almost home

CHARACTERIZATION
"Haper Wilhelm was giving me her evil eye like she knew all my secrets. I smiled and walked past her. Reba says it`s good to smile around people who don`t like you-it makes you stronger." pg. 4

The character trait I chose from the beginning of the book is that she is the type of girl to be respectfully strong. She looks forward in the future instead of dwelling on the past.

CHARACTERIZATION
"I`m tired, Reba says. i cover her with a sheet and kiss her cheek. Don`t give up, Reba. Don`t." pg. 160

This quote shows the character trait of Sugar that in the middle of the book she is very self reliant. She realizes that she will not always have someone strong to look after her and that she needs to prepare for when that happens.

CHARACTERIZATION
"Once, long ago, a girl lost her home, but she didn't lose her dream. She hung on to it as the wind kept trying to blow it away, but that just made it stronger." pg. 259

This quote is to explain that Sugar is now broad and bold. She has finally figured out that no one is perfect and could ever be.

THEME
"Writing about personal things isn`t easy, Sugar. Try to break it up into small, manageable pieces. Small and manageable was not what my life was like." pg. 5

This quote shows that in the beginning the theme is that if you are going through a tough time in life then you need to take it on one small thing at a time instead of taking it all on at once.

THEME
"I know things don't look so good right now, but you`ve got to believe that this is your time, this is your day to win, you`ve got to gather up what you`ve got because today you are the greatest woman in America!" pg. 160

This quote shows that in the middle of the book the theme was that some days will not always be the best but you have to put yourself out there and try to at least make the day worth it.

THEME
"Losing things helps you appreciate when you find them again and finding things gives you hope that when you lose things it might not be forever." pg. 259

This quote shows that at the end of the book the theme is that when you lose something it might not be forever. You have to search for it if you ever want to see it again.

AUTHOR`S PURPOSE
"I stare at the email. Today is June 3. This is five months old Reba!" pg.102

This quote is from the middle of the book showing that the story is being written from 1st person limited.

AUTHOR`S PURPOSE
"Home isn't always a place you picture in your mind... home is something you can carry around like a dream." pg. 259

This quote shows that the moral of the story is that home is not always a place "with furniture and cookies and music playing and people laughing."

SUMMARY
A normal family with money problems with a father who gambles and doesn't return. They lose their house and have to move to Chicago where they take in a lost puppy. They can`t find a home when in the depression of it all her mother breaks down...

...With no money or a job the daughter is forced to live in a foster home where she is well taken care of. In the end things start to turn around for the better. And they are almost home.

SUMMARY
"Newly homeless miss Sugar Mae Cole and her mother Reba have come to Chicago for a fresh start. When Reba has a serious breakdown, Sugar and her beloved rescue dog Shush are put into foster care..."

"... but Sugar still has a ink to her old life through her former teacher, Mr. Bennett, who encourages her to write. Pouring her feelings into heartfelt poems that mirror her fear and confusion, but also her dreams and her faith in people, Sugar comes to understand that home is a place you carry in your heart."

vocabulary

• word: eviction
• definition: the action of expelling a tenant from a property. 
• quote: "i`ve got an eviction notice for you ma`am." pg. 51
• other forms: evict, evictor, non-eviction, re-evict, and unevicted. 

vocabulary

• word: southern belle
• definition: a beautiful and charming woman from the southern U.S.
• "...but you`ve got the heart of a southern belle nonetheless`" pg.118
• other forms: none

vocabulary

• word: appreciate
• definition: to be highly thankful or grateful for.
• quote: "losing things helps you appreciate when you find them again" pg. 25
• other forms: appreciatively, appreciated, or unappreciative. 

CONCLUSION
In conclusion this book was amazing! It caught my eye as soon as i got the book. If you are interested in a sad but encouraging realistic book, this is the book for you.