evy chavez > Recent Status Updates

I think Tara’s relationship with her brother is something that’s confusing in the plot. He has sweet and kind moments like throwing in a pet name or helping her out. But mainly he switches to abusing and degrading her severely. I think it can symbolize the family dynamics. How majority of the time it’s a horrible living situation in many ways but it doesn’t disregard the small moments where it’s not.

I disagree with the father a lot as his beliefs for children and the kind of path he has laid out for them despite most of them refusing to choose to live like that. He’s a strong believer in survivalism but when his irrationality comes into play it’s often is hurting his family. I think these beliefs is something that stemmed from potential trauma but his psychotic like behavior is definitely psychological.

Unspoken rules impacts the characters in my book as when Tara gets badly injured her brother says she needs the hospital and that serious injuries need more serious help than what herbs do. It’s a rule that when you’re badly injured, you go to the hospital and don’t used self remedies. That people outside might find you odd trying to treat something serious with something little like their herbs at home.

In my research I look up information based on the concept of survivalism and the way they think. How they live their life preparing for a future where governmental & civic infrastructure fails. Similar to the dad when the use of cash was brought up as "Not this fake money. In the Days of Abomination, this won't be worth a thing. People will trade hundred-dollar bills for a roll of toilet paper” (Westover 50).

Survivalism is a social movement of people who proactively prepare for the emergencies or disruptions to social order. This describes the ideals that the dad believes in and tries to put toward his family. But what I wonder what is the extent of survivalism go to? I feel at some point this can contradict with just plain anticipatory anxiety and borderline overthinking thoughts.

I wouldn’t know how the main character feels about the opportunity her grandma has given; the option to attend public school and when she mentions not liking, grandma said “How do you know,” she barked. “You ain’t never tried it”(Westover 6). I’ve gone to public school my entire life so being raised homeschool is a pretty different experience for me like public school is for her