General Plot
When Rex has no money to buy Christmas presents for the children, what does he give them?
A star.
In 7th grade, Jeannette finds a sense of belonging by
Working for the school newspaper and a small local paper.
Where does Rex take Jeannette while her mother is gone?
To a pool hall
What does Rose Mary inherit when her mother dies?
A house in Arizona and land in Texas.
How does Erma differ from Grandma Smith?
Erma is callous and rough, while Grandma Smith was very nurturing.
What do the Walls parents teach the children?
They teach them to read and write, to do math, and practical skills.
Why does Jeannette begin to refuse to go to her Uncle Stanley’s house to bathe?
Because her uncle tried to molest her.
While they are living in Arizona, what does Jeannette ask her father for as a Christmas gift?
For him to stop drinking.
Why do Rex and Rose Mary leave the children with their grandparents?
To return to Phoenix to pick up their belongings.
What event precipitates the argument in which Erma ends up hitting Lori?
Lori catches Erma attempting to molest Brian.
According to Rose Mary, how should Jeannette explain her mother's situation to others?
She should tell the truth.
Why does Jeannette enjoy staying with Grandma Smith?
She provides a sense of stability and makes hot meals.
How does Rex put Jeannette in a potentially dangerous situation?
By having her "entertain" a man who he is acquainted with.
Who brings Rose Mary to dinner?
Lori
Jeannette and Lori make plans to do what?
Go to NYC
What is the incident in the first section of Part II that serves as a metaphor for the neglect that the children suffer?
Jeannette falls out of the car and her parents don't notice for a while.
What incident helps to cement Jeannette's conviction to leave Welch and her family?
Her father punishes her after she tells her mother to stop acting like a child.
What does Rex do with the money that Lori and Jeannette have been saving?
He breaks their piggy bank and steals it.
Why does Jeannette confront her mother and tell her that she is acting like a child?
Because her mother has quit her job again.
What do Jeannette and Brian find when they are foraging in the woods?
A diamond ring
What are Jeannette's parents' feelings regarding society's rules?
They refuse to conform to them.
What is the name of Jeannette's second husband?
John
How do the Thanksgiving guests remember Rex?
As an important force in their lives. (With gratitude, appreciation, kindly etc...)
What does Jeannette find out about her mother's finances that surprises her?
That her mother owns land that is worth over a million dollars and hasn't sold it.
What does Jeannette and Brian's mother do with the treasure?
She keeps it because it "raises her spirits"