Point of View
What point of view is the story told from?
1st Person
The narrator says, “They never cared about me nohow.” Why might this not be fully reliable?
It may not be true that nobody cared — she feels abandoned, but her mom and Mable Lee show care later.
Name one place mentioned in Excerpt 1.
Daddy's house; Check-Cashing store on Eight Avenue; Mable Lee's place
Who is Willie Greentea?
Willie Greentea is a slow, awkward boy who stares at the narrator.
How do you feel about the narrator after Excerpt 1?
Many readers feel sorry for her because she is young and unsupported, but also question her choices.
Give one sentence from the text that shows the narrator’s personal opinion.
Open ended
What makes the narrator reliable when describing her father’s plan for her baby?
She reliably reports her father’s plan to sell the baby for $12,000 through a lawyer.
How does the check-cashing store show the community she lives in?
The check-cashing store shows poverty and desperation, since people go there instead of banks.
How does the narrator describe her father’s reaction to her pregnancy?
Her father throws her out and later pushes her to sell the baby for money.
How does the narrator make you feel about Willie Greentea?
Readers may dislike Willie because she describes him as “slow” and “stupid.”
How does the narrator’s point of view influence how we see Willie Greentea?
It makes Willie seem “empty” and “stupid,” even though that may just be her judgment.
In Excerpt 2, how does the narrator misjudge Mable Lee’s intentions?
She thinks Mable Lee just wants money, but Mable Lee explains she does it because she cannot have children.
What details about Mable Lee’s house stand out to the narrator in Excerpt 2?
She notices porch furniture, lace curtains, and a plastic-covered sofa, which show pride and stability in Mable Lee’s home.
What does the narrator assume about Mable Lee’s reasons for taking in girls?
She assumes Mable Lee only wants money from taking in girls, but Mable Lee says she does it because she can’t have children.
What emotions did you feel when Mable Lee gave her the gift box? Why?
Readers might feel touched by Mable Lee’s kindness and frustrated by the narrator’s ungratefulness.
If Mable Lee were the narrator, how might the story feel different?
Mable Lee would likely sound wiser and more responsible, showing care for the girls instead of focusing on looks or money.
Which seems more reliable — the narrator’s facts or her feelings? Explain with evidence.
Her facts seem more reliable (like what her dad said), while her feelings are biased and emotional.
How does setting influence the narrator’s decisions in either excerpt?
Being kicked out and living in a poor community makes her more willing to consider selling her baby.
What does the narrator assume about Mable Lee’s reasons for taking in girls?
The lawyer woman connects poor girls with families looking to adopt, often for money.
Which character do you sympathize with most — and why?
Many sympathize with Mable Lee because she shows compassion and kindness, while the narrator is harsh.
Explain how first-person narration makes the story more emotional for the reader.
First-person makes the story more emotional because we hear her inner thoughts and pain directly, such as when she says she is “suffocating” and “dying.”
Give two examples that show the narrator might not always tell the full truth.
She exaggerates Willie as having “empty eyes.”
She says “dying ain’t so bad,” which shows emotional thinking more than reality.
Explain how the setting makes the reader feel sympathy for the narrator.
The poor, judgmental environment makes readers feel sympathy for her struggles.
How do Oscar and Daddy feel differently about the baby?
Oscar (boyfriend) wants the money and supports selling the baby, while Daddy sees it as a way to profit.
How would the story change if told from Willie’s point of view?
If Willie told the story, it might be more confused, simple, or innocent — and we might see the narrator in a less flattering way.