Activity 5a.

Characterization: Physical Appearance

In this novel, a girl finds herself abandoned with her younger siblings in a car
outside a shopping mall. What do you learn about their mother from this one brief
glimpse?

Close Read
1. Find three details that describe the mother’s appearance.
her stride made uneven by broken sandal thongs
thin elbows showing through holes in the oversized sweater
her jeans faded and baggy

2. What do you learn about the mother from these details?

The mother, based on the details given, is incapable of raising her children.
Moreover, her described appearance that is skinny depicts that she’s destitute
and has nothing to offer her children. She may be beautiful but is neither reliable
nor practical.

Activity 5b. Characterization: Thoughts, Speech, and Actions

Here, a girl at her piano lesson notices an umbrella that was left behind by
Eugenie, an older student she admires and envies.

Close Read

1. The highlighted text suggests that the girl wants to fit in at school. What do her
other thoughts tell you about her?
For me the girl is very jealous of the others knowing that they have the exact
thing which she dreamt of having. If only given a chance, she would love to be
in the place where other girls exist and it would be her greatest joy to acquire
such thing she is dreaming about.

2. What do the girl’s thoughts in lines 7–10 reveal about her relationship with her
mother?
The mother and the girl does not have strong or great affection towards each
other. Hence, the mother seemingly do not support and provide what her
daughter wants in life. Beside, all she wants is for the child to appreciate what
is given and to never ask much that is beyond their capability.
Activity 5c. Other Characters

In this excerpt, a girl named Cassie walks into her classroom and faces her
classmates and her teacher. As you read, observe how others react to Cassie. Does
she seem to be well liked?`

Close Read

1. Does Gracey Pearson like Cassie? Explain.

I believe Gracey Pearson doesn’t like to be with Cassie. She didn’t even let
Cassie sit beside her telling an excuse that she is saving the seat for Mary
Lou, only to find out that Mary Lou already have her seat.

2. Reread the highlighted sentence about Miss Crocker, Cassie’s teacher. How
does Miss Crocker feel about Cassie?

The way she’s glaring at Cassie for me impedes that she’s belittling the
young lady. Just like Gracey, she also don’t want Cassie around her.

3. What impression do you get of Cassie from other characters’ reactions

to her?

Everyone’s attention is on her, but in a bad perspective. The character

may be receiving racial discrimination, bullying or she’s maybe aloof. It
seems like no one wants to be with her, she is out of the world.
Activity 5d. Characterization: Narrator’s Comments

Here, the narrator tells you directly about a character named Mack. What do you
learn about Mack from the narrator’s comments?

Close Read
1. On the basis of the narrator’s comments, how would you describe Mack?
Mack is a heartthrob and every girl falls in love with him because he is a
football player and is also genius- in short he is every girls dream boy.
However, because of his popularity he became boastful, and from then he
doesn’t care about school and his grades anymore.

2. Do you think the narrator admires Mack? Support your opinion with evidence.
I think the narrator doesn’t like Mack as most of his statements is about the
wrong or bad attributes of Mack. Just like the line “the people who liked him
usually liked him because he was a star” which means if Mack is not a star
then no one would love him then.