Two years later, Astrid moves out of Rena's and is 20 years old and living with Paul in a run down flat in Berlin, Germany. Astrid has spent a lot of her time and effort into buying suitcases and making them into artwork detailing the journey she has taken from her mothers imprisonment to her life with Rena. One afternoon Paul brings home a newspaper article reporting Ingrid's release from prison after winning her appeals trial and soon after this Barry commits suicide. Astrid acknowledges the power that her mother still has over her and even reveals her secret dream of going back to California. She never fulfills this dream, knowing that too much has happened and she would never fit into the daughter mold her mother wants from her. She also realizes that if she returns to California, she must abandon Paul, leaving him much like she has been abandoned so many times before. She embraces the life she has lived, the past that has made her who she is and accepts her mother's love, but continues to live the life she leads.
Notes:
book about life, new experiences and how each foster home was a turning stone into finding out who she really was.
Also about love and loneliness and how everyone wants to be loved and have someone to turn to when they need someone.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Chapter 26-32- White Oleander
Meanwhile, Ingrid has begun to build up a following of fans and admirers from prison, who all believe she is innocent. Ingrid and her lawyer begin to build up a case to get Ingrid released from prison. However, their case depends on Astrid — if she testifies that Ingrid did not murder Barry, Ingrid could probably get out, but if she testifies the truth, Ingrid could not win her case. In the middle of all of this Yvonne has her baby and Astrid is the one that sits with her the whole time. She doesn't even look at the baby and just gives it away. Shortly after this Yvonne decides she wants to move out and get an apartment with her boyfriend. Rena gives her some money and wishes her the best and then she is gone and within a week their is a new girl in her place named Tasha.
Astrid realizes that she is in a position of power over her mother, and tells her that unless she answers some of her questions, she will testify against her. Astrid asks Ingrid about her father and Barry and then Annie, Ingrid is shattered to learn that Astrid remembers Annie at all, and tells Astrid that Annie was a babysitter who Ingrid left Astrid with for over a year, making Astrid realizes why she fears abandonment from her mother. Astrid lets Ingrid know how damaged she is because of what Ingrid did to her, even going as far as becoming completely Gothic, Astrid gives Ingrid a choice, to have her testify or to have her return to the person her mother knew her as. Astrid ends up not testifying in the case.
Notes: Niki leaves in September.
Mother said that when she gets out she will leave Astrid alone and let her live her life.
Chapter 23- 26
Summary: Astrid's final home is with Russian immigrant Rena Grushenka. She intentionally chooses Rena over better prospective foster parents because she is devastated by Claire's death, and does not want to become part of a nuclear family. Astrid is afraid it would be too easy to forget the pain she has gone through. At Rena's, she lives with two other teenage girls named Niki and a pregnant girl named Yvonne. Astrid becomes very close friends with Niki and Yvonne and has sex with Rena's boyfriend Sergei, one night after getting high on acid with Niki. After this happened she begins to have memories of a woman named Annie.
To make money they must go through people's trash early in the morning looking for clothes. They then stitch them up and then sell them to make more money.
One day Astrid goes to the comic store and she finds that Paul did leave her a package. She also has a new case worker named Mrs. Davis. At this time she has stopped writing her mom.
Notes: Her new life. new experienecs
Chapter 22-23- White Olenader
Summary: For this short period of time she is placed in MacLaren Children's Center (known as Mac), which is known as a final resort for foster kids without a placement. Astrid meets a boy named Paul Trout, and they bond through the shared experience of living in foster care.
Notes: Finally finds a friends she feels she can talk too. Paul wants to keep in touch so he tells her to leave letters at a comic place when she gets out and this way they can keep in touch.
New Character- Paul Trout- no family, her friend, artist.
Notes: Finally finds a friends she feels she can talk too. Paul wants to keep in touch so he tells her to leave letters at a comic place when she gets out and this way they can keep in touch.
New Character- Paul Trout- no family, her friend, artist.
