Chapter Twenty-six

Let's try using Katherine Hannigan's writing as a model again.  

Please reread the last paragraph on page 201.

Now try remembering sometime you felt frustrated and needing to let loose with your thoughts and feelings.  Try to write a a couple of sentences in the same style without using any of the same similes and metaphors.

Chapter Twenty-six

In a few places in this chapter, Ida mentions having "a better feeling" than she'd "had in a while," that her heart was "feeling warmer and a bit more crowded than it had in a long time," that "it felt like my heart was light and fee and rising up and taking me along with it," and that "a peace rolled out from that place [her heart] into every part of me."

Please discuss why you believe Ida is experiencing these sensations, backing up your beliefs with evidence from the text.

Chapter Twenty-five

Please explain why Ida chose not to read aloud to her class.

Chapter Twenty-four

In Ida's mind, Claire was not cooperating with her expectations.  What do Claire's actions in this chapter say about her?  What are they saying to Ida?

Chapter Twenty-four

Page 186: "I imagined about two hundred seventy-six different things Claire might do to me and how I might protect myself from utter and complete degradation in all two hundred seventy-six cases."

Using context clues, and without looking it up, tell what you think degradation means.

Chapter Twenty-three

On page 182, Ida thinks, "'Good job,' my heart told me.  'You won again.'"  Is she right?  Please make a strong effort to explain in detail how you feel about this.

Chapter Twenty-three

What did you think about Ida's parents' proposal?  What did you think of the way Ida reacted to it?