Mr_Shank

In the last section of this book, I will be looking at Taylor. During the first part we see that she becomes hesitant when it comes to Turtle. At the stop on the road when she was with Esperanza and Estevan she does not tell the man that she is Turtle’s mother right away. Estavan has to say that the baby is his. What do you think of this? When Turtle even starts to call Esperenza ‘Ma’ this really affects Taylor. She feels hurt. Did you expect this to happen? And does her reaction surprise you?

As they go back to the bar, Taylor becomes frustrated. She finds out that the bar has no idea where her relatives might be. She feels that she has come all this way for nothing. Her moods seem to go up and down, and they all seem to be revloved around Turtle. She also felt that she has misjudged the Cherrokee Nation. Things get even weirder for Taylor. As they drive to the lake, she feels like a minority, the odd one out. No one looks like her, and Estevan and Esperanza feel much more comfortable with everyone appearing like them.

Another feeling Taylor experiences in this chapter is that or worrying. Turtle looks out the window and shouts, “Mama!” when no women is in sight. She arrives at the lake, and they stay at a cottage for the night. She tells Estevan she will miss him, but he does not return the thought. She then wishes that she can keep Estevan and the baby, but only really hopes to keep the girl. What do you think is going through Taylor’s head? Is she more worried about losing Turtle, or losing her friends. Do you think that she’s afraid of losing her life that she has come accustom to living? This chapter ends by her if Estevan and Esperana will do her a favor.

Next, Taylor has her two friends pose as Turtle’s biological parents. This is a huge risk, and shows how much she cares for Turtle. Would you go this far for someone you cared about? They trust that they really are the parents, sign the documents and get emotional. Esperanza seems happy at the end, and Taylor is now the mother of Turtle, officially, but unofficially. It seemed like Taylor cared enough about the child to let Esperanza have her if she truly wanted her, and it shows how good of a friend she is.

Finally, the last chapter of the book starts with Taylor taking her friends to the church for shelter. She feels that she has lost someone she loved for the very first time. By calling her mother, it shows that she also cares a lot about her, and her mother comforts her. Turtle and her have their second good conversation and Taylor explains that she is her mother and that her name is now April Turtle Greer (Brandons sister). The story ends very well, and Turtle and Taylor go home to see LouAnn. This happens after she calls her to see if she would get back together with Angel, and she informs her that she has met a new man but that Taylor is her family and she won’t move in with her. Taylor has come in a complete circle, starting in KY, trying to get away and start a new life. Then going to AZ, and trying to find Turtle’s parents. The story turned out the way Taylor would have wanted it, having someone to care about her in LouAnn, and raising someone she loved, in Turtle.

What were your thoughts on Taylor? Do you think that the way she handled things were the best options in some cases? For example, adopting Turtle in the way she did. If she couldn’t find the relatives, would lying be that big of a deal? Finally, what do you think of the ending? Do Taylor’s actions with Turtle show that she is a good mother? If yes, why?

-Dan

In this section, Taylor learns about what other people have to go through. Her vision of the world has opened up. Taylor is horrified to learn that Estevan was tortured with electric wires. Taylor is amazed that Estevan and Esperanza helped other people instead of trying to find their daughter. When Taylor remembers the dolls that she played with when she was little, she has to accept that even though that the fictional family of dolls has a perfect life, real families are never perfect, and that they always have their bumps in the road.

Taylor’s senses seem to have developed more as she learns about the horrors of the world. Taylor’s friendship with LouAnn also continues to develop. Taylor’s influence increase LouAnn’s confidence, allowing LouAnn to get a job and be promoted quickly. LouAnn observes that Taylor is never controlled or made fun of by anyone, because Taylor won’t allow them to take advantage of her.

Taylor learns even more about the troubles that the people she knows are facing. Esperanza and Estevan must move to escape death. When Taylor finds out that Turtle was hurt in the park, Taylor collapses emotionally, as she is flooded with guilt. She was given the responsibility to protect Turtle, and Taylor feels as though she blew it. Taylor becomes deeply troubled when she learns that Turtle might be taken away from her because she has no legal claim to her. LouAnn lights a spark in Taylor, who is already extremely upset with herself because of what happened in the park. Taylor’s determination is back when she gets the name of a man who can help her find Turtle’s relatives, so she can legally adopt Turtle.

My question to you has several parts:

1. After Turtle is attacked in the park, Taylor becomes more timid, like LouAnn. Do you think that the event made Taylor more vulnerable to being influenced by others, or that the event just shocked her that much? Do you think that there is a mixture of both?

2. After Taylor finds out where she can find Turtle’s relatives, her normal determination is back, as she wants to legally adopt Turtle. Do you think that your personality would bounce back that quickly if you were in Taylor’s place?

3. Do you think the revelations made to Taylor about the horrors of the world have had any affect on how she raises Turtle?

The character that I am going to look at is Taylor. Her personality is very unique, flipping to one objective to another so quickly that it is hard to identify with her. Her basic outline was laid out very quickly and accurately by Barbara Kingsolver. Taylor is very headstrong, taking the reins of her own future and not really letting anyone have an influence on where she is going. Actually, I believe that she is not quite sure where she is going in life. Her thoughts and actions have been influenced by indirect forces, for instance, the tire exploding, which created her fear of putting air into tires. Another indirect influence was actually one that Taylor was aware of: The scenery of Kentucky. 

My question to you is somewhat related to Kianat’s, yet still has its own uniqueness. What could have possibly been an indirect influence on Taylor to have her except Turtle (the child)? Why do you think this? How could Taylor’s personality affect the way that Taylor might raise the child?

Right, that is all that I have for you!

-Jenni Kantor