Chapter 16-22- White Olenader
Summary: 4th Home--
Astrid is taken in by a former actress named Claire Richards, and her husband, Ron. Claire does everything she can to ensure Astrid's comfort. For once, Astrid is doing well in school and pursuing art. She is even enrolled in all honor courses and Astrid finally thinks she is loved and has a home where she can do well in. Astrid finally finishes the 10th grade and is very happy that she did. Claire bought her a necklace as a present and for most of the Summer Ron was gone. Astrid's favoutire place to go with Claire was to the museum as each painting had more and more meaning. Astrid continues corresponding with her mother in prison, but Astrid becomes increasingly bitter towards Ingrid. Claire also starts talking to Ingrid who in the end helps lead Claire to suicide. She keeps telling Claire she is right and he is having an affair. She Claire suspects that Ron is having an affair because Ron keeps making constant trips away from home and Astrid watches their fights worsen. Ingrid thinks that Astrid is too happy where she is and doesn't want to get replaced so she makes Cliare goes insane. Astrid felt like this was the family she never had and she didn't want to lost this. In April, Astrid finds that her mom is sending Claire letters about how she should just give up as it will be easier and that nobody loves her. Ron wants to make an effort so they go away to Oregon on a camping trip. They do everything together and Astrid can see that Claire is really happy. After New Years, Claire commits suicide by overdosing. By this point, Astrid is 17. At the end, Astrid finally finds out they only took her in so that she could keep Claire happy and distracted. She was a watcher as Ron already knew she was suicidal and thought that aStrid could make her change but she couldn't.
Note: Astrid is in grade 10 still. She is never good ebough for anything. She becomes a failer and realizes she will never be able to have a family.
New Character: Ron-Father
Claire- mother and actor.
-really want to adopt children.
look up: debussy: french composer
mughal:
Astrid is taken in by a former actress named Claire Richards, and her husband, Ron. Claire does everything she can to ensure Astrid's comfort. For once, Astrid is doing well in school and pursuing art. She is even enrolled in all honor courses and Astrid finally thinks she is loved and has a home where she can do well in. Astrid finally finishes the 10th grade and is very happy that she did. Claire bought her a necklace as a present and for most of the Summer Ron was gone. Astrid's favoutire place to go with Claire was to the museum as each painting had more and more meaning. Astrid continues corresponding with her mother in prison, but Astrid becomes increasingly bitter towards Ingrid. Claire also starts talking to Ingrid who in the end helps lead Claire to suicide. She keeps telling Claire she is right and he is having an affair. She Claire suspects that Ron is having an affair because Ron keeps making constant trips away from home and Astrid watches their fights worsen. Ingrid thinks that Astrid is too happy where she is and doesn't want to get replaced so she makes Cliare goes insane. Astrid felt like this was the family she never had and she didn't want to lost this. In April, Astrid finds that her mom is sending Claire letters about how she should just give up as it will be easier and that nobody loves her. Ron wants to make an effort so they go away to Oregon on a camping trip. They do everything together and Astrid can see that Claire is really happy. After New Years, Claire commits suicide by overdosing. By this point, Astrid is 17. At the end, Astrid finally finds out they only took her in so that she could keep Claire happy and distracted. She was a watcher as Ron already knew she was suicidal and thought that aStrid could make her change but she couldn't.
Note: Astrid is in grade 10 still. She is never good ebough for anything. She becomes a failer and realizes she will never be able to have a family.
New Character: Ron-Father
Claire- mother and actor.
-really want to adopt children.
look up: debussy: french composer
mughal:
Chapter 15-16- White Oleander
Summary:
3rd HOME!
Next, Astrid is sent to the home of a Hispanic woman named Amelia Ramos. Amelia is an interior designer, originally from Argentina, and lives in Hollywood, with a huge, elegant house. Amelia has a son who has contracted AIDS, but the girls do not see him much. The other foster girls in the house are all Latino. All the girls in Amelia's household, however, are treated the same in that they are fed dinner, but Amelia keeps a lock on her fridge so the girls starve in the mornings. They only get food at night so all through the day they have to find another way to get food. Usually whoever is on food duty at the end of the night sneaks food from the fridge so that the girls have something to eat. Astrid starves to the point that she stops menstruating. Also at lunch Astrid resorts to eating unfinished lunches from the garbage at school. Near the end of this chapter Astrid is assigned a new case worker named Joan Peeler who finds Astrid a new placement after she asks for one.
Notes: -At this home she learns to live for herself and find other ways to survive.
3rd HOME!
Next, Astrid is sent to the home of a Hispanic woman named Amelia Ramos. Amelia is an interior designer, originally from Argentina, and lives in Hollywood, with a huge, elegant house. Amelia has a son who has contracted AIDS, but the girls do not see him much. The other foster girls in the house are all Latino. All the girls in Amelia's household, however, are treated the same in that they are fed dinner, but Amelia keeps a lock on her fridge so the girls starve in the mornings. They only get food at night so all through the day they have to find another way to get food. Usually whoever is on food duty at the end of the night sneaks food from the fridge so that the girls have something to eat. Astrid starves to the point that she stops menstruating. Also at lunch Astrid resorts to eating unfinished lunches from the garbage at school. Near the end of this chapter Astrid is assigned a new case worker named Joan Peeler who finds Astrid a new placement after she asks for one.
