Since I last blogged, some of the characters have experienced a change in personality and we learn more about their pasts. In the chapter's Sara narrates, she describes the stuggles they've experienced with Kate's illness in the past. She has always tried to love her other two children but many times they fall through the cracks. There is just so much going on in her life that her other two childrens, many times, come at the bottom of her priority list. Jesse, her oldest child, gets ignored the most. Kate is sick and Anna is helping, Jesse doesn't know where he fits in. Whenever he tries to talk to his parents they always seem to be preoccupied. This is evidenced by a time when Jesse was trying to talk to his father and he notes,"My father looked right at me, but he didn't answer. And his eyes were dazed and staring through me, like I was made of smoke" (245). Because his parents don't pay much attention to him, he turns to drugs and arson to try to make himself feel better. Lastly, Brian has changed significantly since I posted last. He started off quite angry about the lawsuit that his daughter, Anna, started. In the last chapters I have read he begins to take Anna's side. When he finally admits this to his wife she states, "If you testify for Anna, the judge is going to say that at least one of her parents is capable of supporting this petition and he's going to rule in her favor" (259). Brian then replies, "I know that. Why else would I do it?" (259).

Also, in the last couple of chapters I've read, we get a better understanding of the past conflicts the family has dealt with. One thing we learn about is the first time Anna gave bone marrow to her sister. Annna is very frightened and has no idea of what to expect. Once she is out of the surgery she asks for her father. First he says he is too busy but then decides he'll quickly go up to check on her. Anna is relieved to see him but when he is about to leave after only minutes of visiting with her she questions, "Can you stay here?" I shake my head. "Kate's sick. I'm going to heave to go back. Anna pulls away. 'But I'm in the hospital,' she says. 'I'm in the hospital'"(233). Even though Anna courageously gave bone marrow to her sister, Kate is still top priority and Anna and Jesse get the back seat. Secondly, we learn that Kate has a close encounter with death. When Anna was approximetly 10 years old, Kate gets very sick and almost dies. The readers are able to see how worried the family gets. They are always at the hospital and never leave Kate's side. They even say their goodbyes but fortunately Kate holds on to life. This past experience of theirs impacted the way they act now. They are very concerned and are watching Kate's every move. They give Kate even more attention and even less to Anna and Jesse.

This book is very similar to the book Black Boy. Richard experiences neglect from his parents and this causes him to act up. Jesse is similar to Richard. He is in the back of his parents mind because they are too worried about Kate. This causes Jesse to turn to drugs and alcohol to solve his problems instead of telling his parents how he feels. Also, he starts commiting arson, which is most likely the result of his parents neglect as well. When a child is neglected and not paid attention too, they will act out in order to gain the attention they want. All Jesse wants is for someone to love him and talk to him but his parents seem to be a bit preoccupied.