I was not sure what to expect of this book when I started
reading it. Like previous posts, it is
much slower than other books we have read and even the language and style of
writing it different. My first
impression of Liza is that she seems to have been the good girl most of her
life. She’s president of her student
body, knows what she wants to be when she is older and has her college picked
out and is ready to apply. She seems to
be right on track for continuing her “perfect ways.” I think the catalyst of what is going to
occur in the book is not reporting Sally’s ear piercing business.
When Liza
is called into Mrs. Poindexter’s office, the head mistress is shocked that Liza
did not report Sally’s ear piercing immediately and even requires Liza to
recite the reporting rule out loud (27).
While Liza is upset to have gotten in trouble and punished I do think it
opens her up to new things and new ideas that she never would have considered
before the incident. Which leads to her
confusing feelings and continuing thoughts of Annie.
I do not
find the relationship between Annie and Liza to be “different” from that of any
other close friendship. (Up until the kissing scene on page 92, I disagree with the comments in regards to her being masculine in type when she brings Annie the flower plant.) They both seem
to be lost in their worlds and have found a common ground with one
another. I am interested to see what
else is going to happen and how their friendship develops. The role-playing in the museum was odd, but both girls seem to have a need to escape the world that they live in which is not quite suited to them. I am also interested
in the relationship between Ms. Widmer and Ms. Stevenson. It was pointed out that they live together,
which they could just be platonic roommates, but knowing what they book is
about I am questioning if it ties in with anything else. (Just a thought as of
right now).
I do hope
the book picks up a bit because it is slow right now, perhaps I have been
spoiled with the past two books. I do
look forward as to how everything plays out and if Liza calls or writes Annie
back.
I think the relationship between Ms. Widmer and Ms. Stevenson is a foreshadowing of what will happen later in the book (things working out for Liza and Annie) and I do think Liza will write Annie back. I also think Ms. Stevenson will be someone Liza confides in since Ms. Stevenson has been portrayed as a strong, determined, kind woman who sees the good in students.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting you mentioned the relationship between Ms. Widmer and Ms. Stevenson. When I found out they lived together, I also was curious and now want to know if their relationship is a foreshadowing of what is going to happen later on in the book.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder if Ms. Widmer and Ms. Stevenson are in a relationship, and if so how does the school and Mrs. Poindexter feel about those two. If they do end up being together I also can't help but wonder if Liza will lean on them for moral support.
ReplyDeleteNice work with the foreshadowing, all--both the teachers and the ear piercing.
ReplyDeleteAnd Lindze, I like it that you're already thinking ahead to post option #2 for this book. When you talk about their knightly sword play in the museum, you're identifying one of those private spaces the girls find because, as you say, they connect in their own world when they don't quite fit in anywhere else. Good.