Notes: -At this home she learns to live for herself and find other ways to survive.
Chapter 12-14-- White Oleander
Summary:
These chapters talk about Astrid's 2nd home where she lived with the Turlocks. Ed and Marvel are the parents and they have two small children. In their home, Astrid becomes an unpaid babysitter and servant. Astrid becomes friends with the Turlocks' next-door neighbor, a beautiful African-American woman named Olivia Johnstone. Astrid admires Olivia's beauty, wealth and self-gratifying lifestyle. Olivia is a prostitute by profession and is hated by the Turlock family. After becoming friends with Olivia, Astrid begins using drugs and performing oral sex on a boy in a park in exchange for some pot. Olivia teaches Astrid about all of the finer things in life. On her fifteenth birthday, Astrid goes for a walk, and is bitten by a pack of dogs, leaving scars on her arms and face. During the winter break, Astrid is expelled from the Turlock household after accidentally falling asleep at Olivia's house one night. She loses Olivia as she leaves and tells Astrid not to talk to her anymore.
Notes: Astrid wants to become a women. This is her second life.
look up: hedonistic: a person whose life is devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification.
These chapters talk about Astrid's 2nd home where she lived with the Turlocks. Ed and Marvel are the parents and they have two small children. In their home, Astrid becomes an unpaid babysitter and servant. Astrid becomes friends with the Turlocks' next-door neighbor, a beautiful African-American woman named Olivia Johnstone. Astrid admires Olivia's beauty, wealth and self-gratifying lifestyle. Olivia is a prostitute by profession and is hated by the Turlock family. After becoming friends with Olivia, Astrid begins using drugs and performing oral sex on a boy in a park in exchange for some pot. Olivia teaches Astrid about all of the finer things in life. On her fifteenth birthday, Astrid goes for a walk, and is bitten by a pack of dogs, leaving scars on her arms and face. During the winter break, Astrid is expelled from the Turlock household after accidentally falling asleep at Olivia's house one night. She loses Olivia as she leaves and tells Astrid not to talk to her anymore.
Notes: Astrid wants to become a women. This is her second life.
look up: hedonistic: a person whose life is devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Chapter 11--White Oleander
Summary:
Astrid thought her neighbor was a mystery. she wanted to get to know her more so when she wasn't around Astrid would creep at her mail. Her full name was Olivia Johnstone. Marvel found out she was talking to Olivia and got very upset. She refused her to even talk or look at her because she was a prostitute in Marvel's eyes. She then went away for a week and when she was gone a mail man came to drop off a package so Astrid ran over and told him that she could leave the package with her. When Olivia finally got back Astrid went over and made up a lie to why she had her package. Astrid made up an excuse that she had to go to the library to do some research and Marvel said she only had an hour cause at 5 her friends would be over as she had a Mary Kay party and needed help setting up, giving out food and cleaning up. She went over to Olivia's then and talked to her. Olivia said that people shouldn't be categorized because we are all the same and that is when Astrid completely started thinking that way too. When Olivia opened the package it was bread warmers. They talked alot for the rest of the day and whenever Astrid said she had to go to the library she would just sneak over to hang out with Olivia.
New Characters:
Neighbor-Olivia., her new friend that she feels she can talk too. She also gets along with her very well too.
Notes: none
Astrid thought her neighbor was a mystery. she wanted to get to know her more so when she wasn't around Astrid would creep at her mail. Her full name was Olivia Johnstone. Marvel found out she was talking to Olivia and got very upset. She refused her to even talk or look at her because she was a prostitute in Marvel's eyes. She then went away for a week and when she was gone a mail man came to drop off a package so Astrid ran over and told him that she could leave the package with her. When Olivia finally got back Astrid went over and made up a lie to why she had her package. Astrid made up an excuse that she had to go to the library to do some research and Marvel said she only had an hour cause at 5 her friends would be over as she had a Mary Kay party and needed help setting up, giving out food and cleaning up. She went over to Olivia's then and talked to her. Olivia said that people shouldn't be categorized because we are all the same and that is when Astrid completely started thinking that way too. When Olivia opened the package it was bread warmers. They talked alot for the rest of the day and whenever Astrid said she had to go to the library she would just sneak over to hang out with Olivia.
New Characters:
Neighbor-Olivia., her new friend that she feels she can talk too. She also gets along with her very well too.
