The Center of Everything So Far

I think I am through Chapter 11. Sorry, ya’ll, but I warned you that I would not start reading until after vacation, which ended up being about five days after vacation... ;)

It took only a few pages for me to get very enveloped in this book. I immediately fell for Evelyn’s voice, but it wasn’t until the impending visit to the grandparent’s home that I had to know what would happen next!

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a good story and been transplanted into someone else’s world, which is what I enjoy most about this novel.

I agree with and like everyone’s observations and feelings about this book, and I’m glad you enjoyed it. I guess I want to talk a little about Evelyn’s relationship with her mother...

I think it’s clear that Tina loves Evelyn more than anything, but her shortcomings arise when she allows her pride to get in the way of her daughter’s best interests. She did this when she refused her father’s help to give them a reliable car, and again two more times, both times, Evelyn thinking to herself, “it was Wichita all over again...”

Tina also shows a lack of mature parenting at times. I thought it was crazy when her solution to Evelyn’s getting kicked off the school bus for a week was to have her stay home all week. Couldn’t she call the school and let them know that was Evelyn’s only means to get to school? Wouldn’t the school want to work out a different form of punishment for Evelyn’s fight? I’m not sure where this carelessness stems from on Tina’s part. Maybe it’s that she just doesn’t know any better at times, or is too preoccupied with her own stress to give Evelyn the proper attention she needs. (like when Evelyn immediately wanted to go home when she didn’t place in the science fair, and Tina was OK with it).

There is a point in every person’s life when you realize that your parents aren’t perfect. I remember it to be a heartbreaking thing. Evelyn was 10 years old when this happened, and to me that is a young, early age to go through this. Even though Evelyn heard from other people that she was different from her mom and also that her mom was bad, I do not think that she let those judgments affect her love for her Mom until she saw Tina unravel before her own eyes.

This happens after they go to sign up for welfare and Tina ends up not cooperating with the guidelines. Tina's fear and then her pride stand in the way. I was angry when Tina wouldn’t tell the worker the baby’s daddy’s name. She was too scared and wanted to keep the mistake hidden. I wanted her to put everything aside for Evelyn’s sake - for her daughter who didn’t even have shoes to walk home with.

After they get home Tina is depressed for days and when Evelyn finally gets her out of her room, Tina tells her that everything will be OK. Evelyn thinks - I know it will not. In her mind, things have changed and she’s started to draw a line between the two of them. She begins to separate herself from her Mom at that young age. I think it’s wonderful that Evelyn feels secure knowing that she is gifted in school, but sad that she is creating a resistance against her mother, which is sure to cause a lot of pain. At the same time, I think it’s an unavoidable and realistic direction given Evelyn’s age and circumstance.

The books skips ahead a bit to Evelyn being 14, when she has all out resentment for Tina. I’m sure there are going to be many more blow outs between Evelyn and Tina at this stage. Evelyn is at that age when your parent can become your enemy, and she isn’t letting go of her mother’s mistakes and accepting her for who she is. Tina does teach Evelyn many good values, but I think it’s going to be impossible for Evelyn to understand her for a very long time.