The Center of Everything Chap. 1-9

Hello-

If you have not started to read the book, you probably do not want to read on.


"The Center of Everything" is exactly what I expected. The novel is from the viewpoint of a 10-year-old girl named Evelyn. However, Evelyn is not like most girls her age. She is really smart and she is very mature.

The beginning of the book grabbed my attention right away. The family (the mother, grandmother, and Evelyn) are watching Ronald Reagan on TV. I could instantly tell that the book would focus on the mother-daughter relationship, and how certain things are passed down from one generation to the next. Also, there is an obvious absence of men. Now, I don't mean that men are not mentioned in the novel, but the men that are in the novel are all shady. For example, Mr. Mitchell seems like a great guy. He gives Tina a car and he buys Tina and Evelyn groceries, but he is MARRIED!!! I couldn't believe that he was such a jerk to his wife. In the end, or from what I've read so far, he has been a jerk to Tina as well.

Right now, I am trying to figure out what roll the neighbors will play in this novel. The dad just left with one of the sons, Kevin, but Travis and his mother are left behind, which almost mirrors the situation Tina and Evelyn are in. Evelyn is really attracted to Travis, but he, like the men I am assuming Tina has been involved with, has a "bad boy" image. I feel like Travis' mother despises Tina, but I don't know if it is because her husband always commented on how beautiful Tina looked or because she is just like her.

One of the main themes that have been brought to the foreground in chapters 1-9 is religion. The grandmother is really religious, but Tina, the mother, is not. Evelyn seems to be confused, but she wants to decide for herself. Part of the rebellion against her mother is typical of a child that is struggling to be different from their parent. I am sure that we have all heard, "I will never be like my mother/father." Evelyn's teacher confirms that she is unlike her mother by saying that Evelyn is "blessed."

I am very excited to see where this story will go. I am at a somewhat sad part of the story (Tina just had the baby) and I am eager to see what happens. I am sure that you will all have a lot to say about this story.

~Erika