Notes: none
Chapter 10--White Oleander
Summary:
NEW FOSTER HOME!(2nd home)
While Astrid is at this home she is treated like a servant. She has to clean the house, do the laundry and even massage Marvel's feet. During this she finally finishes her grade 9 year and passes. Ed never really stayed around much as he would sneak out to the bar with his friends to watch hockey game with his friends. Astrid's mom continues to write her letters talking about how she understands what Astrid is going through and she needs to endure all the pain for a reason. She finally could stop using her cane and could walk properly again. Marvel refused Astrid to talk to the next door neighbor named Olivia. This is because she was a "whore" as Marvel always seen men come in and out of her house. Even knowing this Astrid was interested in getting to know her. She got off the bus the next day and when she saw Olivia outside she called over to her and said, "I like your yard." Then she told her what her name was and she b\never said her name. She just told Astrid to go inside.
Notes:
-new home, new adventure.
-everyone seems to be just using her?
New Character:
Marvel-her new foster mom,
Justin-baby
Ed-Dad
Caitlyn-another toddler
NEW FOSTER HOME!(2nd home)
While Astrid is at this home she is treated like a servant. She has to clean the house, do the laundry and even massage Marvel's feet. During this she finally finishes her grade 9 year and passes. Ed never really stayed around much as he would sneak out to the bar with his friends to watch hockey game with his friends. Astrid's mom continues to write her letters talking about how she understands what Astrid is going through and she needs to endure all the pain for a reason. She finally could stop using her cane and could walk properly again. Marvel refused Astrid to talk to the next door neighbor named Olivia. This is because she was a "whore" as Marvel always seen men come in and out of her house. Even knowing this Astrid was interested in getting to know her. She got off the bus the next day and when she saw Olivia outside she called over to her and said, "I like your yard." Then she told her what her name was and she b\never said her name. She just told Astrid to go inside.
Notes:
-new home, new adventure.
-everyone seems to be just using her?
New Character:
Marvel-her new foster mom,
Justin-baby
Ed-Dad
Caitlyn-another toddler
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Chapter 9--White Oleander
Summary:
In Chapter 9, this is after Astrid was shot in the shoulder from Starr. In this whole chapter she is going in and out of conscience. In her dream she starts at the beginning of her life and goes through it. She remembers everything up to the moment she got shot and once this happens she finally wakes up. The first person she sees in Davey. As she was in the hospital she kept getting letters from her mother and they would be poems about how she would live. She stayed in the hospital as long as she could and finally when she could walk without using the cane she was released and put in a new placement.
Notes:
-Ingrid doesn't want Astrid happy.
-Book is about Astrid's life and how each new place is a new memory and that wherever she goes she learns a little more about herself each time.
In Chapter 9, this is after Astrid was shot in the shoulder from Starr. In this whole chapter she is going in and out of conscience. In her dream she starts at the beginning of her life and goes through it. She remembers everything up to the moment she got shot and once this happens she finally wakes up. The first person she sees in Davey. As she was in the hospital she kept getting letters from her mother and they would be poems about how she would live. She stayed in the hospital as long as she could and finally when she could walk without using the cane she was released and put in a new placement.
Notes:
-Ingrid doesn't want Astrid happy.
-Book is about Astrid's life and how each new place is a new memory and that wherever she goes she learns a little more about herself each time.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Chapter 8--White Oleander
Summary: One night when Ray was gone and Starr was watching the kids she started rambling on about how Ray was so in love with her and how he needs a new women. Starr had been sober for 18 months as she was an alcoholic before and now she was drunk. Carolee was about to sneak out the window that night when Starr came in and she called Carolee a whore and that she would do anything for free. This got the both of them in a huge fight and they both started fighting each other. Carolee then left and she said she was never coming back. Ray and Starr continued to make love in all the new houses he was building as they both just couldn't stop. Then soon after this Starr started yelling at the boys for leaving their lizards exhibit around and she broke it. Davey said he hated Starr so she picked him up and started hitting him. Davey needed to go to the hospital but no body could drive so she called Ray. Starr kept saying she didn't mean it and when they got to the merge Davey made up a lie on how he got hurt. Then it was Easter! A few days after this when everyone was going to bed you started to hear Ray and Starr fighting. This is because he didn't want to make love to her so he assumed it was because of Astrid. All of a sudden Starr came in and shot Astrid. Everything went dark and when she woke up all she heard was so many people talking. Ray and Starr and the other kids had fled but Davey was the one that saved her life. If he wouldn't have stayed and kept pressure on the wound she would have died. She then drove away from the house and Davey leaving everything behind her
Characters:
Starr- is an alcoholic.
Characters:
Starr- is an alcoholic.
