Jackie Goudreault

Jackie Goudreault
Durable Goods
Elizabeth Berg
Realistic Fiction
Just Right
finished

1. The book I read was about a girl named Katie who lived in Texas with her sister Diane, and her Father. Katie's mother died a few years ago and she is still trying to cope with her loss. Ever since her mother died, Katie and Diane became aware of how distant, and often violent their father could be. Diane's boyfriend, Dickie, has stolen Katie's heart. Katie has always been really jealous of Diane because Dickie is the perfect boyfriend anyone can ever ask for. Cherylanne is Katie's best friend. They are two years apart so Cherylanne knows how real mature girls act and teaches Katie a lot about that. Katie has always dreamt of being a woman. She wants to be like the older girls that are Cherylanne's friends. Diane always sneaks out of the house, and Katie has always questioned if she is going to come back, but she always does. Diane and her father fight all the time and Diane gets hit more and more while Katie hides in her room hearing every slap, and every scream. Their Father tells them they are moving, again. They actually loved this place they are in and don't want to move to Missouri. One day, when Katie couldn't fall asleep and was lounging on the couch in her living room at 3am in the morning, Diane comes in from outside when she snuck out and starts packing in her room. Katie knows she is running away for good. Dickie and Diane are running off the Mexico and never coming back. Katie decides that she wants to go too. While they start their journey, Katie regrets leaving with them each day. Does she ever go back to her dad? Better yet, does Diane ever return home?
2. I thought this book was really well written. It kept me wanting to read. I could barely put this book down. Every part was suspenseful and I always wanted to know what would happen next. I didn't predict the ending of the book, it was really random and I liked how it made me keep guessing until the very end.
3. A theme I have noticed in the book is realization. Throughout the whole book Katie has to realize who means most to her and how other people feel. She wanted to go back to her father because even though he was sometimes violent and never showed emotion, he loved her a whole lot and Katie couldn't run away from that. Also, because she realized that even though Cherylenne was more mature then her and bossy, she had to go back to her because she has always been there for her and they are best friends. Lastly, because when they moved, she had to realize that this is the way life is and she has to listen to her father and cope with what she has been given.
4. My favorite character in the book is Katie because she is a very loyal and kind person. She is very loyal to her friends and always says whats on her mind. She is very kind to anyone she comes across to and always helps out people when they need it the most. She copes with what she has and what has happened and finds a way to make the best out of things.
5. At the end I predicted that Diane and Katie went back to Texas where they left there dad and they didn't move. I predicted that it would be a happily ever after, but everything was mixed up. You didn't know what to think until the last page of the book.