Chapter 7--White Oleander
Summary:
It is November now and although Astrid's birthday is coming up she doesn't tell anyone and lets it pass like it doesn't matter. That night Astrid goes outside on the porch to talk to Ray like every night and he asks Astrid about her dad. She had always wanted to meet him and one day she had found a birth certificate in her mothers book. She knew his name and saw a picture of him but other then that she had never seen him. Starr comes out at this moment and asks Ray to go to the store. He asks if Astrid wants to come but Starr says she wants to talk to her alone. Starr then threatens to kick Starr out because she thinks she is going to ruin the only good thing she had which was Ray. Starr promises she would never do that because she likes being there and wouldn't ruin that. Starr never did call Child Services but from then on she stayed home 34/7 and watched Astrid's every move. Her mother told her not to go after Ray but Astrid didn't care because she wanted Ray. He finally came to pick her up from school one day and took her to show her around the house that he had just finished building. From there they end up making love as Astrid knows that ray could not resist her.
Look Up:
"advent" -the reappearance of Jesus as judge for
none
Notes:
-time is moving by fast in this book.
It is November now and although Astrid's birthday is coming up she doesn't tell anyone and lets it pass like it doesn't matter. That night Astrid goes outside on the porch to talk to Ray like every night and he asks Astrid about her dad. She had always wanted to meet him and one day she had found a birth certificate in her mothers book. She knew his name and saw a picture of him but other then that she had never seen him. Starr comes out at this moment and asks Ray to go to the store. He asks if Astrid wants to come but Starr says she wants to talk to her alone. Starr then threatens to kick Starr out because she thinks she is going to ruin the only good thing she had which was Ray. Starr promises she would never do that because she likes being there and wouldn't ruin that. Starr never did call Child Services but from then on she stayed home 34/7 and watched Astrid's every move. Her mother told her not to go after Ray but Astrid didn't care because she wanted Ray. He finally came to pick her up from school one day and took her to show her around the house that he had just finished building. From there they end up making love as Astrid knows that ray could not resist her.
Look Up:
"advent" -the reappearance of Jesus as judge for
the Last Judgment (pg.94)New Characters:
Site: http://dictionary.die.net/advent
none
Notes:
-time is moving by fast in this book.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Chapter 6: White Oleander
Summary:
Astrid was finally forced to go to church on Sunday. Carolee also had to go because she slept in and couldn'y get out of the house before her mom woke them both up and told them they had to go to church with her. Astrid actually enjoyed church and she was more and more agreeing with everything that Reverned Thomas said. While she was in church she had a flash back to when she called Barry to warn him what her mother was going to do and instead of telling him she just hung up. She was responsible and it was her own sin virus that she created. In July, although her mom did not want her to Astrid got baptized. Then the sotry goes to talk about how her mom wrote her a letter saying she didn't want her to be a christian and how you should never regret anything you do. Uncle Ray also agrees with how Ingrid feels about god in general.
After a while Astrid missed Carolee and wanted her to stay in one night or invite her out to come but she never did. Ingrid sent Astrid a summer reading list to read and so she went to the library the next day and got a few books out.
Finally Ray started to get busy at his carpenters job so instead of him being home, Starr was always there. Finally summer came and it was hotter then it had ever been. All summer Ray taught Astrid how to shot a gun. This is when Astrid first felt something towards ray. The way he watched her, it made her feel beautiful.
New/Continued Characters:
Starr- looked like she was going to a lounge and not church
Reverned Thomas- priest for the church(catholic)
Uncle Ray-teaching Astrid how to play chess.
Astrid was finally forced to go to church on Sunday. Carolee also had to go because she slept in and couldn'y get out of the house before her mom woke them both up and told them they had to go to church with her. Astrid actually enjoyed church and she was more and more agreeing with everything that Reverned Thomas said. While she was in church she had a flash back to when she called Barry to warn him what her mother was going to do and instead of telling him she just hung up. She was responsible and it was her own sin virus that she created. In July, although her mom did not want her to Astrid got baptized. Then the sotry goes to talk about how her mom wrote her a letter saying she didn't want her to be a christian and how you should never regret anything you do. Uncle Ray also agrees with how Ingrid feels about god in general.
After a while Astrid missed Carolee and wanted her to stay in one night or invite her out to come but she never did. Ingrid sent Astrid a summer reading list to read and so she went to the library the next day and got a few books out.
Finally Ray started to get busy at his carpenters job so instead of him being home, Starr was always there. Finally summer came and it was hotter then it had ever been. All summer Ray taught Astrid how to shot a gun. This is when Astrid first felt something towards ray. The way he watched her, it made her feel beautiful.
New/Continued Characters:
Starr- looked like she was going to a lounge and not church
Reverned Thomas- priest for the church(catholic)
Uncle Ray-teaching Astrid how to play chess.
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